Softball: Ruggles, Dundee-Crown topple Cary-Grove

With sophomore pitcher Sydney Ruggles struggling in the first inning, Dundee-Crown coach softball coach Tracy Beatty might have been worried the young hurler would be in for a rough outing.

Nope.

Ruggles, who allowed an unearned run in the first inning, limited No. 9 seed Cary-Grove to 1 run on 4 hits in her final 6 innings as No. 7 Dundee-Crown posted a 4-2 win in first round action of the Class 4A Dundee-Crown regional Monday afternoon in Carpentersville.

It was D-C's first regional win since 2011. The Chargers (18-17) will take on top-seeded Barrington in semifinal action Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. Cary-Grove, which had won 5 of its last 7 games, finished the season with an 11-19 mark.

"Sydney has been very mature since her first game freshman year," said Beatty. "I could tell she was nervous to begin the game. She is a great fighter and competitor and I knew she would fight back and pitch well."

Ruggles, who retired the last nine Trojans she faced, struck out 8 with an intentional walk to Cary-Grove standout hitter Brianne Prank in 7 innings of work.

"The first inning was very nerve-racking," said Ruggles. "I was able to settle down and all my pitches were working well, especially my screwball."

Aided by 2 D-C errors, the Trojans scored a run in the first on a sacrifice fly by Anna Whitaker.

The resilient and patient Chargers scored 2 in the bottom of the inning to take the lead on bases-loaded walks to Hannah Gestritch and Madison Pautz.

The Trojans tied the game at 2 in the fourth on a run-producing single by Jill Deering.

The Chargers chased Cary-Grove starter Kristina Weber after ⅓of an inning. Trojan reliever Emma Hill, the losing pitcher, blanked the Chargers for 3⅔ innings before allowing 2 runs in the fifth on RBI singles by Ruggles and Deanna Origer. D-C led 4-2 after 5 innings.

Cary-Grove's third pitcher of the game, Rachel Stanley, blanked the Chargers while scattering 4 hits during her 2-inning stint.

"The last eight games we have basically used three pitchers every game," said Cary-Grove coach Tammy Olson. "It has been pitcher by committee. Kristina struggled but Emma and Rachel were outstanding and kept us in the game."

Ruggles and Origer led the Chargers' 9-hit attack with 2 hits and an RBI apiece.