Larkin savors first win over Elgin since 2010
The Elgin-Larkin softball rivalry has gone decidedly in Elgin's favor the past several years.
How much so?
Entering Friday's game at Elgin, the Maroons had won nine straight over their crosstown rivals by a collective score of 89-7.
That's how much.
But all that changed on a cold and windy late April afternoon that felt more like a March season-opener — at least weather-wise.
Junior Sam Wahl ripped a 2-run double in the top of the seventh inning to spark a 4-run Royal uprising, then Larkin held on for dear life in the bottom of the inning before closing out a 6-5 Upstate Eight Conference River Division victory.
Not only was it the first time in Anne Vogt's four years as Larkin's head coach the Royals have downed Elgin, it was also Larkin's first win over the Maroons since May 6, 2010.
“This feels really nice,” said Wahl, a three-year varsity player who was 2-for-3 and made a diving game-saving catch in center field in the bottom of the seventh. “This was definitely a win we really wanted.”
Vogt was ecstatic for one of her team leaders to come through in the clutch as Wahl did.
“She's a leader for us and everyone on the field looks up to her,” Vogt said. “Her grandfather passed away and the funeral was (Thursday). I wanted nothing more for her than to have a great game today. When she got that double it just gave me goose bumps.”
The Royals (3-14, 2-8) jumped ahead 2-0 after three innings. They scored in the first when senior Beka Harrington singled and eventually scored on a wild pitch, then in the third when freshman Haley Bohne reached on an error with two outs and scored on another error.
Elgin, meanwhile, had baserunners every inning and left the bases loaded in the third, but couldn't dent the scoreboard through four innings against Larkin senior Sarah Hansen.
But the Maroons (3-14, 2-8) forged ahead 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth.
Jenna Lombardo beat out an infield hit to lead off the inning, which was followed by an infield error on Jessica Rago's grounder. A Destiny West single drove in Lombardo to make it 2-1. Then, with two outs, junior Madison Latham laced a 2-run double to left field to give the Maroons a 3-2 lead.
That's the way it stayed until the top of the seventh.
Aguinaga Bella led off the inning for the Royals by reaching on a dropped third strike. Megan Chwee then beat out an infield single and Wahl stepped to the plate. She smoked Rago's first pitch to the fence in left-center to give the Royals a 4-3 lead.
“My coach called time out and she really wanted me to bunt,” said Wahl. “If I didn't get the first pitch I was going to bunt so I just wanted to hit the first one. I wanted to rip it. I feel better about myself if I get a nice rip.”
“I like putting her in that position,” Vogt said. “I personally like to see her rip the ball, and she did.”
The Royals added 2 insurance runs, and they needed them both. Wahl, who went to third on a passed ball, scored on Harrington's groundout to make it 5-3. Bohne then singled, took second on a passed ball and scored on a throwing error.
“We threw it around a little too much in that last inning,” said Elgin coach Dr. Nick Bumbales.
The Maroons did come back to make a game of it in the bottom of the inning as Rago beat out an infield hit, West singled, both moved up a base on a passed ball and Rago scored on Cassidy Sell's fielder's choice to make it 6-4. West then came home on Jemiyah Stewart's groundout to make it 6-5 and Sell advanced to second. But Hansen got Latham to hit a short fly ball to center that Wahl made a sliding catch of, and Dannah Perryman's groundout to short ended it.
“What a game this was,” Vogt said. “This is what Elgin-Larkin is all about. It was so much fun. This has always been a big game and Elgin has had a pretty talented ballclub the past several years but we came in here today knowing if we played a good ballgame we could take this game.
“It's taken four years and I couldn't be prouder of these girls. It's a big win for us.”
Rago allowed only 6 hits and had 13 strikeouts and 4 walks in suffering the loss. West and Latham each had 2 hits for the Maroons.
“Anne's done a great job over there,” said Bumbales. “It's been pretty lopsided for a while but (Larkin) did a nice job today. Jessie pitched a heck of a game for us but we didn't get the timely hits. It was a tough game to lose but it's good to have the intensity back in the rivalry.”