DECATUR — Auburn/Lutheran senior pitcher Meena Taylor was just one out away from a perfect game.
It was dashed by a single to left field, but she quickly rebounded with a strikeout for a more significant prize.
Taylor struck out 12 in a near flawless outing in a 2-0 victory over Tolono Unity in the Class 2A Millikin University Supersectional on Monday, June 2 and propel the Trojans to their second straight state finals appearance.
“She was absolutely tremendous,” Auburn coach Ryan Patterson said. “I hate to say we expected it, but that’s what she does.”
Auburn (27-5) will meet Beecher in the state semifinals on Friday, June 6 at 5:30 p.m. at the Louisville Slugger Softball Complex in Peoria. The championship game is Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
“One short, but it was amazing,” Taylor said. “We knew we wanted to make it back and we did. That’s what we worked for all season. It’s euphoric seeing everyone like this celebrating.”
Meena Taylor was hitting all her spots, according to her twin sister and catcher, Piper, who made sure not to utter anything on the subject of a perfect game throughout the afternoon.
“I did that in our eighth-grade year,” Piper said. “It was exactly like this, bottom of the seventh. I go out and tell her it’s a perfect game. She gives up a hit and she hates me for the next two months. I was not going to do that again.”
Meena not only attributed her success to a blend of hard stuff and an occasional changeup, but also chiefly her sister.
“Piper knew what to call and how to call the game,” Meena said. “It’s all props to her. This isn’t my game win, it’s her game win.”
Auburn sophomore third baseman Addison Jones brought home pinch runner Maddie Littlejohn and Taylor Patterson with the go-ahead two-RBI single in the first inning. The Trojans ultimately mustered seven hits against losing pitcher Lindy Bates, who struck out five and gave up one walk.
Jones, who scored the go-ahead run on Addison Wheately’s RBI triple in a 1-0 regional final win over Carlinville, said she saw an outside pitch and waited back on it before driving the ball to center field.
“I saw them (Meena Taylor and Patterson) get on base and I was like, ‘Well, if they get on base, I can too,’” Jones said. “I knew I just needed a base hit and that’s what I got.”
Class 1A
CARROLLTON 4, HAVANA 3 (11 innings): Megan Camden delivered the game-tying RBI double in the bottom of the 11th inning before Vanna Holmes had the walk-off RBI single to advance to the Class 1A state finals against Casey-Westfield on Friday, June 6.
Camden and Holmes each had two hits. Lauren Flowers supplied a solo home run in the third and picked up the win in the 11-inning marathon with 18 strikeouts.
Havana’s Kaydi Miller scored the go-ahead run in the top half of the 11th following Maddie Howerter’s sacrifice bunt. Lily Snowden homered in the fourth to even the score at 2-all for the Ducks, while Addie Atwater finished 3-for-5 at the plate.
Howerter took the loss in 10 2/3 innings with four strikeouts. She allowed four runs on 11 hits and four walks. Havana finishes 25-4-1.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Meena Taylor lifts Auburn/Lutheran softball co-op to another state finals appearance
Reporting by Bill Welt, Springfield State Journal- Register / State Journal-Register
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