Diamonds Forever Softball Team Finishes on a High Note in Elgin

While some claim diamonds are forever, the same cannot be said for softball seasons.

The Diamonds Forever 19-over fastpitch team closed out its inaugural season in style with strong performances at two recent tournaments.

Diamonds Forever went 5-2 and placed fifth in the 15-team Heritage Classic in Joliet. Stephanie Gatton pitched a shutout in a 4-0 victory over Chicago Attitude. Michelle Abruzzo, Michelle Vucsko and Nicole Stuczynski drove in runs. Abruzzo, Vucsko, Katie Freeman and Molly Hankes scored runs.

Jill Trzaska pitched a shutout in a 1-0 victory over the Aurora Raiders. Brittany Salazar scored the game’s only run. And Jackie Sernek pitched a shutout in a 2-0 victory over the Bartlett Silverhawks. Freeman scored one run and drove in Angela Roeback.

Diamonds Forever saw its dream to fight all the way back in the consolation bracket come to an end in an 8-5 loss to All American in the fourth of back-to-back-to-back-to-back games. Freeman went 2-for-3, scored one run and drove in another. Ashley Tenerelli went 1-for-3 and had two RBIs.

Then, in the John Radtke Memorial tourney in Elgin, Diamonds Forever went 3-0 in pool play en route to a third-place finish in the 24-team field. Gatton pitched a shutout in an 8-0 victory over the Roselle Rockers. She also went 2-for-3, including a homer, scored two runs and had two RBIs.

Trzaska was the winning pitcher in a 4-3 victory over the Tinley Park Vipers. Caitlin Wilcox hit a solo homer. Vucsko drove in two runs. Sernek was the winning pitcher in a 6-5 victory over the Elgin Heat. Freeman went 1-for-3, scored one run and stole two bases. Vucsko went 1-for-3 and had three RBIs. Salazar went 1-for-3 and had one RBI.

Diamonds Forever was blanked by Team Hooters (Mich.) 10-0 in its finale and finished with a 17-5-1 record. Salazar and Freeman had the only hits in the swan song for the first-year team. Diamonds Forever was the only Illinois team to place in the top three in Elgin.