Kaneland blanks Lemont to win regional crown
The IHSA sent Kaneland's softball team in a new direction - East - for the postseason this year, a move that seems to be suiting the Knights quite well.
Morgan Weber launched a 2-run home run in the first inning and senior pitcher Angie Morrow did the rest in Kaneland's 3-0 victory over Lemont Friday in the Class 3A Lemont regional championship game.
The Knights (21-8) won their first regional title since 2012 and second in the last 10 years after a string of 3 straight, and they did it in new athletic director Peter Goff's first year as coach.
"I'm happy for the girls, I'm happy for Kaneland, I'm happy for (assistant) coach Mike (Kuefler). I'm just driving the bus," Goff said.
"As being the athletic director now, it's unbelievable people don't know where we're at. We're just this little mirage out there in the middle of the country. Our athletes just work so hard and we have great coaches and great communities and great kids."
Fifth-seed Kaneland will play No. 1 seed Montini in the Class 3A Montini sectional semifinals Tuesday. The Knights' last sectional crown came in 2003.
Kaneland can turn again to the Wisconsin-bound Morrow, now 14-2 this year with losses to just St. Charles East and 1-0 to Rock Falls.
"This (title) was one of our main goals this year," Morrow said. "That's probably one of the best offensive teams we've faced this year. Knowing they had such a good offensive team it was nice knowing I had my defense behind me. I just had to keep taking deep breaths, calm myself down."
Originally scheduled for Saturday, the game was moved up a day to beat the forecasted rain. The rain still came and delayed the start 40 minutes, but once the Knights started playing they quickly took control.
After Lemont starter Jade Mardjetko (9-6) struck out the first two batters, Paige Kuefler started a 3-run rally with a long double to right-center.
Lemont (20-12) threw away Meg Cohrs' grounder to third allowing Kuefler to score the first run. It was the only error of the game for either team.
"That kind of blew it open for them," Lemont coach Christine Traina said. "They are a good team, I'm not going to take anything away from them, but we could still be playing (0-0)."
Weber followed with her home run well over the left-field fence, her sixth of the season. After the game she went out to retrieve the ball from a pond behind the fence.
"Right in my spot," Weber said of the pitch she hit. "I've been struggling the last couple weeks. I just believed in myself and went up to the plate relaxed and was patient. I was looking for a base hit, not a home run, just like coach Mike says all the time."
Coaching third, as soon as Goff saw the ball leave Weber's bat he said "goodbye."
"Morgan just smoked it," Goff said. "PK (Kuefler) got us going on that double. We talk about the team that makes the less mistakes wins and that's what happened right off the bat."
Kaneland didn't score again, mustering 3 hits the final 6 innings and 5 for the game.
Morrow didn't need any more support, holding Lemont to 5 singles. She got help in the field including a couple impressive catches by Weber showing her range at shortstop, Rachel Goress in center field and Morgan Sikon at second base. Kuefler threw out a would-be base stealer.
Lemont' best chance came in the sixth. A pair of singles brought the tying run to the plate with 2 outs.
Morrow found a little extra, getting Lemont's No. 5 hitter to go down swinging on an outside heater.
Kuefler and Weber both went 2-for-3 - Weber was robbed of a third hit - combining for 4 of Kaneland's 5 hits.
"We had that timely hitting in the first inning and our defense was spectacular," Goff said. "And our bench did a great job, they had them up the whole game. I'm proud of everybody, all 21 girls, they all know their role, they all embrace their roles."