Saturday In the Park

Pekin @ Galesburg (Softball)
Abingdon Commando Classic
(5/15/10)

Another Saturday of planned travel, well not so much planned. There were a couple different itineraries throughout the week. The initial plan was to head over to Glasford to catch the United/Illini Bluffs softball game, then over to Bushnell for the IESA Sectionals. I did neither. Instead, I headed up to Galesburg to watch the first softball game against Pekin. It was also Senior Night for the Silver Streaks. After the first game, my plan was to take in a few innings of the Monmouth-Roseville/ROWVA baseball game in Oneida, then down to Abingdon for a game at the Commando Classic.

The Streaks softball doubleheader began at 9:30 a.m. which would give me ample time to head over to Oneida, then back to Abingdon. I arrived at GHS right at 9:30. There was a lot of action on campus, with the Western Big 6 tennis championships being played out, along with a Freshman baseball tournament on two diamonds, and little kids soccer as well.

Galesburg took an early lead over the visiting Dragons, when Kelsey McKillip launched a two-run home run over the left field fence. It would be an offensive attack in the game, that would eventually last nearly 2.5 hours.

Pekin scored their first runs in the 4th inning, and in the bottom half the Streaks added three more runs, to make it 6-2. That frame was highlighted by a Megan Young 2-run single. The Dragons came back and tied the game in the 5th inning, capitalizing on two GHS errors.

In the top of the 7th inning, things got interesting with Pekin plating a pair of runs, taking an 8-6 lead. Galesburg countered, and tied the game up by scoring two runs in the bottom of the 7th inning, send the game into extra innings. The game would go 10 innings, and ended on a Katie VanHootegem RBI single, to give Galesburg the 9-8 win.

After the game, the Streaks honored their two senior softball players, Sam Mason and Jessica Davison, along with manager Kristen McCormick. The Streaks players also said some things to their seniors on the field.

Once the Senior Night festivities played out, I took to the road, traveling Route 34 east to Oneida. Upon pulling up to the high school, there was almost not a soul at the complex. One player was taking batting practice, and that was it. No game. I found out later the game between Monmouth-Roseville and ROWVA had been cancelled, which I was not aware of.

With hunger setting in, as the dill pickle sunflower seeds and granola bar I had snacked on were just not cutting it, I made the move I was trying to avoid. Fast food. Back in Galesburg, I stopped at Steak 'n Shake, one of my fast food weaknesses. I went with the double steak burger and fries, and made it a large.....not knowing that a large coke is enough liquid to quench the thirst of a small army.

It was off to Abingdon, for another round of the Commando Classic, the baseball round-robin featuring the host Commandoes, Columbia, Erie/Prophetstown, and Illini Bluffs. When I pulled into town, I stopped at Casey's to grab some gum. I was sure my breath reaked of coffee and onions, not a sweet scent.

When I pulled into the park, the Commandoes softball team was still on the field, hosting Brimfield/Elmwood in a Prairieland Conference matchup. I walked over to the field, and it was the 7th inning, with the Indians leading the hosts, 8-0. I didn't take any video, and caught the final inning of the game, then walked over to the baseball diamond.

The matchup I would be taking in was Columbia against Erie/Prophetstown. Columbia was playing back-to-back, and had just defeated Abingdon, 11-3. I talked with Abingdon coach Joe Nichols for several minutes. His team pulled off a pair of suicide squeezes in the game, including a double suicide squeeze.

Columbia took an early lead off of a 2-run home run by Alex Schlemmer. The sophomore was also the starting pitcher for the game. Brady Luther hit a 2-run single off the fence in the 3rd inning, that tied the game at 4-4. Bryce Bastien, who was, 4-4, the night before, hit a 2-run double in the 3rd inning, also. Adam Henke had a two-run single in the 6th inning, giving the Eagles an 11-4 lead, and would plate a run in the 7th inning to set the final score of 12-4.

There was a very scary situation early in the game, after a screaming foul ball struck a young child sitting beyond the rightfield line. The ball hit the kid in the back, who appeared to be around two or three years old. It turned out to be Columbia head coach Keith Jany's child, and they were okay, but probably left with a large bruise.

Had a conversation with Dave Hasley, who had come up from the Peoria Heights vs. B-PC/A baseball doubleheader in Bushnell. He would be working the two night games at the Commando Classic. His partner, Gerald Lowe had just worked the Galesburg/Pekin softball doubleheader.

I decided to hit the road, with it being 3:30 already, and a graduation party back in Macomb to attend. On my way out, I spoke with Alex Schlemmer's dad, and let him know that the videos would be uploaded over the next few days. The videos will be added to the IHSSN library over the next few days.