Softball: Downers Grove North Captures Regional Title

The score: Downers Grove 2, Oswego East 0

The way it happened: The South Suburban Blue conference title was on the line Thursday as Lemont took on rival Oak Forest. Lemont needed a victory to take the crown; a loss would have meant a three-way tie with Oak Forest and Tinley Park.

After sharing the title with Oak Forest last year and repeatedly finishing second in years past, the Indians finally came out on top with a 1-0 win Thursday—ending the Bengals' eight-year reign as conference champions.

Lemont improved to 21-5 on the season and 17-2 in conference play. The Bengals slipped to 20-14 overall and 15-4 in South Suburban Blue.

Senior Carly Jarowski (9-5) led the Indians on the mound, allowing only two hits and tallying five strikeouts. She went 1-3 at the plate with a single and a walk. Her courtesy runner, sophomore Karina Folliard, scored the game's only run.

Oak Forest pitcher Emily Larsen struck out six in six innings and gave up nine hits and four walks.

The play: With two outs in the first inning, Oak Forest pitcher Emily Larsen gave up three straight singles off the bats of Jarowski, shortstop Rylie Jay and catcher Lauren May. Folliard, Jarowski's courtesy runner, scored on a passed ball.

The quote: "It's taken us a long time to be in this spot," Lemont head coach Christine Traina said of her team's conference title. "Oak Forest is a great team that has challenged us for many years, so this feels good. I'm extremely proud of my girls."

Lemont notables: 

• Carly Jaworski: 7 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 5 SO; 1-3, single, BB
• Rylie Jay: 2-3, 2 singles, BB
• Rachel Hall: 2-4, 2 singles
• Lauren May: 1-2, single, HBP

Oak Forest notables:

• Emily Larsen: 6 IP, 1 R, 9 H, 6 SO
• Ashley Benninger: 1-3, single
• Calie Delisi: 1-3, single
• Alyssa Johnson: 1-2, single, HBP

The next opponents:

• Lemont: Saturday vs. Belleville East (Sharks Field of Dreams in Minooka), 3 p.m.
• Oak Forest: Wednesday vs. TBD (IHSA Regional), 4:30 p.m.