Error in 9th inning pushes Burlington past Kaneland
It had to figure that such a superbly played softball game would come down to one fatal mistake.
Burlington Central junior Samantha Gruner scored from second base on a Kaneland throwing error with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning Saturday to give the Rockets a 1-0 win over the Knights in the championship game of the Class 3A Burlington Central regional.
The regional title is the Rockets' sixth straight, seventh this decade, and 15th in program history. It's also the third straight year BC has defeated Kaneland in the regional title game and the second straight year by a 1-0 score.
The Rockets (22-5) will take on Sycamore at 4 p.m. Wednesday in the Rochelle sectional. BC beat Sycamore 5-0 earlier this season.
"It was a great game by both teams," said BC coach Scot Sutherland. "You hate to see that (the error) happen. That's a tough way to go out. But 95 percent of games like this come down to a mistake. This time of year you take a win any way you can get it."
Burlington Central senior Mackenzie Scott (17-2) was nothing short of magnificent on this day, spinning a 1-hitter with 20 strikeouts and just 2 walks. Four times she struck out the side and only once, in the first inning, did the Knights (27-9) manage to get a runner to second base. Their only hit was an infield single by Brianna Hurst in the sixth inning.
"This time of year that's what we need out of her," Sutherland said of Scott. "She did a great job today."
Said Scott: "I felt pretty good today. I pitched in practice (Friday) and I pitch better when I pitch a lot."
Kaneland freshman Delani Vest (17-6) matched Scott inning for inning, allowing the Rockets just 3 hits. She struck out four and walked one.
"Delani pitched a heck of a game," said Kaneland coach Ken Neahring. "She didn't strike out as many but she certainly didn't take a back seat to (Scott)."
Neither pitcher allowed a hit until Gruner snuck a single through Kaneland's infield with one out in the fourth. But Vest got the next two hitters without Gruner advancing.
The Rockets had a golden opportunity in the sixth when senior leadoff hitter Kayla Oranger (2-for-4) beat out an infield single with one out, stole second and went to third on Brittany Priest's groundout. Gruner then lined a shot to right field but Kaneland's Jordan Herra was positioned perfectly and made the catch.
"From the middle part of the game on I thought we hit the ball hard and we had our opportunities," Sutherland said, "but Delani pitched a really nice game for them."
With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Gruner singled to center and was sacrificed to second by Ashley Scheffler. Then, on Lindsay Lange's routine infield grounder, Kaneland made the fatal throwing error, allowing Gruner to score the winning run.
"I just knew I had to get the ball in play and make them make a play," Lange said.
The Rockets now move on to a level of the state tournament the program has not been able to get past since 1993, which was the program's second of two trips to the Class A state tournament.
"Until we do something in a sectional we haven't made a mark on anything," Sutherland said. "We have to go out there and prove we can do this."
For Kaneland, it was a bitter ending to a successful but turmoil-filled season that included the recent suspension of head coach Dennis Hansen.
"We battled and we're really proud of the girls," said an emotional Neahring. "Maybe now we'll get a little more respect. We don't seem to get a lot of respect for our softball program. The seniors were really good for us and we wish them the best of luck. These girls have been great all year. They really have. They've handled everything in a very mature manner all year."