AURORA – Donatella Somessi and the Kaneland softball team wanted to prove Sycamore couldn’t beat them three times in a season.
Mission accomplished.
Somessi was 4 for 5 with four runs batted in, Emilee Erickson came two outs away from a no-hitter and the No. 3 Knights beat the second-seeded Spartans, 10-0, on Saturday in the championship game of the Class 3A Rosary Regional.
“We definitely were thinking that Sycamore could not beat us three times in a row,” Somessi said. “We were thinking, just like any other game, jump on their pitchers, get them out of there. Just play all seven innings and fight with love for all of our girls beside us. I’m just at a loss of words. Regional champs.”
The Knights (22-8) won for the 11th time in a row. The last team to beat them was Sycamore (22-13), which topped the Knights in back-to-back games April 30 and May 1, concluding a four-game losing streak for the Knights.
“I think we poked the bear a little bit or something,” Carpenter said. “They’re a really good team. It really is a shame we had to play each other in a regional final and not later on in the year.”
The Knights broke through on a two-out, two-run single by Somessi in the top of the second, scoring Katie Kurzrock and Maddie Wheatley for a pair of unearned runs of Sycamore starter Faith Reynolds.
In the third, Reynolds walked three and gave up a double before leaving the game with the bases loaded. Ally Versluys came in and allowed a three-run double to Wheatley and an RBI single to Somessi to conclude the five-run outburst for Kaneland.
“This umpire was not giving the inside corner at all, and that’s a big part of Faith’s game,” Carpenter said. “When that went away, that was a problem.”
Wheatley finished the game 3 for 3 with four runs and five RBIs.
Sycamore had its first two batters of the game reach on errors, but Erickson retired the side in order to escape the first.
“We had our chances in that first inning,” Carpenter said. “If we score one or two there it puts the pressure back on them and we’re talking about a different ballgame. But they got the big hit first and you feel the pressure go back to the other side. Win or go home.”
Erickson did walk six batters, but also struck out 10. She allowed a soft single up the middle to Haley Trela in the seventh to end the no-hit bid.
“She’s definitely a true workhorse,” Kaneland coach Mike Kuefler said. “Every game we get out here, she’s asking for the ball. You want a pitcher to do that. She’s definitely well above her years as far as a sophomore pitcher.”
Carpenter said she didn’t think one bad result to end the year should ruin a positive season for the Spartans in which they won their first conference crown since 2002.
“That a longevity type of accomplishment. That’s 13 games, not who got hot at the right time,” Carpenter said. “Even though I wish the score was a lot closer, it doesn’t take away from what those kids accomplished this year.”
By the numbers: Wheatley added a home run in the seventh to finish a triple away from the cycle. She and Somessi combined for seven of Kaneland’s nine hits.
Beyond the stats: The other two losses in the Knights’ mid-season losing streak were to Sterling, 5-1, and Geneseo, 8-2.
They said it: “These girls wanted to get back at Sycamore a little bit,” Kuefler said. “Us as coaches, we’ve done nothing but make sure they show up to the game on time and are ready to go. These guys have dug deep and continued to do what they need to do to win.”
Up next: The Knights will get a rematch with Sterling at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday in a semifinal of the Class 3A Marnego Sectional.
Hannah Theobald (right) raises the regional championship trophy with her Kaneland teammates on Saturday, May 26 in Aurora.
Kaneland catcher Lillie Lindgren (21) gives pitcher Emilee Erickson a big hug after defeating Sycamore for the regional championship on Saturday, May 26 in Aurora.
Emilee Erickson delivers a pitch for Kaneland during regional action on Saturday, May 26 in Aurora.