Think big: Maddie Hernandez’s two-out RBI single in top of seventh lifts St. Charles North to Class 4A state title. ‘She got it done.’

PEORIA — Never underestimate the power of small ball.

Sophomore Maddie Hernandez certainly won’t from now on, and neither will her St. Charles North softball teammates. Not after making program history this way.

The 5-foot-3 Hernandez is the North Stars’ smallest player, but in Saturday’s Class 4A state championship game against powerhouse Marist, she came up with the biggest hit.

“I was in a bad spot,” Hernandez said of being 0-for-3 entering her final at-bat. “I lost confidence in myself, but the team and coaches never lost confidence in me.

“Earlier in the game, coach (Tom) Poulin said that I was going to get a hit in this game.”

And what a hit it was.

Hernandez’s sharp two-out RBI single to center field in the top of the seventh gave St. Charles North a 3-2 lead over the RedHawks at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex.

Freshman relief pitcher Paige Murray and an outstanding defense made it stand for the North Stars (27-4), getting three more outs to secure the program’s first state title.

Hernandez, who’s hitting .320, had the winner in a 5-4 sectional victory over Glenbard North but struggled and went hitless in the supersectional and the state semifinal.

“She was tough on herself all game and didn’t like her at bats,” Poulin said of Hernandez. “We had a running conversation the whole game, and she got it done.”

Junior third baseman Julia Larson, an Illinois State recruit, and Ashlee Chantos each had two hits against Marist pitcher Brooke McNichols (23-5).

Larson tried to encourage Hernandez.

“She was dropping her hands a little bit,” Larson said. “We kept saying, ‘Stay level, stay level, stay level.’

“That’s exactly what she did too, taking the ball right up the middle to score the run we needed.”

Marist (31-6-1), the defending state champion, came in ranked No. 1, with St. Charles North at No. 7. The Redhawks had 45 home runs, compared to eight for the North Stars.

“I think assistant coach Thijs (Dennison) were the only ones worried about that,” Poulin said. “These girls show up and win one at a time. They don’t know anything different.”

The North Stars did know they were considered underdogs by most observers.

They also were not deterred as starting pitcher Ava Goettel carried a no-hitter through four innings before giving up a double to Breanna Hanik.

St. Charles North, meanwhile, knocked on the door by putting runners in scoring position in three of the first four innings and stranding six runners.

The North Stars then scored twice in the fifth inning on Sophia Olman’s sacrifice fly and Megan Bauwens’ RBI single for a 2-0 lead.

Sierra Sass reached on an error in the bottom of the sixth before Goettel gave way to Murray, who gave up back-to-back hits that forced a 2-2 tie.

It set the stage for Hernandez and her heroics.

In between, the North Stars’ outfield of Butler commit Leigh VandeHei in center, Winona State recruit Chantos in right and Meghan Nicastro in left turned in stellar plays that left Marist’s players and fans shaking their heads in frustration.

VandeHei provided the highlight by ranging far from left to right in center to make a diving, laying-out catch to rob Gianna Richy of an extra-base hit.

Two innings later, Chantos ranged into right-center to make a running catch on Richy.

“All year we’ve told them they were the best outfield in the state,” Poulin said. “Maybe now they’ll believe it.

“That catch by VandeHei, that’s the best catch I’ve seen in my years coaching, especially on this stage.”

In the sixth, Nicastro started in before darting back to rob Caroline O’Brien of an extra-base hit that could have given Marist the lead.

And in the seventh, junior second baseman Margo Geary ranged far to make a sliding catch on the right field line.

“They are the best outfield in the state,” Goettel said. “I’m saying that right now.

“We came out here with nothing to lose, and getting the early lead was a big help.”

Larson agreed and added, “All the pressure was on Marist.”