Softball: Mundelein downs Libertyville for first sectional title in 18 years

Creating chaos is the goal of slap-hitting, lefty-swinging Kieley Tomas in the leadoff spot for Mundelein.

The top-seeded Mustangs were clinging to a 2-run lead with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning against 10th-seeded North Suburban Conference rival Libertyville in Friday’s Warren Class 4A softball sectional title game. Tomas slapped a grounder to reach second base and chaos ensued with a 3-run outburst.

And there was plenty of celebratory chaos for Mundelein as ace Shae Johnson took a shutout into the seventh to claim its first sectional title in 18 years with a 5-1 victory in Gurnee.

“It feels awesome,” Tomas said after the Mustangs' fifth sectional title. “You can see it with the crowd and how much people trust in us and how much of the community we get to come to our games.”

Now they’ll head to Monday’s 4:30 p.m. supersectional at The Ballpark at Rosemont to see the Mustangs (35-1) against Huntley (30-9), a 5-3 winner over Barrington. Johnson (24-1) escaped a couple of early jams in a 5-hitter with 9 strikeouts and 4 walks and freshman Taylor Pyke gave her the runs she needed with a 2-out, 2-run double in the first.

But Libertyville (16-17) sophomore Taylor Higham (6 strikeouts, 1 walk) started a run of 10 consecutive hitters retired when she escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the second.

“Those are two of the best pitchers in the state,” Libertyville coach Sean Ferrell said.

Tomas (2-for-4) broke the streak when she reached on a single to shortstop and throwing error.

“I was trying to get it a little more to her right,” Tomas said. “I got a little ground ball and used my speed to my advantage.”

Karina Benes had an infield single, Claire Connelly reached on a fielder’s choice and Johnson lined a 2-run single to left. Emily Courtney (2-for-3) made it 5-0 with an RBI infield single.

“She’s just our game-changer on the bases,” Johnson said of Tomas.

“We count on Kieley for so much,” said Mundelein coach Heather Ryan. “She’s just exciting up at the plate.”

The Wildcats added some drama in the seventh on consecutive one-out singles by Alivia Peterson, Lindsey Loizzo and Emily Psyhogios to break Johnson’s shutout. Johnson admitted “I got a little nervous” but ended it on a flyout to Tomas in center and a grounder to second baseman Casey Vyverman.

“I sent them a little note today about the reasons they got this far and the last one was character,” Ferrell said. “That (finish) was representative of who they are. They’re upset and it’s a good thing because they care and I hope Mundelein wins the whole thing and represents our conference.”