Summit Hill Softball Finishes Season In Regional Championship Game

FRANKFORT, IL — The Summit Hill Junior High varsity softball team finished its season Sept. 13 with a shot at the IESA Regional Championship, but ended up losing 9-5 to crosstown rival Hickory Creek Middle School.

It was Summit Hill's first trip back to the Regional Championship game since 2018 when it won the IESA State title, according to coach Scott Chromcak. Hickory Creek went on to place second in this year's State Tournament.

Summit Hill finished the season with a record of 17-6. Of those 17 wins, 14 came via the so-called "slaughter rule."

The Regional Championship game was the third time Summit Hill faced off against Hickory Creek this season. The teams split the previous two regular season meetings, Chromcak said.

But there was no shame in losing a tough game to a tough opponent, Chromcak said.

"We have a tough regional because we always have Hickory Creek, and they're always really good," he said. "It's usually between us and them knocking the other one out."

Summit Hill jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning of the game, which was held in Chicago Heights, but errors committed early in the game cost Summit Hill runs that ended up being too much to overcome, Chromcak said.

Chromcak added that he was proud of the team and their performance this year.

"The one thing I always told them is: No matter what, I always have their back," he said. "That was one one of our running mantras for the year — that no matter what, Coach Chromcak always has your back."

This year's varsity softball team was made up of:

• Mia Balta
• Macie Campbell
• Audrey Cohen
• Carrigan Davidson
• Ellie Dobesh
• Lily Fiene
• Alexa Hearn
• Monica Hickey
• Taylor Hill
• Maddie Kelly
• Olivia Moreno
• Ashlee Palmer
• Sarah Uza

Summit Hill Junior High School is part of Summit Hill School District 161, and includes students from Frankfort, Mokena and Tinley Park.