Bulldogs Finish Second At State In Eight Innings

PEORIA -- Effingham St. Anthony took Glasford Illini Bluffs into the eighth inning but the Tigers scored to pull out a 3-2 victory over the Bulldogs to claim the Class 1A State Tournament high school softball championship Wednesday at Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria.

Illini Bluffs struck first with a run in the opening inning as leadoff batter Addison Welsh tripled to left-centerfield. Emma Hicks then followed with a ground out and that allowed Welsh to come home.

The Bulldogs went up and down in the first and put a runner on base in the second as Sydney Kibler drew a walk but couldn't get home.

Illini Bluffs was active again in the second. With two outs, Zoe Eeten singled and Ashley Aksun followed by drawing a walk. But the Bulldogs got the final out of the frame to end that threat.

St. Anthony put a runner on base in the third as Cameron Rios singled with two outs but the Tigers got the third out.

In the bottom of the third, Illini Bluffs struck again and moved into a 2-0 lead. Once again, Welsh led off the frame, this time with a single. The Bulldogs got two outs but Kristen Graham came to bat and singled home Welsh. Tinley Beecham followed with a double but St. Anthony got the final out before any more damage.

The Bulldogs drew two walks in the fourth but couldn't bring either one home but in the fifth, St. Anthony came to life. With two outs on the board, Rios reached on an error. Addie Wernsing then singled and the ball got past the centerfielder, giving Wernsing second base and Rios came home to pull the Bulldogs within 2-1.

St. Anthony then tied the score in the sixth. With one out, Madeline Kibler drew a walk. Sydney Kibler followed with a single. Stacie Vonderheide walked  and a ball hit by Grace Karolewicz was fumbled by the second baseman and M. Kibler came home to knot the score at 2-2.

The Bulldogs had a runner on base as Hayley Niebrugge singled but she was left stranded on a ground out and a strikeout.

Then Fearday and the Bulldogs held the Tigers in the bottom of the seventh with three up and three down.

S. Kibler singled in the eighth as the game went extra innings. But the Tigers came up with a big double play to end the threat.

Then in the bottom of the eighth, Welsh led off with a single. A ball was hit to Rios who fielded it and threw, but the outstanding shortstop overthrew the second baseman and runners were at second and third with no one out. An intentional walk to Kiersten McCoy loaded the bases. Graham came up with her second single of the game to score the winning run.

Fearday went all seven innings, allowing seven hits, one walk while striking out two.

McCoy picked up the win allowing two runs on five hits, five walks and two strikeouts.

St. Anthony ended its spectacular season with a 21-9 record.

"Obviously I really didn't expect this year," said St. Anthony Coach Makayla Walsh. "I told the girls after the game, don't hang your heads because you got second in State. Everyone is coming back. It's one of those difficult conversations you have.

"Lucy Fearday pitched two games today, she was just mentally in the zone.

"We'll learn from this and apply it next year. These girls will be hungry. I really want girls to go out for softball and do this for the program. It's hard to put into words right now. I'm excited for these girls, we just fell short and again we got second at State. They should be proud of themselves. They did great and their defense was sound.

"This morning that pitcher had hardly given up any runs and we did a good job. We were just a little off with this pitcher for Illini Bluffs."

St. Anthony won't say goodbye to any team members as there were no seniors on the team. Coach Walsh will now move on to thinking about her wedding that's quickly approaching.

St. Anthony ended their best season with a 21-9 record.

In the third place contest, Orangeville handed  Arthur-Lovington/Atwood-Hammond a 10-5 loss.

There will be a Welcome Home for the Bulldogs tonight around 7:30. They will be driven from the Effingham Event Center to St. Anthony High School and then brought back through town. There will be an informal reception at the Event  Center.

Class 1A State Tournament

Championship

St. Anthony           000    011    00    --    2-5-2

Illini Bluffs             101    000    01    --    3-6-3

WP -- McCoy. LP -- Fearday.

St. Anthony -- Rios, single; Wernsing, single; Niebrugge, single; S. Kibler, 2 singles

Glasford Illini Bluffs -- Welsh, 2 singles, triple; Hicks, 1 RBI; Graham, 2 singles, 2 RBI; Beecham, double; Eeten, single