Softball: Beecher ends Aurora Central Catholic's season in supersectional
Izzy Hernandez was nearly dizzy with excitement.
The Aurora Central Catholic third baseman was on second base with nobody out in the bottom of the seventh inning, just 120 feet away from scoring the winning run in what would be a history victory.
It was not to be.
Hernandez was stranded at second base and heavily favored Beecher scored 7 runs in the eighth inning Monday to beat the Chargers 7-0 at the Class 2A Joliet Junior College supersectional.
Beecher (37-2), which has won three state championships and was runner-up last year, advanced to play Taylor Ridge Rockridge in Friday's state semifinals in East Peoria.
ACC, which was making its second supersectional appearance, was denied in its attempt to go to state for the first time, but just barely.
Hernandez, a junior, blooped a single down the right field line to lead off the seventh and moved up on a wild pitch. The Chargers (30-8) could sense the upset.
"Yeah, I thought we were going to score," Hernandez said. "I was really excited and I just said that we got this. I was very confident."
But Beecher pitcher Kayla Hon, who fired a 2-hit shutout with 4 walks and 13 strikeouts, wriggled off the hook. First, she fanned Hernandez's sister, Olivia, before intentionally walking ACC pitcher Dani Brown.
Hon then retired Ava Wilkins on a pop to third before Gracie Hare flew out to center to end the inning.
The Loyola-bound Brown matched Hon for seven innings but the Bobcats broke through in the eighth, sending 12 batters to the plate.
Gabrielle Lee led off with a single and went to third on a double by Adrianna Picicco. Brown then intentionally walked Karly Bainbridge to load the bases, but then walked Alyssa Oldenburg on 4 pitches to force in the first run.
Seeing-eye singles inside the first-base bag by Faith Curran and Margaret Landis plated 3 more runs. A fielder's choice and an error reloaded the bases for Lee, who was hit by a pitch to make it 5-0 before Picicco drove in 2 more runs with a single to center.
"I just think they were hitting in the gaps," Izzy Hernandez said. "They're really good hitters and they found the spots."
The Chargers had some chances but had no such luck. The best opportunity until the seventh came in the third inning when Hare singled to center and went to second when Beecher catcher, Picicco, dropped a third strike.
Alheli Velazquez followed with a walk, but sophomore Lizzie Albert's high fly to center was caught in front of the fence and Hon fanned Isa Gonzalez.
"We just missed some," said ACC coach Tom Babyar, whose team had outscored its four previous playoff opponents 51-0. "Lizzie Albert flew out to the fence with what would have been a 3-run homer in the third inning.
"You're talking millimeters there if she catches a little more ball. With the way the wind was blowing, I thought it might take it out. We've had a lot of long balls all year and we just didn't get it done. I have to give their pitcher credit."
Izzy Hernandez, one of seven returning starters next season, also credited the Bobcats, who have won 22 straight games.
"I'm extremely proud of the season we've had and we wish Beecher the best," Hernandez said. "They're really good and I hope they win the state title."