Cougars snap Spoon River; continue their Postseason

The Cougars do their pregame dance routine to the classic song "Footlose" prior to an April 13th game against Parkland. PHOTO / STEVE DAGGS

East Peoria, Ill. - Less than 24 hours after suffering a loss to the Spoon River Snappers (35-25), the 19th-ranked ICC Cougars (17-16) would have to recharge and face the Snappers again, this time in an elimination game within the Region 24 Softball Tournament. Recharge they did, getting off to a white-hot start, powered by back-to-back-to-back home runs from Priscilla Peek (2-RBI), Alexis Finchum (Solo), and Abbi Taylor (Solo). Despite a late charge from the visitors, the Cougars would hold them off with a 8-7 win when the Snappers unsuccessfully tried to steal home for the final out. 

While the first game of this Snappers-Cougars postseason series took a walkoff hit from Peek, #19 ICC was determined to have that not be the case. Peek got it going with a two-run bomb over the flag pole in center field, then Alexis Finchum shot one to right field, then Abbi Taylor capped the slugfest to take a 4-0 lead after just one inning. 

Abbi Taylor pitches during an
April 13th game against Parkland.
PHOTO / STEVE DAGGS

The Snappers were, however, quick to answer, when Noelle Hobbs hit a solo shot to make it a combined four home runs in 1.5 innings. After Makayla Ellison had come on in relief for Spoon River, she would proceed to strike out the side in the second inning. Interestingly enough, those would be the only three strikeouts for the Cougars bats on Thursday. 

Spoon River did nearly have two home runs in three at-bats. After Mackenzie Stiewe sent one out, Giulia Cianfriglia nearly had a big fly of her own, but ICC's Amelia Johnson read the ball off the bat perfectly and felt for the fence just in time to make the catch. It seemed like outside of the long ball, the Snappers had been held in check. 

Sydnee Usherwood was reliable out of the leadoff spot, adding a two-run double in the fourth in what would cap a 2-4 day with the two RBI. 

Then things got interesting in the top of the fifth. Spoon River would charge back from down 8-1 by scoring four runs. Three of those runs scored on Cougar errors. Rayna Davis scored on an E9, then De'Asisa Davenport reached on an E6, scoring both Addy Williams and Paige Collopy. Just like that, it was 8-5. It's what ICC head coach Heather Doty knows has been mentioned before.

"It's something we've talked about all season, with errors, and dominating that. Normally, that would've put us over the edge and we would've lost, but the last few games, we've been okay," said Doty, who's in her 14th season in 2021.

The ability to mentally rebound from a four-run, two-error inning can be difficult, but the Cougars got it done, summed up effectively in one word by Coach Doty.

"Huge. Huge. Since our John Wood and Danville series, we've turned things around with that. That's been the nemesis of our season."

The Cougars nearly were able to add an insurance run in the fifth, but a timely through from the Snappers got Alyssa Heerman tagged out at the plate.

Spoon River found a way to inch even closer with an RBI double from Kira Brown. That, however, would set the final score of 8-6 Cougars, but not before some late-game fireworks. 

The Cougars and Snappers line the field during the 
National Anthem before Thursday afternoon's game.
PHOTO / ALEX STAAB

Snappers ace Sydney Owens was a third relief pitcher, and got out of the bottom of the sixth inning in just eight pitches, leaving the door open for a road elimination win. 

Single for Collopy. Reached on an E4 for Davenport. With that, the winning run was at the plate in the form of leadoff hitter Allison Mortland, who singled. Although Collopy had been caught stealing, the winning run was still in play. After Stiewe popped out to have the Snappers down to their final out. Once that play was made, it seemed all was calm. Then Davenport made things interesting and took off for home plate. Hanna Evans found Alexis Finchum from the plate to the circle to get the final out and secure the win. 

The Cougars will now head to the Dodd Athletic Complex in Champaign for the remainder of the Region 24 Tournament. The other side of the tournament pits Parkland against Danville Area. With the field that there is in Champaign for the weekend, Doty feels that there will certainly be some quality softball to watch. 

"It'll be an absolute dogfight. Everybody there has beaten everybody. There's no one dominant team that's swept everybody." 

Next up will be the Loggers of Lincoln Land, with a 12:15pm first pitch this Saturday, May 8th.

Cougars Batting:

#11, Sydnee Usherwood | 2 for 4 | 2-run double, double

#4, Sydney Jensen | 1 for 2 | sac bunt, walk, RBI double

#9, Priscilla Peek | 1 for 4 | 2-run home run

#6, Alexis Finchum | 1 for 3 | solo home run

#8, Abbi Taylor | 2 for 3 | solo home run, RBI single

#7, Alyssa Heerman | 1 for 3 | double

#12, Hillary Mason | 1 for 2 | Walk, Fielder's Choice

#10, Amelia Johnson | 1 for 3 | Single

#3, Azyre Donahue | 1 for 3 | Single

Team Stats: 11 for 27 (.407 BA); 7 extra-base hits; 3 home runs; 8 RBI

Cougars Pitching:

#8, Abbi Taylor (Win) | #2, Hanna Evans (Save)