#1 Illini Bluffs beats Havana; McCoy strikes out 13
 |
| Kierston McCoy delivers during Thursday's game at Havana. The junior struck out 13 in a complete game win. The Tigers move to (7-0) with the win. PHOTO / ALEX STAAB |
Havana, Ill. - Since eeking out a 5-3 eight-inning win over Tremont, the top-ranked Illini Bluffs Tigers have been on a roll. In fact, their last two games, wins over Athens and ROWVA/Williamsfield combine for a 27-1 score (15-0 and 12-1).
It was a unique day for the Tigers - their first gameday without a school day. The debut of the schedule change, albeit annual at the end of the academic years, didn't phase Illini Bluffs one bit.
Illini Bluffs waisted no time getting into the hit column, as Bradley signee Addie Welsh singled. McCoy helped herself out two batters later with an RBI double off the left field wall to make it 1-0 Tigers after half an inning.
McCoy transitioned to the circle flawlessly, striking out the side. Then came the aforementioned five-run inning. A walk and a fielder's choice. Annabelle Fortin successfully laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners up, then came the hits. Two-run single for Welsh, RBI double for Emma Hicks, single for McCoy, and a two-run double from Kristen Graham. Tinley Beecham was the ninth batter of the inning, and reached on an error by the Ducks third baseman, and just like that, it was 6-0 and IB had batted around.
Then, the bats went cold. Not ice cold - there were some potential scoring scenarios here and there, but the pitcher's duel was on. It's something that Head Coach Lidsey Lox, said that was certainly a point of discussion.
As much as I lean on the seniors to keep the team up and energetic, it's a team effort."
Some fireworks in the third. With Lauren Herbst and Chloe Turner on base for the Ducks, Kaity Robison came to the plate. A sharp line drive right at Fortin was caught, then the freshman perfectly timed a snap throw to Welsh at short for an inning-ending double play.
Lox, in her first season at the helm after long-time coach Nancy Meyer retired in October, believes that looking back, how key of a point in securing the win it was.
because of how often we practice double plays, but we hadn't had the chance to actually do one yet."
The Tigers tried to add on with a single from Fortin and double from Welsh (her third hit of the game) in the next half inning, but they were stranded on the basepaths.
Havana made things interesting in the fifth. Libbie Johnson and Herbst both singled. A wild pitch advanced the duo into scoring position, down five. The Ducks would end the frame on a groundout. They would go 1-2-3 in the sixth and seventh, with four of the six outs coming on McCoy strikeouts.
Illini Bluffs did draw a walk (McCoy), but that was their only baserunner in the final two innings as well.
Addie Welsh's previously noted three hits are not a surprise for Coach Lox, explaining that she gets the complete package of a softball player in Welsh.
McCoy would finish with 13 strikeouts. Coach Lox says that the junior has been putting in the effort to better herself even more so, after a 100+ strikeout / 1.44 ERA freshman season in 2019.
In the end, the 6-1 final. It continued an undefeated season for the Tigers. It's a group that's trying to better their last season in 2019, which finished with a Class 1A runner-up finish to Goreville.
"There's a lot of motivation. We have the seniors and the juniors. They want to get back there. We all want to get back there. They are feeling a lot of pressure, too, but they're working through it and doing a great job."
The Tigers will travel to Mt. Pulaski on Monday at 4:30pm. The Ducks will host Lewistown on Monday at 4:00pm.
Comments
Post a Comment