Bishop Chatard dominated from the plate and ran around the bases with ease as it did its best to celebrate five birthdays for people connected to the girls softball program by easily taking care of business against north-side nemesis Brebeuf Jesuit.

Twins and members of the softball team, Amy and Kelly Hill, Anna Miles (daughter of Bishop Chatard head coach P.J. Miles), John Miles (Coach Miles' uncle) and Josephine Miles (coach Miles mother) each were celebrating a birthday and did it in style as they watched Bishop Chatard dominate Brebeuf Jesuit 16-4 in six innings in the first round of sectional competition at Roncalli on Monday.

The Trojans advance to play the winner of the game between host Roncalli and Howe Academy, slated  to be played on Wednesday, for a berth in the championship game set Saturday at 5 p.m.

Senior Morgan Cheesman scored off a hit by junior Casey Williamson to make it 1-0 in the first inning before Brebeuf Jesuit tied it at one on their first bat of the contest. The Braves would get no closer.

Braves make a comeback, Trojans respond

Bishop Chatard scored six unanswered runs to lead 7-1 in the top of the second before the Braves made a comeback. Brebeuf Jesuit left two runners on base in the second before scoring one run in the third and adding two more to cut it to 7-4 after the fourth.

 The Braves rallied to beat Park Tudor 12-11 in the last regular season of the game, but no rally was in the cards as Bishop Chatard sent 13 batters to the plate in the top of the sixth inning and scored eight runs to seal the win. The Trojans beat Brebeuf Jesuit 14-1 during the regular season.

Senior Jillian Craig went 3-for-4, Kelly Hill pounded out two hits and Williamson hit a triple that led to 3 RBI. Williamson is hitting over .470 along with 12 triples--both marks lead the state--and has 32 RBI.

Miles gave kudos to the Braves who played better than the score indicated.

"Brebeuf Jesuit played very well, today," Miles said. "They came out and played hard and took it to us."

Miles was disappointed how his team seemed to get comfortable once it took a big lead early in the game, yet liked how the team responded after squandering the lead.

"We just got complacent," Miles said. "It is a win and we get to move on, but these girls need to realize that they just cannot get complacent in these games. I do not think we will be able to do that against our next opponent."

Senior pitcher Molly Kilbane pitched two games over the weekend and it showed as she had a hard time with her control, but freshman Lauren Brown came in the last two innings to shutdown any chances of comeback by Brebeuf Jesuit.

"I am very proud of her effort in the game," Miles said. "She came in relief and did a great job of keeping the Braves batters off balance."

Pictures Available

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