Softball: Ruggles, Dundee-Crown handcuff Hampshire
Dundee-Crown junior Sydney Ruggles baffled the Hampshire softball team Thursday in the Class 4A Hampshire regional semifinals, holding the Whip-Purs to 4 singles in a nail-biting 1-0 win.
Ruggles also scored the only run of the game, leading off the second inning with a single and coming in on a 2-out error.
The win sends the fifth-seeded Chargers (21-12) into the regional championship game at 11 a.m. Saturday against No. 1 Barrington.
"She did an outstanding job changing speeds today," Chargers coach Tracy Beatty said. "I think that was the key to keeping them from hitting today. She got the confidence once that started working and threw a great game."
No. 4 seed Hampshire (23-10) knew Ruggles well, winning two of three meetings during the regular season.
Ruggles said she kept a couple tricks up her sleeve for Thursday, using her changeup more. The Whip-Purs were off-balance all afternoon, either out in front of the change or way late on the heater.
"Hampshire has seen me three times so that was a key point of not just throwing fastballs but mixing it up a lot," Ruggles said. "It also helps the weather is so nice. Every time we played them it was super cold. The nice weather really helps."
Ruggles' command was pinpoint, not allowing any walks while striking out 12. She struck out the side in the fifth and fanned 2 in the first, second, third and seventh - the final 2 batters of the game after Sarah Bowen had reached on an infield single.
Three of the four hits for Hampshire were of the infield variety. Only sophomore catcher Delaney Rummell - who also picked a runner off second base - drove a single to the outfield.
"This is the best we've seen her by far," Hampshire coach Kelly Wasilewski said. "The last couple times we've saw her she's in between playing three, four, five games in a row. Now she's on some rest, it's nice and warm and obviously this is a big game. She was on. She was awesome. Lots of credit to her."
The Chargers scored in the second. After Ruggles singled, Kayla Sjodin bunted her to second, Ruggles took third on a ground out and scored when Hampshire starter Jasmine Lopez bobbled a comebacker and threw late to first.
The Whip-Purs' best chance to answer came in the sixth when Rummell and Morgan Haefling singled with one out. The Whip-Purs tried a double steal and both runners were safe as the throw to third sailed into left field.
But umpires ruled Rummell left second base early and called her out, thwarting the rally.
"It stings," Wasilewski said. "Between the error and the bad call. I don't feel she left early. That would have been two runs right there. That is what we've preached to them all season, we've got to get good jumps, we can't be late, we can't be late. I don't think she was too early."
Ruggles, Hannah Gestrich and Deanna Origer all had 2 hits for the Chargers, who will try for their second straight upset Saturday against 32-3 Barrington.
"Anything can happen regional time," Beatty said. "We're just going to go at them on Saturday and give them our best shot we can possibly give them. If we play our game I think we'll be in there."
Haefling gave the Chargers trouble with her slaps and bunts, finishing with 2 hits.
"I told them this hurts but don't let it take away from the success we've had this season," Wasilewski said. "Not winning a regional championship isn't the end of the world. We still got better as a team, we got better as individuals. Moving up from 3A to 4A when it gets to this time of year is a different ballgame. We just have to keep working."