Playing a 1-0 nail-biter one week prior, Monday’s high school softball rematch between Macomb and Illini West looked to be more of the same.
This go-round, seven innings were not enough to decide a winner. In fact, it took 11 innings before the Chargers walked-off with a 5-4 victory in this Illinois High School Association Class 2A Regional opener at the Joe and Helen Grate Sports Complex in Carthage.
Illini West improved to 12-20 on the season, while Macomb saw its season end with a final record of 9-19.
Just as it did in last week’s meeting, Macomb scored in the opening inning.
Lauren Bishop reached on a bunt single before advancing to second on a sac bunt by Lauren Schmalshof. An error on the play by the Charger first baseman allowed Bishop to reach third.
Olivia Whitney grounded out to the shortstop, bringing home Bishop with the game’s first run.
The Bombers doubled their lead in the top of the fourth.
Kendyl Danner walked to open the inning. Nika Daytner and Josie Elbe followed with sacrifice bunts that advanced Danner to third.
Kinley Sloan then singled to left on a 2-2 pitch, scoring Danner to make the score 2-0.
The Chargers broke through in the bottom of the fifth against Sloan, scoring three runs, all unearned.
A single by Karsyn Bliss followed by a three-base error led to the first run for Illini West. A walk to Natalie Wibbell followed before Olivia Johnson’s RBI single brought home Ella Shutwell with the tying run.
Wibbell eventually scored after a pair of passed balls, giving the Chargers a 3-2 lead.
The Bombers bounced back in the top of the sixth, scoring twice to retake the lead.
Danner started the inning by reaching on a two-base error by the right fielder. She moved to third when Daytner reached on a bunt single to third.
Both runners scored when Elbe doubled to right, giving Macomb a 4-3 lead.
Illini West scored a single run in the bottom of the inning to tie the contest at 4-4 against Danner, who came on in relief of Sloan.
Kate DeSotel singled to left to open the inning. Pinch runner Hayden Wibbell moved to second on a wild pitch before reaching third on a groundout to Danner.
Kennedy followed with an infield single that scored Hayden Wibbell to tie the game.
The Chargers went on to load the bases later in the inning, but Danner retired Johnson on a pop fly to Raegan Knowles at short to end the threat.
Illini West had runners at second and third with no outs in the bottom of the ninth. But the Chargers were denied as a fielder’s choice, strikeout and groundout to second kept them off the board.
The bottom of the 11th saw Johnson begin the inning with a single to center by Johnson. Ava Shutwell, running for Johnson, advanced on an error.
AJ Cook reached on an infield single to first, loading the bases before Hayden Wibbell struck out.
Lexis Carle ended the game, reachiing on a single to short that scored Shutwell with the winning run.
Illini West out-hit Macomb 14-8. The Bombers also committed five errors that led to four unearned runs.
Bishop had three hits and scored a run for MHS.
Sloan added two hits and a run batted in, while Elbe doubled, knocking in two runs. Danner scored twice, while Daytner had a hit and scored a run.
Schmalshof added a hit and Whitney a run batted in.
Danner took the loss in relief, pitching 5.1 innings. She allowed two runs, one earned, on 11 hits. Danner struck out eight and hit a batter.
Sloan started, pitching five innings. She allowed three runs, none earned, on three hits. Sloan struck out 10 and walked three.
Johnson and Gunning each had three hits with one RBI for Illini West. Shutwell added two hits with Carle recording the game-winning RBI.
In the circle, Hattie Wood went the distance, pitching all 11 innings. Wood allowed four runs, two earned, on eight hits.She struck out 10 and walked three.
Wood threw 156 pitches in the contest, 113 for strikes.
Illini West (12-21) saw its season ended Wednesday as it lost to top-seeded Williamsville 12-2 in semifinal play at Carthage.
The second semifinal had West Hancock edging Beardstown (18-11) 2-0.
Williamsville (18-13) will face West Hancock (12-13) in the title contest Friday at 4:30 p.m. in Carthage.
