PEORIA — The Chatham Glenwood softball team didn’t come away with the ultimate prize.
But there was so much more the Titans could treasure from another historic run to the Class 3A state final at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex on Saturday, June 6.
“Softball has built me as a person,” senior pitcher Irie Lohrenz said following a 7-2 loss to Antioch in Glenwood’s second straight championship game appearance. “I’ve learned so many life lessons through it. All I told myself was that I just want to leave my heart on the field. These are some of bestest friends, so I can take away friendships of a lifetime and memories that will last forever.”
Antioch freshman Rylee Dunlavy provided the go-ahead two-RBI double in the second inning and the Sequoits (34-3) never trailed with freshman pitcher Pearl Wenzel in the circle.
She limited the defending champion Titans (30-3) to just five hits with six strikeouts and no walks in a complete game.
Glenwood freshman Jemma Lamb finished 3-for-3 with two RBIs.
Lohrenz, who will pitch at Miami (Ohio) University, took the loss in four innings of work. She allowed three earned runs on just three hits and one walk.
The Titans won their second ever state title last season and went a combined 58-5 over the past two years.
“We worked so hard to get here,” Lohrenz said. “I told the girls in the circle there’s not a lot of teams that want to show up day in and day out to be in the weight room, practice every single day and spend a lot of time with each other.
“We told each other, just one more practice, that’s what we want. The legacy that we hope we left is enough and I hope they just continue to grow so strong through Glenwood softball.”
Senior leadoff hitter Ryleigh Kiel said they fought to the end and could still bristle with pride with all that they have accomplished together.
Kiel, who will next play at Penn State University, starred throughout the season with a sizzling .621 average that included team-bests 53 runs and 15 home runs prior to the finale.
“The girls around me made me so phenomenally confident in myself, just staying true to myself and play like I do,” Kiel said. “They’re there for me through and through. They pushed for me when I’m not doing my best and I push them for them when they’re not doing their best. We’re there for each other.”
Reserve Carlyann Feld received the nod for the final at-bat as the only other senior on the team. She played with older twin sisters Kate and Cassie on the team, then younger twin cousins Sydney and Sophia Feld over her four years.
Feld intends to study accounting at Illinois State University.
“I definitely was a little nervous,” Feld said. “I was just trying to have fun. I went up there and coach (Vondel) Edgar just told me to have fun.”
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Chatham Glenwood softball savors another historic run to 3A state final
Reporting by Bill Welt, Springfield State Journal-Register / State Journal-Register
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By Bill Welt, Springfield State Journal-Register | USA TODAY Network
