PEORIA — Chatham Glenwood got the party started quickly, and the Titans’ relentless offense kept it going.
The visitors on the scoreboard got two triples, one double and two singles in the first inning, plated three runs to waste no time in establishing a lead before Glenwood beat Oak Park Fenwick 9-3 in the Illinois High School Association’s Class 3A state softball semifinals at Louisville Slugger Sports Complex on Friday.
Glenwood (30-2) will face Antioch (33-3) in the 3A title game on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. The Titans are going for their second consecutive 3A championship and third overall. Antioch beat Dunlap 6-1 in the other semifinal Friday.
Jemma Lamb, one of three freshmen on the Glenwood roster, is hopeful that she can enjoy a state title like her more-seasoned teammates. She did get plenty of advice since winning the 3A supersectional on Monday.
“It’s a cool experience, just stay calm, and just hit the ball, just do what you do,” Lamb said. “There were a few nerves (before the game) — like usual. I think we just got comfortable as we got a few runs on the board and that just helped us.”
Ryleigh Kiel, who went 2-for-4 with a double and one RBI, got the Titans’ crowd amped up with her leadoff bloop single to center and quickly scored when the No. 2 hitter, Hope Gilmore, tripled to left. Glenwood coach Vondel Edgar sent Gilmore home for a chance for an inside-the-park home run, but she was tagged out at the plate.
“It’s awesome,” Gilmore said. “We came into this game and we just wanted to win. ‘Let’s just jump on this first pitcher. We don’t care: let’s pass the bats and find a way and we did.”
However, that wasn’t the end of the good vibes as Lamb doubled to the right-field fence and scored when Sophia Feld tripled to left for a 2-0 lead. Sydney Feld’s RBI single to left scored her twin sister for a 3-0 edge.
“A lot of momentum in that first inning that helped us through,” Lamb said. “(Starting pitcher Irie Lohrenz) did a great job pitching, (relief pitcher Alyvia Streb) came in and she did a great job.”
Fenwick (22-12) scored one run in each of the first, third and fifth innings.
Edgar said it’s a big key for the visiting team to score first.
“It’s always important to get ahead,” Edgar said. “Scoring first is always good.
“There was an ole boy at Herrin (former softball coach Bruce Jilek) when I started coaching and they scored three runs in the first. I think I’m about his age now. He said, ‘Men sit on the beach … and they dream about things. I’m old enough now, I sit on the beach, and I dream about three runs in the first.’”
Despite the Friars getting within 3-2, Glenwood had a two-run inning in store for Fenwick in the top of the fifth when Kyleigh Warren mashed a one-out double to left before Kiel doubled for a 4-2 lead. Gilmore had her second extra-base hit for a 5-2 lead.
The Titans put the game out of reach with a massive two-out, four-hit, two-walk top of the seventh. Gilmore walked with two outs before Lamb drove a ball to right field for a 6-3 lead. The Feld sisters then followed that up with back-to-back RBI doubles, and Streb hit a liner to right for a 9-3 cushion.
Kiel, Gilmore, Lamb and both Feld twins all had two hits apiece. Of the 12 Glenwood hits, nine went for extra bases.
“There’s a lot of us that have been here already,” Gilmore said. “It’s getting to help the younger kids enjoy the experience, have fun, but just know we are here to play softball. We can have fun when we go out to eat, watch games, but when we come to the field, lock in.”
The Friars started their No. 2 pitcher, Jordan Rossi, instead of its most-used hurler, Sofia Kateeb. Rossi lasted just the one inning and took the loss. Kateeb didn’t fare much better, allowing six runs on seven hits, but she did strike out seven over six innings.
“(Fenwick) made the decision … and they started a different kid,” Edgar said. “We put some really good swings on her (but lost two runners on the bases). It wasn’t pretty, but I don’t care.”
Contact Ryan Mahan: 788-1546, ryan.mahan@sj-r.com, Twitter.com/RyanMahanSJR.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Glenwood answers coach’s dreams with 3 runs in the first of semi win
Reporting by Ryan Mahan, Springfield State Journal-Register / State Journal-Register
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Ryan Mahan, Springfield State Journal-Register | USA TODAY Network
