Softball Bulldogs Reach the Final Four

(THE SCENE ON THE FIELD AT MILLIKIN UNIVERISTY AFTER THE ST. ANTHONY BULLDOGS CAPTURED THE DECATUR 2A SOFTBALL SUPER-SECTIONAL)

The St. Anthony Bulldogs moved into the Final Four of Class 2A softball with a 7-6 win Monday over Quincy Notre Dame. The Bulldogs won their 20th straight game to capture the championship of the Decatur 2A Super-Sectional in a contest heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com. 

St. Anthony, now 24-3, will take on Taylor Ridge Rockridge in 2A semfinal action this Friday at 5:30pm at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria. The winner Friday will play for the 2A state championship on Saturday at 3:30pm. If they lose Friday, they will play for third place at 1pm Saturday.

St. Anthony got out of the gate by scoring three runs in the top of the first inning on a triple by Cameran Rios, a single by Adysen Rios and a two-run home run by Addie Wernsing. 

Notre Dame came right back in the bottom of the inning to tie the game on a hit by pitch, back to back singles, two errors and a fielders choice. 

The Bulldogs came right back to score twice in the second on a double by Abby Hatton, a triple by Stacie Vonderheide, and an RBI sacrifice fly by Cameran Rios to move back in front 5-3. 

St. Anthony extended their lead to 7-3 in the top of the fifth on a bunt single by Cameran Rios, a double by Ady Rios and a single by Wernsing.

Notre Dame wasn't done, though, scoring three times in the bottom of the fifth on a pair of walks surrounding a single, and a double with the bases loaded to pull the Raiders to within 7-6. 

The Bulldogs saw their last eight batters retired, but St. Anthony's Lucy Fearday held Notre Dame off the board, inducing a ground ball in the 7th that resulted in a game-ending double play that St. Anthony the win.

Fearday went the distance, allowing six runs on seven hits and four walks with six strikeouts.

At the plate for St. Anthony: Cameran Rios triple, sacrifice fly, single, two runs scored, RBI; Adysen Rios double, single, two runs scored, 2 RBI; Addie Wernsing home run, single, run scored, 3 RBI; Abby Hatton double, run scored; Stacie Vonderheide triple, run scored, RBI