March 06, 2025
Sports

High school softball: Montini wins title in first state appearance

By DAVE OWEN

Montini softball players celebrate after winning the Class 3A state title on June 11. The Broncos defeated Washington 4-1 in the championship game. (Photo provided)

PEORIA – Football, wrestling and girls basketball now have company in the Montini trophy case.

Trailing Washington 1-0 in the Class 3A softball state championship game Saturday, the Broncos struck for four runs in the top of the sixth inning to win 4-1 and cap their first trip downstate in softball with a title.

"We're a battling team, we've done that all year," Montini coach Mike Bukovsky said. "Things didn't look that pretty for awhile, but they never quit. Emily Lezcano, one of our seniors, gets hit by a pitch [leading off the sixth] and takes one for the team, and things get rolling."

Naomi Alonzo followed the Lezcano hit by pitch with a walk, then an error on Lauren Latoria's sacrifice bunt scored the tying run and put runners at first and third.

Two outs later, Isabell Alexander's two-run single to left put the Broncos (37-3) up 3-1, and a throwing error on Nicole Cuchran's ground ball to short added an insurance run.

"In some big time moments we've been able to play small ball," Bukovsky said. "We're just a complete team. I'm so proud of them."

Bri Clifton was the winning pitcher, scattering five hits. After a solo home run by Washington's Savannah Budd in the second inning, Clifton stranded seven runners on base. She retired the side in order in the seventh, capped by a ground out to second baseman Latoria for the final out.