Softball: Kaneland jolts Providence, advances to final
EAST PEORIA - The Kaneland softball team wasn't going to let a little lightning shake its momentum, or confidence, in the Class 3A softball state finals on Friday.
The Knights defeated New Lenox Providence Catholic 8-1 in the semifinals after waiting out a pair of weather delays totaling about 95 minutes.
"The confidence these ladies have is at an all-time high, and it hasn't slowed down a bit," Kaneland coach Mike Kuefler said. "I was a little bit concerned with the delays but they found a way to persevere and climb that ladder, riding that wave."
The first three Kaneland batters of the third inning had already scored when the EastSide Centre lightning detection system went off with one out. The ensuing delay of nearly an hour might have hindered other teams.
"Not for us," said second baseman Donatela Sommesi, who led off the inning with a single. "We knew we were going to carry the momentum we had when we scored those first (3) runs. We were going to go out there and thinking to keep jumping on the pitcher and we weren't going to let up."
Kaneland added only one more run in the inning after the delay, but it was enough to let sophomore pitcher Emilee Erickson relax after the delays.
Kaneland (27-9) added another run, scored by Sommesi on an RBI double by Hailey Roach, in the top of the fourth before the second delay occurred in the bottom of the frame.
After Lexi Abruzo led off the sixth with a double, the order flipped over on the way to a 3-run inning, highlighted by Hailey Roach's 2-run double.
Sommesi, at the top of the order, and Rose and Hailey Roach in the No. 2 and 3 spots in the lineup combined to go 7-for-12 with 2 walks, 6 runs scored and 3 RBI. Cleanup hitter Hannah Theobald drove in a pair of runs.
"(Sommesi) said she's comfortable with those two young ladies behind her in the order," Kuefler said. "If Lexi is on in the nine-spot they have to pitch to Sommesi because they can't work around her."
With a big lead behind her, Erickson had no reason to be nervous. She pitched a shutout into the seventh, scattering six hits and striking out six.
"I was trying to keep hitting my spots and plugging away," Erickson said. "Just let them hit the ball and let my defense do the work."
The Knights now have just Montini standing between them and the first state title in the program's history. The Broncos advanced by edging Mt. Zion 3-2 in Friday's second semifinal.
"I thought these girls had it in them but I never thought that we'd be playing on Saturday for the state championship," Sommesi said. "We're going to remember it for the rest of our lives."