Softball: Yorkville tops pesky Sandwich

Updated: May 22, 2012 8:50PM

The third time was a lot tougher for Yorkville, but the Foxes held off Sandwich 5-3 Tuesday at Illinois Math & Science Academy to advance to their third regional title game in three years.

Even though her team had 10-runned the Indians twice in a nonconference doubleheader early in the regular season, Yorkville coach Kathi Dockstader didn’t count on a cakewalk and she was right. The Foxes were outhit 10-8.

“They came in and were ready to go,” said Dockstader, whose team climbs to 19-16 and advances to Saturday’s 11 a.m. title game against the winner of Wednesday’s matchup between No. 1 seed Kaneland and No. 5 Rosary.

“We knew they were a good team. (Sandwich) has beaten some teams we’ve lost to, so we knew it was gonna be a good game.”

Yorkville jumped out early, scoring twice in the first on an RBI double from Sarah Saffold and an RBI infield single from winning pitcher Rachael Owens (13-13).

The Foxes added an unearned run in the second and another run in the third on Jordan Toschak’s RBI single to make it 4-0 before Sandwich (12-22) rallied.

And if not for a controversial call that went the Foxes’ way, who knows what may have happened?

Losing pitcher Morgan Murphy (12-19) led off the sixth with a double but her courtesy runner was cut down at the plate after Hannah Weatherly reached on an outfield error. Shortstop Corrine Rowe took the relay and threw a strike to freshman catcher Madeline Avery for an out that was disputed by Sandwich coach Jessica Gale.

”That was a big momentum changer,” said Gale. “I don’t believe that was the correct call and that could’ve definitely been a game-changer. My runner had already passed (Avery) before the catch was ever made. Even if she hit her arm (with the swipe tag), her feet were already on the plate.

“But what am I supposed to do, go argue with him? He’s not gonna change it and then I won’t get a call after that.”

Weatherly came home an out later on a two-out single by Delaney Voss that was followed by a Clarissa Lopez single before Owens, who struck out seven and walked one, worked out of trouble.

Yorkville added an insurance run in its half of the sixth on a Lauren Rhodes RBI single. Weatherly answered with a two-run single in the seventh and the tying run was at the plate with two outs when Owens got the final out on a grounder to first.

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