BC finally breaks through

As Brooke Porto anxiously waited for another turn at bat, the Burlington Central senior felt confident that it was only a matter of time before her team finally broke up the scoreless tie in the Class 3A Rosary regional title game in Aurora.

Twice before, in the third and fifth innings, the Rockets' number three hitter had batted with runners on second and third. Twice she had watched Kaneland third baseman Sara Rose come up with a big play.

So when Porto stepped into the box with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, she was focused on what she needed to do.

"I've been struggling a little bit lately, and I was just hoping she would throw one inside to me," Porto said. "I felt like I needed to do my job out there.

Porto got that pitch she wanted and got the job done, as she turned on a fastball down the middle, and poked a liner over the pulled in infield and past Kaneland leftfielder Vickie Mathieu, scoring Katie Maleski with the game's only run.

"I told the girls that we'd been knocking on the door all day, and it was time to kick the door down and get a run in," Burlington Central coach Scot Sutherland said.

The win was the 24th in a row for Burlington Central, which has now won five straight regional titles, and boosted its season record to 32-1. The Rockets will move on to the Rochelle Sectional.

For their part, the Knights' fielders did just about everything they could do to keep their team in the game. Rose, and shortstop Maggie Yagen turned in several defensive highlights when the Rockets had runners in scoring position.

"Our defense saved about three or four runs," Kaneland coach Dennis Hansen said. "I told the girls we did the best we could."

Kaneland pitcher Mallory Huml gave her team a chance to win the game by throwing strikes and trusting her defense.

"Mallory is not a flamethrower, but she did a great job, and kept them in check and off the board until that last inning," Hansen said. "It was just a great opponent and a pitcher who made things really tough."

Burlington Central's Mackenzie Scott was the pitching star of the game, fanning 14, and allowing just one hit, a sixth inning bunt single by Huml.

"We just kept our composure, and everyone did their part," Scott said.

Scott, who allowed just two baserunners in the game, got stronger as she went along, despite dealing with a sore back.

"Every game is going to get tougher from here," Scott said. "We just have to keep playing like each game is our last one."

The Rockets' decisive at bat in the bottom of the seventh began with Maleski coaxing a walk. Kayla Oranger followed with an infield single and both runners advanced when Hulm's attempt to get the batter out resulted in a throwing error. When Brittany Priest was intentionally walked it loaded the bases and set the stage for Porto's heroics.

"A game like this usually comes down to something like that, but something freaky can happen to you too, then you're talking about all the missed opportunities," Sutherland said. "We're very fortunate, and very happy to still be playing next week."

Kaneland closed its season with a 23-7 record.