Patchett's 3-hitter lifts Elgin to 4-1 win over Larkin
A season that has had its share of frustrations turned into all smiles, at least for a day, for Elgin junior Kelly Patchett and her Maroon teammates.
Patchett pitched one of the best games of her Elgin career and it couldn't have come on a better day. She tossed a 3-hitter and the Maroons played errorless defense behind her as they knocked off crosstown rival Larkin 4-1 Monday to sweep the regular-season Upstate Eight Conference softball series.
The two meet again on May 27 in the opening round of the Class 4A Streamwood regional.
"This is for town pride," said Elgin coach Peg Corcoran. "It's Elgin-Larkin and you just throw everything out the window. The kids know each other and they're all friends. You want to win every time you play Larkin. The next one is the important one. (Larkin coach) Larry (Hight) knows that and I know that and we'll both have our teams ready."
Both were ready Monday in what was one of the most well-played games of the season. There was only 1 error in the game and Patchett and Larkin's Megan Johnson each did a stellar job in the circle. The Maroons (6-18, 4-8) came up with the hits they needed; the Royals (5-14. 4-7) didn't.
"That's one of our worst hitting games of the season," said Hight. "We didn't even hit the ball hard. (Patchett) owned us. Give her credit. They outplayed us. They outran us, they outhit us and they outpitched us."
Elgin got to Johnson for 3 runs in the third inning on 5 hits, all of the scoring and 4 of the hits coming with two outs. Alyssa Higdon started the rally with a one-out single. She moved to second on Mari Aguilera's groundout and went to third when Brandi Hernandez beat out a bunt. Senior Caris Alan then stepped up and ripped a single to right that scored both Higdon and Hernandez to give the Maroons a 2-0 lead. Alan scored on Hannah Perryman's double to the fence in left and Elgin was up 3-0. Perryman was then thrown out at home trying to score on Patchett's single.
The Maroons made it 4-0 in the top of the fourth. Jenna Jaynes led off with a double to left, Jaclyn Navarro bunted her to third and she scored on Rachel Roth's groundout.
Larkin made it a 4-1 game in the bottom of the fifth when Johnson led off with a single, Larkin's first hit of the game, Anna Esterino drew a two-out walk and Leah Rybakowski delivered an RBI single to left.
The Royals had a rally brewing in the sixth but, with runners at first and second and one out, they were called for batting out of order. Patchett then struck out Johnson to end the inning.
"We played error-free," said Patchett, whose change-up baffled Larkin's hitters all day. "My change-up doesn't usually work as well as it did today. I've been told it has a unique spin to it."
Patchett struck out six and walked two. Johnson struck out five and walked one while allowing 7 hits.
"I was really proud of our kids today," Corcoran said. "Kelly did a great job, we played great defense and we got some timely hits. We haven't had those three components come together at the same time all year and today we did.
"I thought both pitchers did a nice job of keeping their teams in the game. It was a well-played softball game."
It was. And now the anticipation will build for Round 3 in the regional semifinals in 15 days.