The Moline Maroons (30-11) were one strike away from a Class 4A state semifinal win and a berth in the title game when the Bartlett Hawks (32-8) mounted a rally and upset the defending state champs 7-3 Friday at Eastside Centre. Moline entered the top of the seventh clinging to a 3-2 advantage. Sophomore pitcher Alaina Hofmann got the first batter of the inning to fly to center, but hit No. 9 hitter Steph Tomazin. Hofmann struck out the next hitter, but a walk brought Temple-bound junior catcher Kaylyn Zierke to the plate. After working the count full, Zierke singled in the tying run. Two batters later, Kayla Haberstich hit a three-run homer that put Bartlett up for good. The Hawks rally erased a record-tying two-homer effort by Moline senior shortstop Brittny Drish. The Illinois State Redbird commit drove in all three Maroons runs, using a bat that wasn’t even hers. “I got mine confiscated in the very beginning of the game,” Drish said. “I ended up using the same bat that (Jordan de los Reyes) does, but its Lecy Walsbusser’s bat.” Bartlett plays Chicago Marist (26-15) in the IHSA Class 4A Championship game at 5:00 p.m. Saturday. Click here for complete game stats.
-Bob
