Prep softball: Kaneland tops Rock Falls, reaches Super-Sectional

After two game of being the hunters, the players on the Kaneland softball team entered the game with a big target on its back.

Facing a revenge-minded Rock Falls team in the championship game of the Class 3A Marengo Sectional, the Knights held off multiple late rallies for a 5-3 win.

"We did what we needed to do to get the job done," Kaneland coach Mike Kuefler said. "We played them earlier this year and the same motivation we have had throughout this postseason – coming back and getting some of these teams that have beaten us in the past – they had the same motivation. Everything they needed they carried in there with them today."

Kaneland (25-7) advances to host the Class 4A Maple Park Super-Sectional against Vernon Hills, the second time reaching the round of eight in the last four years – the Knights took third in the state in 2015.

Kaneland's last two games were wins over Sycamore and Sterling – both teams that had defeated the Knights in the regular season. Kaneland beat the Rockets, 8-2, earlier in the year.

"Knowing we beat this team, a lot of runs last time I think, we know we had to come out even stronger," third baseman Hailey Roach said. "Beating a team twice is hard, especially in the sectional championship."

Rock Falls (26-7) got on the board in the first, manufacturing a run without a hit or a walk by Emille Erickson – and no Kaneland errors, for that matter. One hit by pitch was the biggest blemish as the Rockets led 1-0.

Kaneland got the run back in third bottom of the frame off Rock Falls ace Payton Yanes on an RBI single by Hannah Theobald.

In the third, the Knights exploded for four runs Donatella Somessi scored on a single by Rose Roach, then Rose Roach scored on a single by Theobald, with Hailey Roach advancing home on an error on the play. Theobald went to third and scored on a ground out by Katie Kurzrock.

"I think our hitting has just been on point lately, and I think we have been getting the ball in play and getting their defense to work," Theobald said. "I think worked for us today."

Rock Falls left a total of seven batters on base in the final three innings, leaving the bases loaded in the fifth.

Erickson left with two on, one out and one in in the bottom of the sixth, but freshman Mckenna Ryan got the last two outs of the inning to preserve the lead at 5-2. It was her first postseason action.

With a game Thursday and another Monday, Kuefler said the plan was to get Ryan into the game in the seventh.

"We were hoping to get her through that last inning, but a couple things prompted us to make that decision earlier," Kuefler said. "The way that young lady (Erickson) has pitched for us throughout the tournament, for her to get a little tired at the end of this game that's nothing. She'll be find in our next game."

Ryan allowed one run in the seventh, although the Rockets again loaded the bases with one out. But Faith Sandrock hit a sharp grounder back to Ryan, who threw home an out. Catcher Lauren Callahan threw Sandrock out at first to complete the double play.

"Kaneland is a top notch team and we fought until the bitter end," Rock Falls coach Liz Smith said. "We put ourselves in situations where we could have taken that game."

By the numbers: Hailey Roach and Hannah Theobald each had two hits in the win. Erickson finished the game allowing two earned runs in 5 1/3 innings pitches. She hit three batters, allowed two hits and walked three while striking out seven. Ryan picked up the save, allowing one earned run and three hits.

Beyond the stats: Yanes hurt her elbow in the circle in the bottom of the sixth. She tried to pitch in the seventh but couldn't grip the ball, Smith said. She had to bat in the bottom of the seventh as the Rockets had just 10 players on their roster and had already used their bench player. She ended up with a single.

They said it: "Mistakes happen and I think we just have to pick ourselves up," Roach said. "Like our coach says, so what next pitch. I think we responded very well to what we were given and we came out with a win."

Up next: The Knights gave Vernon Hills at 4:30 p.m. Monday in Kaneland.