Softball: St. Edward denied in 1st state appearance
EAST PEORIA - Slapping and speed are a tough duo to defend against, but put that dual threat at the state level and it becomes an even bigger task.
In their first Class 2A state appearance in school history, the St. Edward Green Wave (28-9) found out the hard way that execution is key to overcoming these aspects of the game in order to be successful as they fell to the Dupo Tigers 5-1.
"When you have a couple slappers at the top that can create and there is a little hesitation in some of the throws it makes a difference," said first-year St. Edward coach Paul Netzel. "Most of the time we have been able to handle it, but today was just not our day."
Allie Stratman reached on a hard single to left in the first inning that put a charge in the Green Wave faithful, but was left stranded on the base paths.
The Tigers' (21-5) leadoff batter, Alyssa Strubberg, reached on an infield hit and would go on to score an unearned run in the bottom half of the inning to take an early 1-0 lead.
After 2 quick strikeouts to start the bottom of the second inning and the Tigers' nine hitter coming to the plate, it looked like momentum was shifting in St. Edward's direction.
Unfortunately, that would not be the case.
The Tigers' Caitlyn Brizzi reached on an infield error which was then followed by an infield single, a walk, and finally a bases-clearing double by Southeast Missouri State recruit Rachael Donald which was a tough blow for the Green Wave.
"That 3-run spot in the second inning kind of got the girls down," Netzel said. "We've come back from those kind of deficits early in the year, but we were just kind of psyched out by it."
Lindsay Zdroik (4 strikeouts) tossed all 6 innings for the Green Wave and was able to hold the Tigers to just 1 more unearned run over the last 5 innings, but the early damage was too much to overcome.
At the plate, the Green Wave struggled to find the offense as they were held to 5 hits over 7 innings with no two hits in the same inning.
"Most of our hitters were swinging way too early and that was a big problem for us," said Stratman who collected 2 of the Green Wave's hits. "She was a slower pitcher and I don't think we stayed back on her enough to make solid contact."
Emily Stapay, Jackie Boydston, and Zdroik each record singles to round out the Wave's offense.
The Wave were able to get on the board in the top of the sixth as Stratman singled to lead off the inning and came all the way around to third from an outfield error. Zdroik then promptly lifted a high fly ball to left field to plate Stratman via the sacrifice fly.
After a scoreless seventh inning, the Wave's shot at becoming state champions came to a disappointing end.
"We came in with the mindset to win, but unfortunately we didn't do what it takes to do that," said Zdroik. "A lot of people consider us the underdogs, so we just have to show that we do belong here and go out and win a game."
Despite the disappointing outcome, the Green Wave will have a chance to redeem themselves as they will take on the Rockridge Rockets, who fell to Carterville 6-5 in the other 2A matchup, Saturday at 3 p.m. for a chance to bring home the third-place trophy.
"We're going to come out (Saturday) and play hard no matter what the outcome is going to be," said Stratman. "We are not in the running for the championship anymore, so hopefully we will feel free and loose to play our game."