Senior shortstop Trinity Stevenson and her Riverside Brookfield High School softball teammates already had the challenge of playing rival Lyons Township on its home field for the Class 3A LT Regional title Saturday. The Bulldogs also were fighting history and momentum as they trailed in the bottom of the fifth inning with Stevenson batting and two runners on base.
“We talked about it and were like, ‘You’ve got it. You need to just sit back,’ and any hit counted because it would have brought in a run,” Stevenson said. “I kind of took a deep breath, realized I was in that spot for a reason and needed to help the team get a win.”
Stevenson’s two-run single scored Ella Ryzewski and Brailyn Naylor and put the Bulldogs ahead for good in their 4-2 victory for their first back-to-back regional titles since 2008-12.
RBHS (26-4), the No. 2 seed in the Marist Sectional and Upstate Eight Conference East Division champions, plays No. 3 Downers Grove South (24-6) at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 27, in the sectional semifinals. The winner plays nationally ranked No. 1 Marist (33-1) or No. 4 St. Laurence (21-6) for the sectional title at 4:30 p.m. Friday, May 29.
Riverside-Brookfield’s Mia Melendez (13) connects and puts the ball in play against Lyons Township during the Class 4A Lyons Regional final Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Western Springs, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Lyons Township’s pitcher Lucy Lee (5) delivers a pitch against Riverside-Brookfield during the Class 4A Lyons Regional final Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Western Springs, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Riverside-Brookfield’s third baseman Elizabeth Ryzewski (3) snags a line drive for an out against Lyons Township during the Class 4A Lyons Regional final Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Western Springs, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark)
“The feeling was great, even though we started out a little bumpy,” Stevenson said. “(The hit) felt amazing. The adrenaline rush when I got to second base and I saw Brailyn also went in (to score), it felt great to finally take the lead and just not have an end to the season yet.”
No way this was going to be like the Bulldogs’ 11-0, six-inning win over the Lions in last year’s regional final. No. 8 LTHS (16-13) finished the season on a roll and played close in the Bulldogs’ 6-3 regular-season victory at Ehlert Park March 21.
“Definitely a good comeback. We talk that we could score at any time and score a lot of runs so we can’t press,” RBHS coach Emma Jarrell said. “It’s definitely hard to beat a team twice in a year, especially when it’s a big rival. It was very loud on the field. Both teams were super loud and you could hear the fans. It was a really cool atmosphere.”
Riverside-Brookfield’s Trinity Stevenson (7) follows through for a hit giving the Bulldogs a 3-2 over Lyons Township during the Class 4A Lyons Regional final Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Western Springs, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark) 
Lyons Township’s third baseman Maddy Pieroni (20) makes the throw to first for the final out of the inning against Riverside-Brookfield during the Class 4A Lyons Regional final Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Western Springs, IL. (Steve Johnston/Riverside-Brookfield Landmark)
The Lions had just pulled ahead 2-0 in the fifth when the Bulldogs struck with three in their half. Reese Milchhoefer started the RBHS fifth with a double. When Ryzewski bunted, the ball was thrown wildly to first base and Milchhoefer scored. Naylor then reached on an infield error, putting runners at second and first. One out later came Stevenson’s two-run single.
The Bulldogs added a run in the sixth after two outs on consecutive singles by Milchhoefer, Ryzewski and Naylor (RBI).
“This one was a lot more stressful. Compared to last year, it was just a more all-team game because we all had to work together to come back,” Milchhoefer said. “I was happy that I was able to contribute to the team, hype them up and help out. I was confident and I knew I had to at least get a hit. I didn’t think I’d get a double but it was very exciting.”
LTHS four-year senior standout Ava Jacklin reached base all four at-bats and junior Bella Luciano had two hits. Jacklin gave the Lions a 2-0 lead in the fifth. She was hit by a pitch and eventually scored when the throw got away as she was stealing third base. Luciano scored in the second on a passed ball after singles by her and senior Madeline Luciano.
Winning RBHS pitcher Amelia Pytel threw a four-hitter and struck out 11 with two walks. Pytel retired 11 of the last 13 hitters she faced, other than twice hitting Jacklin with pitches. Freshman starter Sofia Kettaneh (4.0 innings) and senior Lucy Lee (2.0 innings) pitched for the Lions. Milchhoefer, Naylor and Alexis Busse (double) each had two hits.
“I was a little bit stressed out during the game but we were able to work together and get the win,” Pytel said. “I just kept the same mindset throughout the whole game and not let their scoring affect my pitching.”
Pytel threw her first no-hitter of the season with nine strikeouts and one walk in the 15-0, three-inning victory over Kenwood in the May 20 regional semifinals. Sophomore Mia Melendez hit her 14th home run, one shy of the single-season school record.
LTHS beat Reavis 3-1 in the other regional semifinal behind RBI’s from Bella Luciano and senior Paxton Cutler and two runs by senior Maddy Pieroni, who tripled in the sixth after two walks.