Road to East Peoria looks smooth to Panthers.(Sports Extra) - Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL)

Byline: Dave Miller Daily Herald Sports Writer

The Daily Herald's top two softball teams, No. 1 Lake Park and No. 2 Glenbard North, could meet in the Class AA semifinals June 10 at EastSide Centre in East Peoria.

First things first, according to Glenbard North coach Jim McKinney.

'The main thing is getting downstate, which has been our goal since the last time we were down there (in 2001),' McKinney said.

Lake Park advanced to state the past two years and looks to be challenged in its bid to make it three straight. In assignments released by the Illinois High School Association, the Lancers head the field in a loaded Downers Grove South supersectional, which also includes the host Mustangs, Benet, Glenbard West, Wheaton North and Wheaton Warrenville South.

The Downers South supersectional winner will face the winner of the Bremen supersectional, which contains highly regarded Lincoln- Way East, Lincoln-Way Central, Lockport and Marian Catholic, in the state quarterfinals.

McKinney likes Glenbard North's road to state.

'I think the gods are shining on us, to be truthful,' he said.

Glenbard North looks to be heavily favored to come out of the Rosary sectional. The Panthers then would meet the Harlem sectional champion in the Northern Illinois University supersectional and then possibly Oak Park in the state quarterfinals.

A good host: For all its good teams of the past, the last time Downers South reached the Elite Eight was in 1993 when it won the Class AA title. The Mustangs have often been sent south come regional-sectional time to do battle with the many great softball programs of the south suburbs.

This year Downers South will stay at home to host a regional, sectional and supersectional. Was it an attempt by the Mustangs to avoid being sent south?

Hardly.

According to Downers South coach Ron Havelka, the IHSA called athletic director Todd Cassens to see if the Mustangs would be willing to host a stage of the tournament.

'Todd put in (a request to host) and the IHSA said, 'How would you like all three of 'em?' ' Havelka said.

The Mustangs have hosted only one regional in Havelka's previous 12 years. Two years ago they were in the same regional as Lockport. This year they wouldn't run into the defending state champion until state.

Class A assignments: All of DuPage County's small schools have been assigned to the Plano sectional. Driscoll, Immaculate Conception, Lisle, Montini, St. Francis, Timothy Christian, Westmont and Wheaton Academy will join top-seeded St. Edward there.

The Plano sectional winner will meet the St. Francis de Sales sectional champion in the University of Illinois-Chicago supersectional.

The Class A finals are set for June 3-4 in East Peoria.

Hitting in a pinch: The University of Illinois softball program recorded its 200th win last week with a 5-2 comeback victory over visiting Bradley with a little help from a former area ace.

Naperville North graduate Jackelyn Diekemper played a key role in the milestone win, but not how you might guess. Known more for her pitching than hitting in high school, Diekemper pinch hit and delivered a two-out, 2-run single up the middle in the sixth inning that held up as the game-winning hit.

'Jackelyn really swung the bat well in practice yesterday,' Illinois coach Terri Sullivan said after the game. 'When we told her she was going to hit, she had a look of confidence.'

Paying the price for success: Wheaton Warrenville South sophomore softball reserve Alli Hlavach wasn't looking forward to her English class Tuesday after making an outstanding play at second base in the Tigers' 7-0 victory over Naperville Central on Monday afternoon.

Seems Redhawks assistant coach Joe Gerace has temporarily come out of retirement to return to the halls of Wheaton Warrenville South for this semester as ... you guessed it ... an English (as well as speech and drama) teacher.

'The second baseman just lost 10 points in English,' Gerace said after Hlavach made the fifth-inning play on Katie Bradley's groundball.

Perhaps with Gerace's mock threat on her mind, Hlavach booted Erika Klotz's seventh inning ground ball but quickly recovered in time to throw her out at first base anyway.

Gerace, a Wheaton resident who taught for 35 years at what used to be Wheaton Central as well as at Wheaton Warrenville South, lovingly admits he was a moving target at school all day Monday because he was wearing his red Naperville Central shirt.

But the Tigers got the last laugh on the field.

- Larry Randa contributed to this report.