State Stomping
Lady Huskers Can’t Contend With Powerful Lebanon ...
| Northern Illinois Sports Beat http://www.northernillinoissportsbeat.com |
By Bill Lidinsky
Northern Illinois Sports Beat Contributor
EAST PEORIA - Throughout Serena’s magical run to the Class 1A Softball state finals,
one thing has been certain and that’s how competitive the Lady Huskers have been
throughout each and every post-season victory.
But on Friday afternoon at the East Side Centre in East Peoria, Serena finally found an
opponent it just couldn’t contend with.
Behind a slew of offensive state softball records, the Lebanon Lady Greyhounds put an
end to the Lady Huskers fairytale playoff win streak by pounding out an incredible 22 runs
on 22 hits on the way to a 22-2 five-inning state semifinal victory.
Sophomore pitcher Courtney Washington was the main cog in the Lebanon hit machine
as she terrorized Serena hurlers Karly and Katie Huss with a five for five plate
performance that included two homers, a triple, and eight runs batted in. The Lady
Huskers also committed six errors that led to eight unearned runs which helped the state’s
fifth ranked team in Class 1A pile it on Serena even higher.
Lebanon (35-4) now advances to this afternoon’s state title game at 12 p.m. against two
fine defending 1A champion Cobden (32-4), while the Lady Huskers (20-13) will battle
Alexis United (30-6) this morning at 9:30 a.m. Cobden defeated United 10-2 in the other
1A semifinal prior to Lebanon lighting up the scoreboard.
“You’ve got to give them (Lebanon) credit. They were unbelievable. Even with our errors
they just hands down hit the ball better than we did,” said Serena softball coach Kelly
Baker. “They’re a great, well coached team that did a nice job. We tried to keep them off
balance switching up Katie and Karly. But no matter what we threw at them they were able
to just take it and ride it.”
Ride it Lebanon did from the very first inning where the Lady Greyhounds sent twelve
batters to the plate and scored nine runs on eight hits against Serena starting pitcher
Karly Huss. Washington’s two-run single got things going followed by RBI’s from Jaclyn
Elmore and Abby Fritz. Courtney Belcher followed with a two run double and then scored
on Claire Buechele’s single. Kendyll Koester then capped the opening barrage with a two-
run homer to left field and Lebanon led 9-0 after a half inning of play.
“I was thinking, wow. I was thinking it was going to be a tough game after that first inning,”
Baker said. “I was just kind of hoping our defense would pull through a little more. But
those shots they had were good shots. Our defense couldn’t get to them. They were
solid.”
The Lady Greyhounds would add four more runs during the next two frames. Washington
led off the top of the second with a solo homer followed by a Hailey Cummings RBI double
that made the score 11-0.
Washington then belted a two run blast in the third that chased Karly Huss from the circle
in lieu of sister Katie as Lebanon led 13-0.
Serena would finally dent Washington (5 ip, 2h, 2 r, 2 bb, 8 k) with its only two hits and
runs of the contest in the bottom of the third. Katie Huss hit a bloop single to right and
went to second on Karly Huss’ sacrifice bunt. Kelissa Peterson then singled and stole
second.
With runners on second and third, Colleen Murphy squibbed a ball back to Washington
who got the out at first as Katie Huss scored. But Peterson never stopped running from
second and came in to tally also as the Lady Huskers cut the gap to 13-2 after three,
Katie Huss would hold Lebanon to only one run in the fourth, but two Lady Husker errors
in the fifth would lead to eight more Lady Greyhound tallies that concluded the 22 run
demolition.
Even Lebanon veteran head coach of 50 years Hank Feldt had to marvel at his team’s
performance.
“Without a doubt they’re the best softball team I’ve ever had,” Feldt said. “I’ve never had
kids who could hit so well. The kids really listen to me.”
Washington (26-3) got the win for the Lady Greyhounds, while Karly Huss (17-10) took
the loss for the Lady Huskers. Koester also had a great day at the plate for Lebanon
going 3-5 with a homer, a double, and five RBI.
Serena will now try to refocus and get ready for the third place contest with United.
