Softball: Sterling silences Hampshire
The Hampshire softball team acquitted itself well on the sectional stage, but failed to generate enough offense against Sterling's pair of aces.
The favored Golden Warriors broke out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, which was all the support junior Lexi Staples and freshman Jayme Eilers would need.
The standout Sterling pitching duo fanned 12 and faced just one batter over the minimum to complete a tidy 3-0 victory in Thursday's Class 3A Genoa-Kingston sectional semifinal.
The Whip-Purs, who captured their first regional title since 2008, closed out the season 19-17 while Sterling (33-5) advanced to today's sectional title game against Marengo (29-8).
"We were satisfied with the way the girls played," said Hampshire coach Kelly Wasilewski. "They came out, they competed, defense was solid and they took some great cuts."
Sterling, which finished third in Class 3A in 2014 and advanced to the sectional final last season, quickly capitalized in the first when Joslyn Nelson walked leadoff hitter Erin Stroup on four pitches.
Staples lined a one-out RBI double to left center and Hannah Escamilla delivered a clutch two-out double to right-center for a 2-0 lead. Sterling added an insurance run in the fifth.
"We knew with this being first time they've advanced to sectionals in a while they would have some nerves," said Sterling coach Becki Edmondson.
"You have to get ahead and limit the walks. When you don't do that, especially early in the game, teams take advantage, especially a team like this who have been in this setting," Wasilewski said.
Nelson settled down and scattered four hits over the final five innings. She was aided by a stellar defense from shortstop Morgan Haefling and third baseman Peyton De Chant, who combined to record 10 outs.
"We tried to mix up speeds and spins and locations across the board," Nelson said. "They're a good hitting team and they hit some gaps, but I thought I did pretty well hitting my spots."
"Today was one of our best defensive days. That's the best feeling when you can trust your defense behind you."
Staples (26-3) retired the first nine Hampshire batters before Jasmine Lopez lined a single off the first baseman's glove to open the fourth.
The rally was short-lived as the Whip-Purs popped up a bunt and Lopez was caught on a close play at second trying to advance on a pitch in the dirt.
"We didn't fully execute on offense as far as small ball," Wasilewski said.
Sarah Bowen dropped in a leadoff double for Hampshire in the sixth, but Eilers, who relieved Staples in the fifth, rared back and recorded three consecutive strikeouts.
"Lexi and Jayme have been a great combo for us all year long," Edmondson said.
With the majority of the Hampshire squad returning next season, Wasilewski views this postseason as a great learning experience.
"We're only losing two, so we're excited about the future," she said. "Just to be here and see what it takes to compete at this level and how they need to up their game and what they need to do in the off-season and practices."