Class 2A Farmington Softball Sectional
Sherrard vs. Central/Southeastern
(5/26/10)
Originally, my coverage was going to take me to the Class 1A Knoxville softball sectional, but that game was postponed due to a freakish thunderstorm that seemed to hover only over the city of Knoxville. Over the past two days, isolated thunderstorms have popped up, and in some cases heavy rains fall on one side of town, while the other stays dry.
While reading forecasts all morning, calling for 70% showers and thunderstorms, I kept my eye on the radar. In the 1:00 hour, scoping out the radar, there was one little splotch of red (very heavy rains) over what appeared to be Knoxville....and no where else within 50 miles.
About a half hour later, I received a call that the sectional doubleheader in Knoxville had been pushed back a day. United Red Storm head coach Gary Eyler called me around 3:00, and told me that they had seen some very heavy rainfall at the diamond outside of Knoxville.
Over the next hour, I contemplated on where my travels should take me. My first thought, was to head to the Quad Cities, with a Class 4A baseball and softball regional taking place in Moline, and East Moline, respectively. With a couple late nights on the road both Monday and Tuesday, I decided to just head home and get some things done around the house for a change.
Driving home, I just couldn't stand to think about missing a game, especially given the fact that in a couple weeks, there won't be any high school sporting events going on (although, I will find myself covering some showcases, shootouts, and Legion baseball).
Approaching Roseville, it dawned on me that the Sherrard softball team was playing Central/Southeastern in the Class 2A Farmington softball sectional semifinals. To make sure, I called back to the office to have somebody go into my schedules and double check today's action for me. Sure enough, and in the nick of time, I veered off course, took a left at Roseville and headed due east on Route 116.
Getting closer to Farmington, there was quite a bit of saturation of the ground, and some large puddles in the fields. This worried me, thinking there may be no game, and a long wasted trip for me. When I pulled up to the Farmington High School campus, there were plenty of vehicles, and I could see the stands full watching softball. Cindy Wierzba, former Farmington basketball coach Tom Wierzba's wife, was manning the gates out front.
It's a long walk from the parking lot to the stands. It may have taken me an entire half inning to get there. It was the top of the 2nd inning when I arrived, about 4:45 I believe, and it was a scoreless game. Walking up near the concession stand, I said hello to Farmington assistant softball coach Callie Sears, and talked with Farmington athletic director Eric Matthews.
Matthews told me that the clouds rolled in, mid-afternoon and just hung over the area without spitting any rain. He said it got really hot and humid, but fortunately didn't receive any rain. I camped out behind the stands beyond home plate, trying to eye a good section to get some video footage. The media tables set up behind home plate were all filled up, and there was a very healthy crowd on hand.
In fact, I have always been impressed with the crowd that Camp Point Central/Southeastern always brings. Whether it be boy's or girl's basketball, or in this case, softball, there is always a tremendous crowd rooting on the Panthers.
The Tigers struck first, with a pair of runs in the 3rd inning. After Rebecca Patterson ripped a double, she was knocked in by a 2-run home run off the bat of Ashley Parker. Parker would smoke two home runs in the 13-1 win for Sherrard.
A great play was made in the bottom of the 3rd inning by the Tigers. Sherrard catcher Tarran Shaffer made a throw to 2nd base to tag out a Panther basestealer. The Tigers shortstop covering 2nd base jumped for the ball and came down with a swift tag for the third out of the inning.
Starting the 4th inning, Panthers coach Amy Hildebrand made some position changes in the field, about five total. I'm really glad I wasn't broadcasting, or I would have been really confused. In that frame, Sherrard plated three more runs. Rebecca Patterson reached after getting hit by a pitch. In all, I counted five hits batters on Central/Southeastern. Probably a few bruises by the Tigers tomorrow morning. Shaffer knocked an RBI single that scored Patterson from third. She stole second base, and advanced to third on a throwing error on the stolen base. Ashley Parker added an RBI double to her impressive offensive showing.
Sherrard pitcher Ashley Anderson got the Panthers to go down in order in the bottom of the 4th inning. Karlee Rumler hit a double in the 5th inning, and scored on an RBI single by Patterson, to give the Tigers a, 6-0 lead.
Central/Southeastern managed a single in the 6th inning, but then went down in order. Sherrard exploded for 7 runs in the 6th inning, with back-to-back home runs hit by Shaffer and Parker. Shaffer's just cleared the scoreboard in left field, while Parker's went over the centerfield fence. Patterson hit a 2-run triple in the inning, which ended with Sherrard taking a, 13-0 lead, which would be the final score.
The Panthers made it interesting....well as interesting as a 13-run game can be, in the bottom of the 6th inning. C/SE led off with a basehit, followed by a walk. The third batter of the inning flew out for the first out of the frame. Then, a walk loaded the bases with just one out. There was nearly a double play that would have sealed the game for Sherrard. Rumler, at 2nd base, fielded a liner and appeared to tag the baserunner from 1st to 2nd, then make the play to first. The tag missed on the runner, enabling one run to score with two outs. A fly ball ended the game, advancing Sherrard to the Sweet 16 for Saturday's Sectional Championship.
Heading back, I checked my phone and saw I had missed a call. This is something that I have been given a lot of crap for, because I always leave my phone on vibrate, which in turn, makes me miss 90% of my phone calls. People think I screen my calls, but its just not turning the ringer on, and I absolutely refuse to download some song as my ringtone. It's a phone....it should ring....or in my case, vibrate!
The missed call was from Chris Smith, as I noticed, was weaving behind me on Route 136 just outside of Macomb trying to get my attention. He pulled into a gas station in Macomb, and I followed. He had been umpiring in Peoria, doing the Peoria Notre Dame/East Peoria Class 3A softball regional. He will be heading to Streator next week, and almost asked me a good way to get there from Macomb, before realizing who he was asking. I am the guy who still gets lost using a Garmin....but I blame Garmin for those mistakes.
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