Softball: Antioch’s big first inning sends Sequoits to 3A state championship game
PEORIA — Five of the six Antioch seniors are about to do something special.
Play in a third state championship game.
One of them, catcher Addison Webb, delivered a big hit early as Antioch eased past Dunlap 6-1 in the opening Class 3A state semifinal, on Friday, at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria.
It was the 12th straight win for the Sequoits, who are making their fourth Final Four appearance in the past five seasons. They will play in the title game for the third time in four seasons and will face Glenwood, a 9-3 winner over Fenwick, at 2:30 p.m. in pursuit of their first state championship.
Antioch (33-3) scored four runs after two were out in the top of the first.
"These girls know what it takes and know what we expect," Antioch coach Anthony Rocco said. "We're used to close games.
"To get four runs in the first was huge. Our top of the order was ready to go."
On an 0-2 pitch, Webb singled up the middle to score fellow senior captain center fielder Samantha Hillner (1-for-4) and junior third baseman Tegan Schuler. On another 0-2 pitch, freshman left fielder Rylee Dunlavy (2-for-3, 2 runs, RBI) tripled down the right field line for an RBI. Then, senior designated player Kailyn Bockwoldt (2-for-3, run, RBI) legged out an infield single to shortstop to make it 4-0.
"Getting that hit definitely felt like a weight was off my shoulders," Webb said. "It was now or never, and I knew I could do it.
"The first thing I did was look at my teammates and see them all celebrating."
Dunlap (30-9) got a run back in the bottom of the first on an RBI groundout by senior pitcher Sutton Centoni. But that was it as freshman right-hander Pearl Wenzel kept the Eagles at bay.
"She's very composed," Rocco said of Wenzel. "She rarely gets rattled, is mentally tough, and did a phenomenal job."
Wenzel is one of five freshmen on this season's squad. She had to leave midway through the Sequoits' 5-4 sectional final win over Vernon Hills, and missed their wild 11-10, 10-inning win over Prairie Ridge in the supersectional.
"When I pitch, I hit my arm on my hip," Wenzel explained. "(In the sectional final) it got really bad, and I couldn't continue."
"I was nervous today, but once the game started, I gained confidence. The team had my back. It feels great."
In improving to 16-0, Wenzel went the distance, allowing one earned run on six hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Senior shortstop Claire Schuyler made a pair of great plays, turning one of them into a double play.
Freshman first baseman Kylie Pfleeger added a two-run triple to right-center in the fourth as Antioch made the most of seven hits. Mia Bellucci is the fifth four-year senior, and Jenna Williamson is also a senior.
"Pearl coming in as a freshman was a new look for us," Webb said. "Just having her reminds me of (previous pitcher) Jacey Schuler. Pearl has the same mindset. If she messes up, she will get the next one.
"At the end, we were so hyped up. We are going to the ‘ship."