Softball: Rock Island knocks York off course
EAST PEORIA - In a pitchers' duel between a pair of Big Ten recruits, Rock Island junior left-hander Ashley Peters outdueled York freshman right-hander Lauren Derkowski 3-1 to lead the Rocks into the state softball championship game for the first time.
Peters, a Purdue recruit, tossed a 7-hitter with 12 strikeouts. Michigan recruit Derkowski allowed only 3 hits and also struck out 12 batters.
York (29-12-1) will play Palatine (29-6) for third place at 3 p.m. today at the Eastside Centre.
"Ashley has been our go-to pitcher all season." said Rock Island coach Chris Allison. "When she is in the circle we feel very confident. And Lauren really competed for York. They both had 12 strikeouts and 1 walk.
"We knew it was going to be a battle. We wanted to stay off her riseball and did a little bit whenever we got a chance."
Derkowski (19-6) gave the Dukes a chance, but they couldn't get the big hit off Peters.
"Lauren is a terrific pitcher," said York second-year coach Elizabeth Munn. "She really has nothing to hang her head about. She hung in there all the way."
The Rocks scored in the third inning. Designated player Raghen Walker led off with a walk and eventually pinch-runner Mackenzie Melody scored on a wild pitch with two out.
Rock Island extended the lead to 3-0 in the fourth inning, thanks to Madison Michaels' 2-run homer over the center-field fence with nobody out.
Derkowski then struck out the next three batters.
The Dukes scored their only run in the bottom of the seventh.
Senior Madison Collins led off with a double to right. After a strikeout, third baseman Izzy Smith singled up the middle and courtesy runner Sophia Tracjevski raced home.
Peters got the final two batters on a popout to short and strikeout to run her record to 18-4.
"(Peters) was definitely one of the better pitchers we've seen," Collins said. "She's a great pitcher. Tip your cap to her.
"We've been playing tough against good teams all season. Now we're looking forward to coming out strong (in the third-place game)."
York was fourth in the Class AA tourney in 2013.
"We are going to come out fighting for third place," Collins added. "There is no reason we should hang our heads. We played hard to get down here and it's a record-setting season. Obviously, we didn't get the result we wanted in this game, but we want to try and come back for third place."
"We needed to do a better job in the batter's box and that didn't happen," Munn added. "We didn't make many adjustments. But there was no question Lauren held in there and gave us an opportunity."
Collins' double was her 11th of the season.
"Madison is one of our seniors and she is going to be a hard one to see go," Munn added. "She's always confident, always encouraging us and leading the team. She's talked to them about making history and picking everyone up.
"The girls can't hang their heads. They're going for third place. They've got to learn from this game. It's the heat of the moment now. But they've just go to keep moving forward."