Burlington Central softball takes third in state

EAST PEORIA — In most cases, if you don't win the state title, your season ends in a loss. After losing to eventual state champion Oak Forest on Friday in the Class 3A state semifinals, Burlington Central came out Saturday morning and made sure that didn't happen.

The Rockets put the finishing touches on remarkable season by beating Glenbard South 3-1 at the EastSide Centre to earn the third-place trophy, the program's best finish in school history. This marked BC's third trip to the State Finals after quarterfinal appearances in 1985 and 1993.

"It's an awesome feeling," said Central senior first baseman and four-year starter Brittany Priest. "I normally don't cry. I never cry. And I mean, just me crying right now, I'm so happy and it's just so amazing we won. I'm so excited."

The game was quite a turnaround from Friday's 4-0 loss. This time, the Rockets (26-6) played flawless defense and executed to perfection on offense. All three runs were the result of clutch two-out hitting. And senior Mackenzie Scott provided the biggest hit of all in the bottom of the sixth.

With runners at second and third and the game tied at 1, Scott delivered the game-winning, two-run double to the gap in right-center to plate Priest and Lindsay Lange. Scott then put the Raiders down in order in the top of the seventh to secure the win.

"You can't say enough about her coming through with a big hit," said 10th-year Central coach Scot Sutherland, who won his 248th game. "In the playoffs she hasn't been hitting too well and no better time to come through."

Added Scott: "She laid one too over the plate for me. I just kinda stuck my bat out and it went so it was probably my lucky day."

When it came to her pitching, there was no need to be as modest. Scott (21-3) struck out 11, walked three and allowed her first and only earned run of the postseason on four hits.

"Mac definitely threw a great game today and had a lot more snap than yesterday," Sutherland said.

Central took a 1-0 lead in the third after Priest (2-for-3, RBI, run) sent a 1-2 offering from Glenbard South pitcher Jess Wilkes (14-7) up the middle to score Kayla Oranger from third. Oranger reached on a two-out bunt single, stole second and got to third on an errant throw.

The Raiders (24-14) tied it at 1 in the top of the fifth. With the bases loaded and two outs, No. 2 hitter Brianna Meath hit a high fly ball that landed just inside the left-field line. Lange took the ball on one hop and made a perfect throw to catcher Sam Gruner to nail Amanda Straka at the plate and prevent Glenbard South from taking the lead.

"That was a great heads-up play," Sutherland said. "We kept our center fielder (Haley Albamonte) deep and brought Lindsay in a bit and she made a great throw to home plate and we had her dead."

Central's ability to come back from its defeat on Friday and play textbook softball was a result of being more relaxed. Sutherland had a team meeting Friday night and everyone came out of there expecting to win on Saturday.

"We had our worst game so we can't play any worse, we can only play better," Sutherland told the team. "When they left that meeting I could tell they'd be ready to play. The girls realized some of the pressure's off."

Oranger agreed.

"Friday, our infield and outfield warm-ups ... we weren't looking like ourselves and today we were on. We can tell by our warm-ups if we're gonna play good or not, so today we knew it was gonna be a good game for us."

After the game, Sutherland took his time to thank the fans. The Rockets had a loud and enthusiastic following all weekend with many students making their presence known behind the right-field fence.

"I couldn't be happier with the support and everyone coming out," Sutherland said. "We really appreciate it and it helps us."