By Steve Raymond
ET Sports Report
Sometimes, it’s a single pitch, at-bat, baserunning decision or diving catch that can determine the outcome of a game.
Sometimes, it’s a single inning that can make the difference between winning and losing.
For the St. Anthony Lady Bulldogs, it was the latter.
And, unfortunately, that one inning proved to be the difference between playing for third place and possibly for the state championship.
Taylor Ridge (Rockridge) scored four runs in the second inning Friday evening, en route to a 6-2 victory over the Lady Bulldogs in the second semifinal game of the Class 2A State Softball Tournament, played at the Louisville Sluggers Sports Complex in Peoria.
The Rockets entered the state tournament as the heavy favorites – and rightfully so. They have won the last two state titles, are now 37-1 this season, and over the last three years, have posted an almost unfathomable 101-1 record.
But these favorites got a big-time challenge from the small private school in Effingham. St. Anthony had more total hits and as many baserunners. A couple timely hits was the only thing missing.
By Steve Raymond
ET Sports Report
Seven weeks ago, the St. Anthony Lady Bulldogs were far from a state tournament team.
Yes, they finished second in the Class 1A State Tournament in 2021 and advanced to the championship game of the Class 2A sectional a year ago.
And, yes, this was basically the same nucleus of players for the third year in a row.
But on April 12, the Lady Bulldogs were only 4-3 after a 7-6 setback to Olney.
That’s when this talented group started to turn things around. That’s when the pitching, hitting and defense began to improve and the overall level of play started to resemble what this team is capable of.
And, they haven’t lost a game since.
The winning streak has now reached 20 and, yes, they are a state tournament team.
The Lady Bulldogs built an early lead and then made plays down the stretch to secure a 7-6 victory Monday afternoon over Quincy Notre Dame and capture the Decatur Class 2A Super Sectional.
For the second time in about a week, the St. Anthony Lady Bulldogs found themselves trailing early in a game.
But once again, the bats came alive and the Lady Bulldogs were on their way to another win.
St. Anthony scored 13 runs over the final four innings Friday afternoon, erasing an early three-run deficit and rolling to a 14-4, six-inning victory over Teutopolis in the championship game of the Teutopolis Class 2A Regional.
The Lady Bulldogs, now 21-3 on the season, advance to the Tolono (Unity) Sectional after winning their third straight regional title.
In the regional final, SAHS took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Cameran Rios led off with a triple and her sister, Addyson, followed with an RBI single.
The Lady Shoes then took the lead with a four-run third. Estella Mette led off with a walk and Erin Althoff singled. With two outs, Emily Konkel singled to load the bases. Malea Helmink then cleared the bases with a three-run double and Kaylee Niebrugge capped the inning with a run-scoring single to give the hosts a 4-1 lead.
St. Anthony scored twice in the bottom of the third. Addy Rios singled and scored on a two-out double by Lucy Fearday. Three straight walks forced in another run to make it 4-3.
The Lady Bulldogs then took control with a six-run outburst in the fourth. The tying run scored on an error and Hailey Niebrugge drove in the go-ahead run with an RBI double. Before the inning was over, Sydney Kibler had a run-scoring double, Abbie Hatton added a two-run single and Stacie Vonderheide collected an RBI double.
SAHS then ended the game with a five-run sixth. A single by Anna Faber, a double by Hatton and a walk to Vonderheide loaded the bases. One run scored on a passed ball and another on an error. Cameran Rios added an RBI single and Fearday made it a 10-run deficit with a two-run double.
Fearday was also the winning pitcher. She went all six innings, allowing five hits and four runs. She walked just one and struck out nine.
Courtney Gibson was the losing pitcher for the Lady Shoes. She allowed 18 hits and 14 runs, while walking eight and striking out two.
T-Town ended its season with a 17-14 record.
Addy Rios led the 18-hit attack, going 4-for-4. Cameran Rios had three hits, while Niebrugge, Fearday, Kibler and Hatton each had a pair. Fearday and Hatton both had three RBI.
St. Anthony will return to action Tuesday, facing Blooming Central Catholic at 4:30 p.m. BCC won its own regional.
There will also be a game at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Tolono (Unity), the winner of the Maroa-Forsyth Regional, will play Marshall, winner of the Sullivan Regional.
The sectional championship is set for 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 27.
By Steve Raymond
ET Sports Report
Survive and advance.
That’s the goal in the postseason.
Whether it’s a near-flawless performance or “winning ugly,” every team wants the opportunity to play at least one more game.
The St. Anthony Lady Bulldogs were certainly playing for their postseason survival Tuesday afternoon. And it was far from a flawless performance. There were some miscues and indecision on defense and the bats in their typically potent lineup were uncharacteristically silent for much of the game.
But when a pop-up off the bat of Cameran Rios was dropped and Abbie Hatton raced home with a run in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Lady Bulldogs had, indeed, survived.
And as a result of the 2-1 victory over Bloomington Central Catholic, St. Anthony will now advance to the championship game of the Tolono (Unity) Class 2A Sectional.
They will face the host Tolono team at 11 a.m. Saturday. The Lady Rockets blanked Marshall 3-0 in Tuesday’s second game.
It took awhile for the bats to come alive, but when they did, the St. Anthony Lady Bulldogs rolled.
After being shutout for the first four innings, the Lady Bulldogs exploded for nine runs over the final three innings, en route to a 9-4 win over Effingham Friday afternoon in the final game of the annual City Series.
SAHS swept the three-game series to claim the championship plaque for the second year in a row and have extended their winning streak to 15 games.
The Lady Bulldogs trailed 2-0 when they came to bat in the top of the fifth. With one out, Stacie Vonderheide and Cameran Rios singled. Then with two outs, Addie Wernsing tied the game with a two-run double.
Effingham scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth on a pair of wild pitches, but St. Anthony came right back in the sixth. Lucy Fearday and Sydney Kibler both got base hits to get things started. One run scored on a passed ball and Abbie Hatton delivered a two-run double that put the Lady Bulldogs on top to stay.
SAHS then used the long ball in the seventh to take control. After Hailey Niebrugge walked and Kibler singled, Anna Faber unloaded, driving a pitch over the centerfield fence for a three-run homer. Hatton then stepped to the plate and launched another home run, this time over the leftfield fence.
Cameran Rios and Kibler both had three hits to lead St. Anthony’s 12-hit attack. Faber and Hatton both had three RBI, while Wernsing drove in a pair.
Kibler pitched the first five innings to get the win. She allowed six hits and four runs, while walking two and striking out five. Fearday pitched the final two innings.
The Lady Hearts took a 2-0 lead in the second. With one out, Abbie Cunningham singled and went to second on a ground out. Jennifer Jamison then had an RBI single, stole second and scored on a base hit by Natalie Armstrong.
Effingham is now 17-11 on the season.
The Lady Bulldogs improved to 19-3 and will now open postseason play in the Teutopolis Regional. They will face either Pana or Paris in a semifinal game at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. The winner of that game will play for the regional championship at 4:30 p.m. Friday.
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