Addie Bechler, Anna Starr and their Crystal Lake Central co-op teammates couldn’t help but smile Thursday evening as they walked off the field and looked into the east stands of Hinsdale Central’s Dickinson Field.

The Tigers had just lost 13-6 to Loyola Academy in the IHSA state semifinals, but as Central players looked into the stands and saw a sea of fans dressed in neon orange t-shirts cheering them on, they remembered what they had accomplished this weekend.

Central had qualified for its first-ever state finals and had the support of its community behind it.

“It’s nice to just look to the sidelines and see the huge sea of orange cheering for you,” junior Anna Starr said. “Even if there’s a bad play or anything, you just know that there’s so many people behind you and supporting you.

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