Alleman blanks Galesburg in softball
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By Shannon Heaton | Friday, June 06, 2008 |
It’s been a tough season for the only freshman that started the year with Rock Island Alleman’s varsity softball team.
A tear of the left hip flexor sidelined Hayley Johnson for four weeks, forcing her to miss a softball game for the first time in her life.
Tuesday night in the Illinois Class 3A Rock Island Regional semifinals, a questionable call in the sixth inning took the bat out of her hands in what might have been a go-ahead situation for her team against Galesburg.
However, Alleman won 1-0 and her sharp single to open the seventh was followed by three infield hits, including Shaina Fennesy’s groundball between third base and shortstop that forced Silver Streaks third baseman Dani Foreman to make a diving stop.
Foreman had no chance to throw out Johnson, who instead of driving in the go-ahead run, scored the game-ender, sending the Pioneers (24-7) into Saturday’s 11 a.m. regional title game against either Rock Island or Geneseo, who play today at 4:30 at Frances Willard Field.
Johnson said it was “upsetting” to have the bat taken out of her hands in the sixth, when baserunner Andria Mendoza was called out while trying to advance between first and second on a groundball by Kayla Appleman.
The umpire also called out Appleman, ruling that the Streaks second baseman, Megan Young, could have pulled off the double play.
“We put it behind us and got it done,” Johnson said. “I wasn’t surprised (at Alleman’s rally in the seventh). I knew our team would get to them sometime.”
Fennesy put a bad throw behind her, too, that came in the fourth inning and helped give Galesburg (8-22) its best chance to score against Pioneers pitcher Amanda Lambrecht, who allowed three singles, walked none and struck out 12.
Johnson’s single in the seventh was followed by an infield hit by speedy Ashley Schwenneker, a sacrifice bunt by Lambrecht that moved both runners into scoring position, and a bunt single by Ashley Friedland that came when Galesburg failed to cover first base. That brought Fennesy to the plate, and a shot at redemption.
“I was mostly more angry at myself. It’s my job to be a leader,” Fennesy said. “It wasn’t pretty, but we got the job done. I have complete faith in my team; whether it’s a home run or three infield hits, I’m happy. I knew we could do it.”
But it was difficult. Alleman left 10 runners on base and got nine hits, but couldn’t strike until the last inning.
“You don’t advance any further, whether it’s 10-0 or 1-0,” said Alleman coach Mike Ebner. “It’s going to be tough either way (against either Geneseo or Rock Island) on Saturday. I’m just glad to know we’re playing. That’s the big thing.”
Contact the sports desk at (563) 383-2285 or sports@qctimes.com.
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