“I’m proud of our girls for making it this far. However now that we’re here you want to get a
little greedy and go to the next level,” Baker said. “Maybe we’ll be able to come up with
our heads a little higher tomorrow.”
Bill Lidinsky is a Northern Illinois Sports Beat contributor. He can be reached in care of
NISB at Northernillinoissportsbeat@yahoo.com. --- Talk about what's written on our
Message Boards!
Northern Illinois Sports Beat Contributor
EAST PEORIA - Throughout Serena’s magical run to the Class 1A Softball state finals,
one thing has been certain and that’s how competitive the Lady Huskers have been
throughout each and every post-season victory.
But on Friday afternoon at the East Side Centre in East Peoria, Serena finally found an
opponent it just couldn’t contend with.
Behind a slew of offensive state softball records, the Lebanon Lady Greyhounds put an
end to the Lady Huskers fairytale playoff win streak by pounding out an incredible 22 runs
on 22 hits on the way to a 22-2 five-inning state semifinal victory.
Sophomore pitcher Courtney Washington was the main cog in the Lebanon hit machine
as she terrorized Serena hurlers Karly and Katie Huss with a five for five plate
performance that included two homers, a triple, and eight runs batted in. The Lady
Huskers also committed six errors that led to eight unearned runs which helped the state’s
fifth ranked team in Class 1A pile it on Serena even higher.
Lebanon (35-4) now advances to this afternoon’s state title game at 12 p.m. against two
fine defending 1A champion Cobden (32-4), while the Lady Huskers (20-13) will battle
Alexis United (30-6) this morning at 9:30 a.m. Cobden defeated United 10-2 in the other
1A semifinal prior to Lebanon lighting up the scoreboard.
“You’ve got to give them (Lebanon) credit. They were unbelievable. Even with our errors
they just hands down hit the ball better than we did,” said Serena softball coach Kelly
Baker. “They’re a great, well coached team that did a nice job. We tried to keep them off
balance switching up Katie and Karly. But no matter what we threw at them they were able
to just take it and ride it.”
Ride it Lebanon did from the very first inning where the Lady Greyhounds sent twelve
batters to the plate and scored nine runs on eight hits against Serena starting pitcher
Karly Huss. Washington’s two-run single got things going followed by RBI’s from Jaclyn
Elmore and Abby Fritz. Courtney Belcher followed with a two run double and then scored
on Claire Buechele’s single. Kendyll Koester then capped the opening barrage with a two-
run homer to left field and Lebanon led 9-0 after a half inning of play.
“I was thinking, wow. I was thinking it was going to be a tough game after that first inning,”
Baker said. “I was just kind of hoping our defense would pull through a little more. But
those shots they had were good shots. Our defense couldn’t get to them. They were
solid.”
The Lady Greyhounds would add four more runs during the next two frames. Washington
led off the top of the second with a solo homer followed by a Hailey Cummings RBI double
that made the score 11-0.
Washington then belted a two run blast in the third that chased Karly Huss from the circle
in lieu of sister Katie as Lebanon led 13-0.
Serena would finally dent Washington (5 ip, 2h, 2 r, 2 bb, 8 k) with its only two hits and
runs of the contest in the bottom of the third. Katie Huss hit a bloop single to right and
went to second on Karly Huss’ sacrifice bunt. Kelissa Peterson then singled and stole
second.
With runners on second and third, Colleen Murphy squibbed a ball back to Washington
who got the out at first as Katie Huss scored. But Peterson never stopped running from
second and came in to tally also as the Lady Huskers cut the gap to 13-2 after three,
Katie Huss would hold Lebanon to only one run in the fourth, but two Lady Husker errors
in the fifth would lead to eight more Lady Greyhound tallies that concluded the 22 run
demolition.
Even Lebanon veteran head coach of 50 years Hank Feldt had to marvel at his team’s
performance.
“Without a doubt they’re the best softball team I’ve ever had,” Feldt said. “I’ve never had
kids who could hit so well. The kids really listen to me.”
Washington (26-3) got the win for the Lady Greyhounds, while Karly Huss (17-10) took
the loss for the Lady Huskers. Koester also had a great day at the plate for Lebanon
going 3-5 with a homer, a double, and five RBI.
