HIGHLAND | Morgan Franovich said she didn't know what was at stake at Monday's Class 4A Highland Sectional opener between Lake Central and E.C. Central.
"I didn't know until they announced it after the game," she said.
Then, her conscience got the best of her.
"Well, I knew -- but I didn't want to jinx myself," said Franovich, Lake Central's senior pitcher.
In L.C.'s 13-0 five-inning win, Franovich threw a perfect game, striking out eight and sending her Indians (24-2) to Thursday's semifinal game against Highland.
A perfect game is rare. Hitting for the cycle in high school softball is even rarer. L.C. sophomore Lizzie Seymour had a double, triple and home run in the first three innings. She would've got another at-bat in the fourth, but L.C. coach Jeff Sherman pinch hit freshman Sydney Scherzinger instead.
Scherzinger tripled.
"I know Lizzie is a team player and it was more important to give a teammate an at-bat than it was to hit for the cycle," Sherman said. "We just wanted to come out and play the softball we know how to play and I think we did that."
The Cardinals are improving under coach Amanda Heckaman, but the inner-city school hadn't seen anything like Lake Central this spring. E.C. starter Andrea Rivera had the Indians' lineup off balance early.
Everyone except for Seymour.
"I just went up there and hit," she said. "I didn't really think about it. I didn't mind coming out at all."
Teammate Julia Druzbicki was 2-for-3 with two doubles, three runs scored and one RBI. Alyssa Childress and Kayla Bishton each had two RBIs.
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