Cobden wins super-sectional

With one out in the top of the 6th inning, shortstop Jenna Lehr had a base hit that dropped near the fence in center field.

When the ball was retrieved and brought back to the infield, the senior was on second base for a standup double.

The hit ignited the spark to Cobden’s lone run in a 1-0 win over Cumberland for the championship of the Class 1A high school softball super-sectional.

The championship game was played at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale’s Charlotte West Stadium Monday afternoon, June 1.

“Jenna Lehr has been struggling (at the plate) for the last two weeks,” Cobden coach Nathan Emrick said. “Her senior leadership came through when we needed it.”

The Cobden win ended a 24-game winning streak for the Lady Pirates and advanced the winners to the state finals.

Cobden, the defending Class 1A state champion, is scheduled to play at noon Friday against Dupo in first-round action on the East Peoria Eastside Centre field.

The game will be aired on WIBH radio station of Anna, 1400 AM.

The Appleknockers eked out an 11 inning, 2-1 win Saturday, May 30, over Elverado for the championship of the Pinck-neyville sectional.

“A game like that on Saturday prepared us for this,” Emrick said.

Teammate Ana Duda followed Lehr’s hit with a double to right-centerfield. Duda’s hit drove in Lehr for the game’s only RBI. Duda attempted to stretch the hit into a triple and was tagged out at third base. But the damage was done.

Despite the one-run advantage, Cobden was not out of trouble.

In the top of the 7th inning with one out, the Lady Pirates had back-to-back singles off starting Appleknocker pitcher Taylor Orsburn.

Orsburn forced Megan Woolever to pop up to catcher Kayla Quertermous for the second out. The final batter, Casey Sowers, worked to a full count. Orsburn forced an infield ground out for the final out to start the celebration.

“We knew with Taylor in the circle (pitching) we’re going to get a good performance each time out,” Emrick said.

Orsburn, who ran her record to 15-1, scattered 4 hits to go with 5 strikeouts and 3 walks.

Emrick said he never thought about relieving Taylor despite the struggle in the 7th inning.

“We wouldn’t have done that unless we went into extra innings,” Emrick said. “We have confidence in both our pitchers.”

The other Cobden hurler is DaCota Knop.

It was a pitcher’s duel as losing Cumberland hurler Janele Robinson allowed 4 hits to go with 7 strikeouts and no walks.

The other Appleknocker hits were from Orsburn and Knop, who each had two-out basehits in the 1st and 4th innings, respectively.

Taylor was 1-for-2 at the plate to lead the Appleknockers. Lehr was 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Duda was 1-for-3 with a double.Orsburn was 1-for-3.

“I give all the credit to the girls,” Emrick said. “They do all the work. I can’t say enough about them.”

Cobden advances to the state finals with a 30-4 record. Cumberland finished at 29-2.

Emrick said the Appleknockers need to forget about the hype surrounding the state tournament and concentrate on each game.

“We need to go in and play our game and not get wrapped up in the atmosphere,” he said. “We need to take it  one game at a time.”