“Believe” has been the motto for the Trinity softball team all season. The Blazers even wear T-shirts emblazoned with the word under their uniforms.
The team believes it will finish the season with the program’s best record-currently at 22-9-and it hopes to include a trip to Peoria in early June for the Class 3A State Tournament. The Blazers will go for their fourth consecutive regional championship on Saturday. This marks the first year Trinity is hosting both the regionals and the sectionals as the top-ranked team.
“It should be an advantage, but we have to use it as an advantage,” said coach Bob Osborne. “We have home games all the way through.”
The Blazers look tough to beat with ace Emma-Leigh Strock taking the mound. Strock is 16-6 and tossed a no hitter against Guerin earlier in the season. She had nine strikeouts and only one walk in that 12-0 win. Strock also combined with pitcher Emily Landa to produce back-to-back no-hitters in the first two games of the season. The highlight of the season for the hurler was the 5-4 win over McAuley in the GCAC semi-final.
“We fought all of the way through. I couldn’t be more proud of the team,” she said. Strock looked to the upcoming playoffs, “I’m excited that we have a chance to host this year. I think the drive that we have to never give up will take us far.”
Catcher Laura Eichenold has been a major contributor to the offense this year. Eichenold is batting over .500 on the season. Her personal highlight thus far this season she says was her first home run over the fence. She also spoke about the conference semi-final.
“The McAuley game was great for us. I thought it would pick us up for our regional and sectionals,” said Eichenold. “We’re hoping for a trampoline effect: Get on the ground first and just jump up.”
Shortstop Monica Albano leads the team with six home runs.
“We’re looking to go farther than we’ve ever gone, obviously, and hosting the sectional gives us a better opportunity,” she said.
Another member of Trinity hitting arsenal includes junior Erica LeCoure. In a tough loss last week to Morton, LeCoure went 2-for-3 with a much-needed leadoff home run in the fifth inning.
The No. 1 and 2 hitters for the Blazers also have speed. Mimi Ramirez and Annie Logisz have combined for almost 50 stolen bases to pose a scoring threat.
“We’re excited. We have a good shot. We just have to clean up a couple of things and put it together here now,” said Osborne.
Trinity plays a tune-up game tomorrow at home against Nazareth at 4:45 p.m. They’ll play the regional championship on Saturday at Noon at Triton College.
