The Downers Grove DOLLS 15-and-under Rebels fastpitch softball team went 7-0 to win the 16-and-under TNT Summer Explosion Tournament June 20 to 23 in Yorkville.

 The most dramatic win of the title run came on the final day against the Northern Illinois Thunder, when Katie Hunzinger of Downers Grove hit a home run in the bottom of the last inning to score two runs and rally the Rebels to a 2-1 victory.

 In the championship game that night, the Rebels needed only one inning to put away the Carol Stream Storm. A first inning grand slam by Michelle Lisy got the action started and ultimately led to a 10-3 victory for the Rebels.  

Other highlights included the first tournament game, when the Rebels beat the Geneva Foxes 5-2 behind big offensive games from Downers Grove residents Kelsey Navins and Jenna Butler and strong pitching from Lisy.

After an 8-0 win over the Aurora Raiders in which Shelby Fry pitched a no-hitter, the Rebels rallied from a 4-0 deficit to beat the Huntley Hurricanes 6-4.

Emma Topps of Downers Grove was the Rebels’ leading hitter for the tournament with a .450 average, followed by Hunzinger (.412) and Downers Grove’s Kristina Airdo (.320).

Behind the plate, Emily Levine of Downers Grove caught all but a couple innings of the tournament and called great games keeping opposing offensives off balance.

For the tournament, Fry was 4-0 with 22 innings pitched, 29 strikeouts and an ERA of .64. Lisy, 3-0 for the weekend, pitched 23 innings with a 1.52 ERA.

“The team stayed relentlessly focused offensively and defensively throughout all seven games,” said Coach Beth Blair. “Every player did her part to ensure the victories.”

The Yorkville title followed the Rebels’ June 8 co-championship of the Hodgkins tournament, which earned the team a bid to the 2008 USSSA World Series in Hutchinson, Kan., July 20-27. In addition to Blair, the team is coached by Rick Wake and Bill Blair.