Softball: Kaneland rolls over Aurora Central
Donny Sommesi was the last person Aurora Central Catholic starting pitcher Dani Brown wanted to face with a runner in scoring position with two outs in the bottom of the second inning Wednesday afternoon in Aurora.
"I was just thinking first-pitch strike," Sommesi said. "Our coach (Mike Kuefler) was preaching all game to jump on the first pitch. I just wanted to bust it open for my team."
Sommesi did just that for the Kaneland softball team at the Class 3A Rosary regional semifinal.
Lexi Abruzzo, who doubled with two outs in the preceding at-bat, strolled home when Sommesi rifled a triple to the left-center gap.
Sommesi scored moments later on a fielding error, and the proverbial floodgates were ajar.
Kaneland scored 8 runs in its next at-bat on its way to a 10-0 slaughter-rule victory.
The Knights (22-9), the No. 3 seed in the Marengo sectional, will face either second-seeded Sycamore or No. 10 Rosary in the championship game on Saturday morning.
The No. 7 Chargers had their campaign close out at 16-15.
It was the 11th consecutive win for Kaneland as Emilee Erickson pitched all five innings to improve to 16-4 on the season.
"Donny is batting .527 right now," Kuefler said of his sophomore standout, who was 3-for-3 on the day. "She is the epitome of a leadoff hitter. Our girls - at this point of the year - we're playing some of our best ball of the year."
Lizzie Albert had 1 of 2 doubles for ACC in the top of the third, but it did not bode well for the Chargers when Erickson escaped unharmed.
The Knights' Hailey Roach and Lily Lindgren opened the Knights' third with back-to-back doubles.
Aurora Central coach Tom Babyar has witnessed the evolution of the sport firsthand after close to four decades in the sport, including his entire teaching career at York High School.
"Everything about (softball) is more offensive now," Babyar said. "When the mound was up closer, it was tougher. The 58-60 mile-per-hour pitcher is now hittable."
The Knights unloaded in their third as pinch-hitter Natalie Kraemer and Sommesi plated 3 runs between them with singles.
Roach, however, delivered the coup de Gras with her second double of the inning to put the Knights on the cusp of double digits.
"The at-bat before (the third inning) I struck out," Roach said. "I just went up there for my team. I just saw a first-pitch strike and ripped it. I have a feeling we can go all the way. We have the momentum. We just have to have the mentality to make it all the way."