Tough Slugfest for Royals

When playing under the international tie-breaker rule, it's usually wise to play good defense and make sure of the first out.

Larkin's inability to do that cost the struggling Royals a chance at salvaging at least one win Saturday during the 15th Annual Subway Larkin Slugfest softball tournament at the Elgin Sports Complex.

With Hersey freshman Kim Ferraro starting the top of the eighth inning at second base in a 9-9 game, the Huskies' Jessie Harris laid down a bunt. Larkin was unable to turn the play into an out, though, and Ferraro came home with the eventual winning run as Hersey downed the Royals 12-10 on one of the windiest days of softball in recent memory.

"That's about as disappointed as I've ever been," said Larkin coach Larry Hight, whose team slipped to 3-15 for the season with 3 losses Saturday.

"The girls bounced back in this game but we gave it away. We just can't close anything out."

The Royals had a 9-6 lead on Hersey going into the top of the seventh inning but the Huskies rallied for 3 runs and a tie off Larkin freshman Megan Johnson.

The Royals then got the winning run to second base with two outs in the person of freshman Corinne Wimmer, but a groundout sent the game into extra innings.

Two Larkin errors, a bases-loaded walk and an RBI single by Alyssa Kieffer allowed Hersey to pull ahead 12-9.

Larkin battled back in the bottom of the eighth, using an RBI grounder from Brittany Heine -- who had earlier hit a mammoth home run to center field -- to make it a 12-10 game. But Hersey turned a double play to end the game when a Larkin runner strayed too far off first on a pop up to second base.

"The biggest thing we did all day today was poor baserunning," said Hight.

The Royals, who have now lost 6 straight, opened the day with an 11-0 loss to No. 2 seed Lincoln-Way Central, which went on to win the tournament by beating top seed Plainfield Central 8-0 in the title game.

In their first consolation game, the Royals had a 7-4 lead on Oak Lawn in the top of the seventh and lost 8-7.

"When you have two leads like we had … we should have been playing Maine South for the consolation (title)," Hight said. "You can keep saying we're inexperienced but … we just have to forget about this and start fresh Monday

"We're just not handling the pressure right now. It's a pressure game and kids who handle the pressure win."

Palatine beat Chatham-Glenwood in the third-place game.