Softball: White’s 3-run homer lifts Antioch to thrilling sectional title win over Vernon Hills
It was not looking good for host Antioch as the Sequoits headed into the bottom of the seventh trailing Vernon Hills 4-2 in the championship game of this Class 3A softball sectional in Antioch.
But that was before freshman hero Brooke White stepped up to the plate and came through with a 3-run home run to carry Antioch to a 5-4 victory in a game that she will probably remember for the rest of her life.
The Sequoits (31-3) will play Prairie Ridge or Kaneland in the Kaneland supersectional at 4:30 p.m. Monday.
Antioch's Kailyn Bockwoldt reached base on an error to open the bottom of the seventh before Kylie Pfleeger walked to put runners on first and second. On a 1-1 pitch, White (2-for-3, 4 RBI) hit her second home run of the contest off Vernon Hills freshman Brooke Gossett, who also had 2 home runs and 3 RBI in the contest.
White's game-winning home run set off a wild celebration by the Sequoits, who won their seventh sectional title in school history and their sixth sectional crown in the past six years.
"I felt really good, I just didn't want the season to be over, and I just did it for the seniors and just gave everything I could," said White. "With all of the adrenaline and everything I told Kylie (Pfleeger) if you get on I'm going to hit you in."
Vernon Hills (24-9-1) got on the scoreboard in the top of the second when Gossett hit a line-drive sole homer over the left field fence off Antioch starter Pearl Wenzel for a 1-0 lead. White answered that homer with a solo homer to left field to deadlock the score at 1-1 after three innings.
Wenzel left the game with an elbow injury with one out and a runner on first in the top of the fourth. That is when Gossett hit a 2-run homer to left-center off Antioch reliever Addison Osborne (13-1, 6 saves) for a 3-1 lead. Then in the bottom of the fourth Antioch's Claire Schulyer hit a solo homer to right center to cut the lead to 3-2.
In the top of the fifth, junior Gianna Gossett hit a solo homer to left field to make the score 4-2 as 6 home runs were hit in the game.
"I think they made the mistake of throwing strikes early in the count (to White) instead of later in the count, and Brooke has been back to where she needs to be the last couple of weeks," said Antioch coach Anthony Rocco. "We're mentally tough, and these seniors have been to two state championship games. So they've been through some really tough situations. That's why we play a tough schedule."
Vernon Hills' Elizabeth Tsagalis was 2-for-3 as was Antioch's Tegan Schuler. Vernon Hills freshman Brynne Gossett had a homer against Wauconda on Wednesday as the Gossett sisters combined for 4 homers in two games.
"We're super proud of this team for their effort, for buying into our culture of hard work pays off, and never ever giving up," said Vernon Hills coach Jan Pauly. "They just did a great job of supporting each other, they were very selfless. And we only have one senior so our team is coming back, and they'll be bigger and stronger and a little more mature to handle some tough times."