Highlights: Galesburg softball snapped a 13-game losing streak, baseball won on a walk-off hit, and the girls track team captured five events at Geneseo.
Galesburg softball snaps 13-game skid with shutout of Macomb
After weeks of waiting for the offense to catch up with its work, Galesburg broke through April 24.
The Silver Streaks scored four runs in the first inning, added two more in the second and went on to a 10-0, five-inning nonconference win over Macomb in Galesburg, ending a 13-game losing streak.
Galesburg coach Andrea Sampson said the offensive outburst was not as sudden as it might have appeared.
“It wasn’t magic overnight,” Sampson said. “It’s been something we’ve been preaching for a long time. I feel like our approaches were better, and we also mixed the lineup again.”
Galesburg finished with seven hits, six walks and eight stolen bases while taking advantage of three Macomb errors. The Silver Streaks scored in every inning, building a 7-0 lead after three before adding three runs in the fourth.
“Discipline is a lot better,” Sampson said.
Avayah Bridgewater led Galesburg at the plate, going 2-for-2 with two doubles, a walk and three RBIs. Hannah Barton scored twice and drove in a run, Mary Moore had a hit, a run and an RBI, and Taylor Lee added a hit and an RBI. Mavery Bland tripled and scored twice.
Lee also dominated in the circle, throwing a five-inning one-hitter with 12 strikeouts and no walks. Macomb’s only hit came from Autumn Starbuck.
“A lot of confidence that she had today and just trusting the pitches that I call for,” Sampson said. “She had 12 strikeouts and I think only one hit today. So, it was really good on her part.”
Galesburg also played errorless defense behind Lee.
“We were due for a win,” Sampson said. “I’m hoping that we can continue this momentum into Tuesday.”
The Streaks host Western Big 6 rival Quincy on April 28 and Geneseo on April 30. Both games start at 4:30 p.m.
Galesburg baseball rallies past Limestone on walk-off hit
Caden Riley delivered a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning April 24, lifting Galesburg to a 7-6 nonconference win over Limestone.
The Silver Streaks led 6-0 after two innings before Limestone scored three runs in the third and three more in the fourth to tie the game. Galesburg broke through in the seventh to win its fifth straight.
Easton Pickrel singled to lead off the inning. A Limestone error on Caleb Claeys’ sacrifice bunt put runners on first and third, and a passed ball moved Claeys into scoring position. With one out, Riley delivered the game-winning pinch-hit single to score Pickrel from third.
Galesburg coach Jerome Pickrel said the win carried added meaning.
“Over the last few years, we’ve been walked off in those situations,” Pickrel said. “So, I was glad that the boys came through and did it on our behalf for a change.”
“He got a pitch and just put it in play, made something happen,” Pickrel said. “With the infield in, you hit the ball up the middle and good things are bound to happen.”
Hayden Ralston earned the win in relief, throwing 1⅓ scoreless innings without allowing a hit or walk while striking out one.
“It’s really the mentality of ‘I want the ball,’” Ralston said.
Galesburg finished with 10 hits. Easton Pickrel went 2 for 2 with a double, two walks and two runs. Grady Hickey was 2-for-2 with a walk, while Noah Nalley homered and drove in two runs. Henry Ikrami, Caleb Claeys and Riley each drove in a run.
Galesburg travels to Moline on April 27 and hosts the Maroons on April 29. Both games are at 4:30 p.m.
Galesburg takes five firsts at Geneseo girls invite
Galesburg won five events and placed fourth April 24 at the Geneseo Girls Invite.
Geneseo won the seven-team meet with 169 points, followed by Ottawa with 110.5 and Sterling with 101. Galesburg scored 99.5.
Ella Herchenroder won the 400 meters in 1 minute, 3.3 seconds, while Grae Boone took first in the 3,200 in 13:08.4. Keerah Cooper added a win in the 300 hurdles in a personal-best 50.6 seconds.
Lily Furrow won the triple jump with a mark of 10.50 meters. The 4×400 relay team of Furrow, Grace Herchenroder, Taylor Herchenroder and Izzy Kennedy also placed first in 4:13.4.
