Burlington C.’s season ends with positives
The result may not have been what Burlington Central’s softball team wanted Saturday, but for a team with just one senior, the Rockets came out as winners in many more ways than on the scoreboard this season.
Sycamore scored 3 runs on 5 hits in top of the ninth inning and beat Central 5-2 Saturday morning to win the championship of the Class 3A Kaneland regional.
“They hit it better than we did,” said first-year BC coach Cray Allen, whose team finished the season 17-16. “Both pitchers threw extremely well and these two teams came in here playing pretty well. It all came down to execution at the end.”
And the Spartans (22-15) did just that, earning themselves their third straight regional title and a date opposite Geneseo in next Thursday’s Rochelle sectional.
Sycamore struck first with a run in the top of the fourth inning on Becca Schroeder’s RBI single. But the Rockets came right back to take a 2-1 lead as Lauren King doubled ahead of a booming home run from junior Haley Albamonte.
The BC lead held until the top of the sixth when the Spartans plated the tying run on a throwing error.
And that’s the way it stayed until the ninth as Rocket freshman Rebecca Roscher (10-6) and Sycamore sophomore Abby Foulk (10 strikeouts, 1 walk) and the teams’ defenses controlled things into the extra innings.
But in the top of the ninth, Sycamore strung together 4 straight hits with two outs to take what appeared to be a commanding 5-2 lead.
The Rockets, though, wouldn’t go down without a fight and the loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth with Roscher, who reached on a fielder’s choice, and Sarah Kisch and senior Audrey Djukic stroking singles. But Foulk got Amanda Ritchie to fly out to medium deep left field and deny the Rockets a regional title for the second straight year.
“They executed and hit the ball where it was pitched in that last inning,” said Allen.
Despite the loss, Allen was pleased overall with both the game and his first season on Rocket Hill.
“We couldn’t ask for a better finish,” he said. “Just the way we played the game is a step in the right direction for the future. It’s tough to lose but the way we played the game is the way it should be played.”
Albamonte can’t wait to get started for next season.
“These girls have worked so hard,” said the three-year varsity starter. “It’s like night and day from the start of the season. The time and effort coach Allen has put in shows how much he cares. It’s definitely something to look forward to and I can’t wait for next year.”
Allen, who coached Lake Park to three straight downstate appearances, said he’s firmly planted in his new digs as the Rockets’ head coach.
“The last two weeks have been pretty good,” he said. “We were up and down all year and this has been my toughest year coaching ever but I probably learned more about myself as a coach this year than ever before. It’s been a great learning experience for me and I’m just so appreciative to God for putting me in this position.”