Softball: Freshman Gruenberg Leads Spartans to Regional Title

Maine West beat twice in the regular season and topped them in the conference standings. The two met for a third time in a regional final, so what does North do?

Turn to a freshman.

Ashley Gruenberg, who pitched in relief but didn’t start either regular season game against the Warriors, pitched a complete game shutout in a 4-0 win for the Spartans in the Glenbrook North Regional.

Gruenberg struck out eight batters and allowed just three hits and one walk.

“I think she just did a great job,” GBN coach Jenn Mau said. “She was composed on the mound. She hit her spots and her pitches were breaking.”

The No. 3 seed Warriors started the game shaky. Jenny McTague led the game off with a single for the No. 6 Spartans and the next two batters reached on errors, allowing McTague to score.

The first inning run gave Gruenberg the lead before she threw a pitch. She retired the first seven batters and struck out the side in the second inning. An infield single in the third from Ariel Valles was the Warriors’ only hit until the seventh inning.

Gruenberg didn’t know she would be the starter until the warm ups just before the game, but said that helped her.

“Sometimes its better just not to be overthinking it because a lot of times it can get overwhelming if you overthink it,” she said. “It’s just important to keep your mind clear.”

McTague gave the Spartans some breathing room in the fifth with a double and scored on the play following two throwing errors. The Warriors committed four errors, each of which contributed to the first two runs. Meanwhile, the Spartans played clean defense.

“The prior two times that we played Maine West our defense was a little off,” Colleen Ahern said. “Today we were just trying to prove to everyone that this is the team that we are. The team that they had seen the prior two times, that was not us.”

Ahern doubled in Alena Marovitz and Lindsay Synek in the top of the seventh to make it a comfortable lead. Ahern struck out in her first three at-bats.

“It was tough because I had three strikeouts and I’m really not used to that. I’m used to getting up there and just hitting the ball so I was kind of down on myself,” Ahern said. “I just tried to forget about everything and just hit the ball.”

In the bottom half of the seventh Gruenberg got the first two batters out, but gave up back-to-back singles. The freshman said she was very nervous for the last out.

“Being a freshman it was really exciting to win this,” Gruenberg said. “It’s my first win even though my team has had wins in the past.”

It’s the Spartans’ second straight regional title and with just one senior on this year’s team, there could be more to come. For now, the Spartans (16-10-1) will focus on Thursday’s sectional semifinal against No. 2 Glenbrook South at Duke Childs Field in Winnetka.