Kennedy was second in the 800 in a personal-best 2:33.2, and the 4×200 relay team placed second in 1:51.1.
Rachelle McCellan finished third in the 100 meters in a personal-best 13.0 seconds, with Taylor Herchenroder placing fourth in the same event. Kalei Rice added a third-place finish in the 400 in 1:06.3.
The Silver Streaks’ 4×100 relay team of McCellan, Ella Herchenroder, Taylor Herchenroder and Ava Marty placed third in 51.9 seconds.
In field events, Ella Herchenroder placed fifth in the long jump at 4.78 meters. McCellan finished fifth in the triple jump at 9.49 meters, and Molly Tomeo placed eighth in the event with a personal-best 9.30 meters. Grace Herchenroder finished sixth in the high jump at 1.45 meters, while Nyla Jordan placed seventh in the shot put with a personal-best throw of 9.90 meters.
The Streaks host a triangular April 27 and compete in the Metamora Invite on May 1.
Galesburg boys place fourth at Metamora ABC Meet
Galesburg won six events and finished fourth April 24 at the Metamora ABC Meet.
Metamora won the 12-team meet with 213.5 points, followed by Eureka and Mahomet-Seymour. Galesburg scored 115.
Reed Schleich won the 200 meters A race in a personal-best 22.66 seconds. Praise Nwagbo won the 400 B race in 53.39, and James Bidingua took the 400 C race in 54.48.
The Silver Streaks also picked up three wins in the field events. Cale Johnson won the shot put C division with a throw of 12.49 meters, Corey McGee won the long jump C division with a personal-best mark of 6.19 meters, and Prosper Aremu won the triple jump C division with a personal-best leap of 11.98 meters.
Galesburg added several runner-up finishes. Kevin Phillips was second in the 100 B race in 11.54, Charles Anderton was second in the 800 C race with a personal-best 2:11.79, Antwon Walker was second in the high jump A at 1.87 meters, Rahkim McCellan was second in the long jump A at 6.26 meters, and Walker was second in the long jump B at 6.13 meters.
The Silver Streaks’ 4×200 B relay team of Chadrack Bizau, Bidingua, Isaac Banda and Aaron Johnson placed second in 1:36.21. The 4×100 B relay team of Bizau, Weston Anderton, Antwon Walker and Johnson placed third in 45.88.
Other top Galesburg performances included Chadrack Bizau, who was third in the 200 C race in a personal-best 24.15, and Landon Petty, who was third in the shot put B division with a personal-best throw of 13.25 meters. Daxton Eastburg placed fourth in the shot put A division with a personal-best 15.23 meters, and Schleich added fourth-place finishes in the 100 A and 400 A races.
The Streaks are back in action at the Sterling Night Relays May 1.
Dunlap, Peoria Christian tie in Streaks tennis invitational
Galesburg finished with two points at the Streaks Invitational on April 25, hosted by the Silver Streaks.
Dunlap and Peoria Christian tied for the team title with nine points each. East Peoria, Macomb and Sterling each finished with seven points, followed by Pekin with four, Geneseo with three and Galesburg with two.
Galesburg’s points came in doubles play.
At No. 1 doubles, Mohamed Shehata and Carter Bohm opened with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Geneseo’s Sam Curcuru and Quinnland Einfeldt before falling to Peoria Christian’s Ian Durst and Samuel Loeb 6-2, 6-4. Durst and Loeb went on to win the bracket.
At No. 2 doubles, Jackson Warren and Mahmoud Shehata defeated East Peoria’s Jaxson Cornelius and Noah King 6-4, 6-1, 10-6 before falling to Macomb’s Carter Ingledue and Max Daytner 6-4, 6-4, 10-8.
In singles, Carson Stecher dropped his opening No. 1 match to East Peoria’s Angel Ortiz 6-4, 6-1, then lost to Sterling’s Jose Vazquez 8-2. No. 2 Timothy Tudengjiacuo fell to Peoria Christian’s Elliot Marchand 6-1, 6-3 in his opener, then lost to Sterling’s Antonio Santiago 8-4.
