DeKalb takes regional from Jacobs
With upset wins over fourth-seeded Crystal Lake South and No. 1 seed Cary-Grove earlier in the week, fifth-seeded Jacobs felt a surprise win over second-seeded DeKalb in Saturday’s Class 4A Jacobs regional softball final could be a definite possibility.
The Barbs made sure that didn’t happen.
DeKalb, scoring 5 runs in the second inning and 6 in the third, erased an early 2-0 Jacobs lead in cruising to a 12-2 win in five innings.
The Barbs (22-8), winners of 10 straight, advance to the Class 4A Prairie Ridge sectional and will play Harlem at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday while Jacobs ends its 2013 campaign with a 18-15 record.
“The magic wasn’t there today,” said Jacobs coach Jeremy Bauer, whose team reached the Elite Eight last season. “We swung the bats early, but DeKalb is a very good team. I am very proud of the way we persevered this week and exceeded everybody’s expectations. It is a testament to the girls on this team.”
Jacobs took early command of the game with 2 runs off DeKalb junior ace Katie Kowalski in the first inning. A 2-run single by freshman Emily Borg gave the Golden Eagles an early advantage.
But DeKalb bounced back with 5 in the top of the second off losing pitcher Kelsey Peters. The key hit was a 3-run double by freshman Morgan Newport.
The Barbs seized control of the game with 6 in third on 6 hits. Sabrina Kileen collected a 2-run double while Newport, Sarah Friedlund and Jessica Townsend provided RBI singles.
Peters, who was relieved in the inning by Borg, gave up 11 runs on 8 hits.
DeKalb, which pounded out 12 hits in the game, won the game in the fifth on an RBI single by Friedlund.
The Barbs were led by Kileen (2 RBI), Newport (4 RBI), Friedlund (2 RBI) and Rachel Johnson with 2 hits each.
Kowalski, who gave up 2 runs on 2 hits in the first inning, held the Golden Eagles scoreless and hitless during her final 4 innings of work. The hard-throwing right-hander struck out 3 and walked 3 in 5 innings.
“Maybe Katie was a little nervous in the first inning,” said DeKalb coach Jeff Davis. “I am not sure but she settled down and pitched great the rest of the game. We didn’t panic when they scored two in the first. We scored in bunches which is good to see. We really swung the bat up and down the lineup. We scouted Jacobs and knew they could score. It is really nice to have a regional plaque.”