Kaneland blanks Nazareth, punches ticket to state

Kaneland's softball program has waited 15 years to get back to the state tournament, so what was a little 90-minute weather delay Monday at the Class 3A Rosemont supersectional?

Not much to these Knights. They waited out the storms, then jumped on Nazareth early on their way to a 4-0 victory that puts them in Friday's Class 3A state semifinals at Eastside Centre in East Peoria.

Kaneland (24-8) will play either Wauconda or Marengo, a supersectional matchup that like every other 3A one besides the Knights' was postponed Monday.

Kaneland posed with its supersectional plaque following the win, then quickly got back in its dugout to dodge yet another downpour with hail and severe wind gusts.

"It was hard to stay focused but we did an extremely good job of it," junior third baseman Meg Cohrs said. "We stayed loose and ready to play the entire time."

Kaneland's only other state appearance came in 2000 when it lost 1-0 in the Class A quarterfinals to Pinckneyville. This year's Knights have shut out four of their five postseason opponents behind Wisconsin-bound Angie Morrow, who overcome a wild start with 5 walks by striking out 10 - including 6 of the final 7.

"I can't say how proud I am of these girls," Kaneland coach Peter Goff said. "Angie really beared down. She doesn't get frustrated. I told one of our girls she doesn't get frustrated, she gets mad. She did a good job today once she gets in that groove. Just excited for her and excited for the girls."

With the way Morrow is pitching, one run looks pretty good to Kaneland - and the Knights didn't waste any time getting it.

Nazareth (23-14) had a chance to score first but stranded runners at the corners in the top of the first. The Roadrunners left 8 runners on base in the first 5 innings.

Aly Jesionowski walked with out one out in the bottom of the first, took second on senior catcher Paige Kuefler's single and scored on Cohrs' hit between first and second.

"It's been really hard because on the bus we were all motivated and ready to come out and get this done and it starts raining and we're sitting around for awhile," Kuefler said. "It's hard after sitting around to go back out but I'm really happy that we came out hard again versus sitting back."

Cohrs made three straight assists at third base in the top of the third, including a diving stop to take a hit away from Gloria Corona, then Kaneland scored 2 more runs against Cat Klostermann in the bottom of the inning for a 3-0 lead.

Kuefler stayed hot with another single, went to second when Cohrs was hit by a pitch, took third on Morgan Weber's bunt and scored when Nazareth bobbled Morgan Sikon's ground ball to second. Cohrs scooted home on a passed ball.

Kuefler and Cohrs once again teamed up for Kaneland's final run in the fifth. Kuefler tripled to deep right center and scored on Cohrs' second RBI single to right field.

"That triple felt awesome," said Kuefler who has been on fire during the postseason with home runs in both sectional wins last week. "I'm very comfortable. Once I get in that box I know that box is mine. Not hers (the pitcher's)."

Kuefler and Cohrs, Kaneland's No. 3-4 hitters, combined to go 5-for-6 Monday; the rest of the lineup struggled at 1-for-18.

Morrow didn't need any more offense. While she couldn't locate her best pitch, her drop ball, she adjusted with more curves and a couple timely changeups when Nazareth threatened.

"My control definitely wasn't what it normally is but I just had to focus on a different pitch," Morrow said. "I'm kind of speechless. It's awesome because no one thought we could and no one thought we would. It just feels so good to prove people wrong."

Kuefler, a four-year starter, had a similar way to describe state.

"I'm speechless," Kuefler said. "This is absolutely amazing. It's truly amazing to be going to state. Like we're going to state. Angie, we're going to state! This is a huge dream come true. Huge."

Nazareth finished with just 3 singles. Morrow struck out the side in the seventh, two of them on called thirds including leadoff hitter Devyn Zuro to end the game and start the celebration.

First-year coach Goff spread the credit around, not just to his players but also their families.

"The reason why Paige is such a good catcher is because of her dad," Goff said. "Angie Morrow is such a good pitcher because of her dad. All these players are good players because their parents have taken them all over the nation probably to play and this is what is paying off. I'm happy for the Kaneland community. A lot of things have fallen into place."