Serena will now try to refocus and get ready for the third place contest with United.
“I’m proud of our girls for making it this far. However now that we’re here you want to get a
little greedy and go to the next level,” Baker said. “Maybe we’ll be able to come up with
our heads a little higher tomorrow.”
Bill Lidinsky is a Northern Illinois Sports Beat contributor. He can be reached in care of
NISB at Northernillinoissportsbeat@yahoo.com. --- Talk about what's written on our
Message Boards!
At EastSide Centre (6/4/10)
East Peoria
Class 1A State Semifinal
Lebanon 22, Serena 2 (5 inn.)
Lebanon (22) – P. Buechele lf
3-2-0-0, Koester ss 5-3-3-5,
Wood 2b 5-4-3-0,
Washington p 5-4-5-8,
Elmore 1b 4-2-3-2, Fritz cf 4-1-
1-1, Cummings rf 4-2-2-1,
Belcher c 4-1-2-2, Christ pr/lf
2-1-1-1, C. Buechele 3b 4-2-
2-1. Totals: 40-22-22-21.
Serena (2) – Kat. Huss ss/p
1-1-1-0, Kar. Huss p/lf 2-0-0-
0, Petersen cf 3-1-1-0,
Leannah rf 1-0-0-0, Murphy
2b 2-0-0-1, Maurer dp 2-0-0-
0, Castelli 3b 1-0-0-0,
Norman 1b 2-0-0-0, Gunier c
2-0-0-0, Smith lf/ss 0-0-0-0.
Totals: 16-2-2-1.
Lebanon 922 18 – 22 22 1
Serena 002 00 – 2 2 6
LOB - Lebanon 5; Serena 4.
2B - Koester; Wood 2;
Cummings. Belcher. 3B -
Washington. HR - Koester;
Washington 2. HBP - Kat.
Huss 2. SH - Kar. Huss. SF -
Fritz. SB - P. Buechele; Wood;
Kat. Huss 2. CS - Kat. Huss.
DP - Serena 2.
Lebanon ip r er h bb k
Washington (W,26-3)
5.0 2 2 2 2 8
Serena
Kar. Huss (L,17-10)
2.1 12 13 11 0 0
Kat. Huss .2.2 10 9 3 1 0
Records: Serena (20-13),
Lebanon (35-4).
East Peoria
Class 1A State Semifinal
Lebanon 22, Serena 2 (5 inn.)
Lebanon (22) – P. Buechele lf
3-2-0-0, Koester ss 5-3-3-5,
Wood 2b 5-4-3-0,
Washington p 5-4-5-8,
Elmore 1b 4-2-3-2, Fritz cf 4-1-
1-1, Cummings rf 4-2-2-1,
Belcher c 4-1-2-2, Christ pr/lf
2-1-1-1, C. Buechele 3b 4-2-
2-1. Totals: 40-22-22-21.
Serena (2) – Kat. Huss ss/p
1-1-1-0, Kar. Huss p/lf 2-0-0-
0, Petersen cf 3-1-1-0,
Leannah rf 1-0-0-0, Murphy
2b 2-0-0-1, Maurer dp 2-0-0-
0, Castelli 3b 1-0-0-0,
Norman 1b 2-0-0-0, Gunier c
2-0-0-0, Smith lf/ss 0-0-0-0.
Totals: 16-2-2-1.
Lebanon 922 18 – 22 22 1
Serena 002 00 – 2 2 6
LOB - Lebanon 5; Serena 4.
2B - Koester; Wood 2;
Cummings. Belcher. 3B -
Washington. HR - Koester;
Washington 2. HBP - Kat.
Huss 2. SH - Kar. Huss. SF -
Fritz. SB - P. Buechele; Wood;
Kat. Huss 2. CS - Kat. Huss.
DP - Serena 2.
Lebanon ip r er h bb k
Washington (W,26-3)
5.0 2 2 2 2 8
Serena
Kar. Huss (L,17-10)
2.1 12 13 11 0 0
Kat. Huss .2.2 10 9 3 1 0
Records: Serena (20-13),
Lebanon (35-4).
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