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Girls Softball

June 3, 2007

Lane Tech Indians Use Shock and Awe Strategy to Defeat Loyola Ramblers

May 31, 2007…Chicago, IL -- The first inning set the tone and demonstrated that the Lane Tech Indians could hit ace Loyola Rambler pitcher Devin Miller. Lead-off hitter Daniela Torres jacked a deep fly to left center, but it was caught. The next batter, Jackie Manrique, lined a shot at the Loyola pitcher that she speared for the second out. The Lane inning ended when third batter Denise Bilski lined out to the Rambler’s 2^nd baseman. Setting the tone for pitching acumen, Ace Lane Pitcher Jazzy Camacho then took to the mound to shut out the strong-hitting Ramblers and hold them to a single hit through the first three innings. The defensive play of the game occurred in the bottom half of the first inning as a Rambler player slammed a screaming line drive passed the pitcher, clearly heading into center field, when 2^nd basemen Bernadette Hansen came from nowhere to stab the line drive in mid air and help hold the Rambler’s hitless.

In Lane’s second inning, lead-off hitter Maria Joyce worked an 0-2 count into a lead-off walk. She came home to score ahead of second baseman Bernadette Hansen. Hansen launched a 1-2 pitch into the left field bleachers for a 2-0 Indian lead. The two Indian runs ultimately proved the winning margin for the Resurrection Sectional Semi-Final Game.

The Lane Tech Indians almost launched another scoring threat in the 4^th inning where they loaded the bases with only one out. But Loyola pitcher Miller threw successive strikeouts to end the threat. The Ramblers held the Lane Tech Indians scoreless for the balance of the game, however, they only managed two single hits with only one batter reaching second as star pitcher Camacho out performed the highly rated Miller.

This thrilling match up between rival public school Lane Tech and the private Loyola Academy ended breathlessly as the Ramblers managed to get players on first and second at the bottom of the 7^th. But winning pitcher Camacho induced a weak pop-out caught by superstar third baseman Daniela Torres. The rest, as they say, is truly history. It is the first time that a Lane Tech Varsity Softball team will participate in a sectional final. Many thanks to all of the wonderful fans who filled the Lane cheering section.

The Indians play against Resurrection at Resurrection on Saturday, June 2, at 11 a.m. for the Resurrection IHSA Sectional Championship.

Lane players lift pitcher Jazzy Camacho after her shut out of Loyola. photo courtesy Mark Nikolich

Bernadette Hansen during her game winning home run trot. photo courtesy Mark Nikolich