Dunlap won both singles flights, with Ethan Laclef taking No. 1 and Savan Giri winning No. 2. Peoria Christian won No. 1 doubles, while Sterling’s Sam Chino and Parker Dail captured No. 2 doubles.
Galesburg hosts Sterling at 4 p.m. April 27 and travels to United Township on April 28.
Sandburg baseball splits weekend doubleheaders
Carl Sandburg College split its weekend baseball slate, sweeping Olive-Harvey in a Saturday home doubleheader before dropping two games Sunday at Bryant & Stratton College in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.
The Chargers opened the weekend with a 6-1 win over Olive-Harvey behind a complete-game effort from Nathan Hill. Hill struck out a season-high 10, walked one and allowed four hits over seven innings. Sandburg scored three runs in the second inning, highlighted by Kody Knecht’s two-run single and Carter Chapin’s RBI hit, then added three more in the fifth on a Colton Allen RBI double and run-scoring singles from Landon Binder and Carter Ramsey.
Hill also helped lead Sandburg in Game 2, going 2 for 3 with a run and two RBIs as the Chargers completed the sweep with a 5-3 victory. Brady Peterson earned the win, allowing one run over four innings while striking out three and walking none. Brandon Barrientos worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh, striking out the final batter to earn the save.
Sandburg’s offense was quiet Sunday against Bryant & Stratton. The Chargers were held hitless in a 10-0, six-inning loss in the opener as Bobcats pitcher Eliot Roethle struck out 12 and walked two. Bryant & Stratton scored five runs in the fourth and added two in the fifth and one in the sixth to end the game early.
In the finale, Sandburg took a 2-0 lead after scoring once in each of the first two innings. Chuck Hathaway drove in Damien Snell with a sacrifice fly in the first, and Brady Veselack’s squeeze bunt scored Burke Miller in the second. Bryant & Stratton answered with eight runs in the bottom of the second and added four in the fifth for a 12-2 victory.
For the weekend, Sandburg went 2-2, outscoring Olive-Harvey 11-4 on Saturday before being outscored 22-2 by Bryant & Stratton on Sunday.
The Chargers host Elgin in a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. April 28, then head to Illinois Central for a 6 p.m. game April 29.
Charger softball ends regular season with 1-3 weekend
Carl Sandburg College’s softball team closed the regular season with a 1-3 weekend road trip, splitting a Friday doubleheader at Milwaukee Area Technical College before dropping both games Saturday at College of DuPage.
The Chargers opened the weekend with a 9-8 win over MATC. Sandburg trailed 6-4 before scoring five two-out runs in the fifth inning, highlighted by Payton Ruggles’ bases-clearing double that put the Chargers ahead 7-6.
Reese Poole followed with an RBI triple, and Jaylynn Hamilton reached on an error that brought home Poole for a 9-6 lead. Ruggles finished with a season-high four RBIs, while Madalynn Knapp and Emma Racke each had two hits. Jalie Eller earned the win, and Jordyn Climer worked a perfect seventh for the save.
Sandburg nearly completed the sweep in Game 2, building a 6-2 lead before MATC rallied for five runs in the seventh for a 7-6 win. Hannah Pyle and Knapp hit back-to-back home runs in the second inning, and Pyle finished 3 for 4 with a home run, double, two runs and three RBIs. Knapp added two hits and two RBIs, while Hamilton went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI.
On Saturday, Sandburg fell to DuPage 10-7 in the opener despite another strong game from Pyle, who homered and scored three runs. The Chargers took a 3-2 lead in the fifth on Racke’s two-run double, but DuPage answered with four runs in the bottom half and added four more later. Knapp went 3 for 4 with a double and two runs, and Racke finished 2 for 4 with two RBIs.
DuPage completed the sweep with a 9-1, five-inning win in Game 2. Pyle drove in Sandburg’s lone run with a fourth-inning groundout after Eller led off with a single. Tieler Williams-Fouts went 2 for 2 for her first multi-hit game of the season, and Hamilton added two hits.
Sandburg finished the weekend waiting to learn whether it qualified for the Region 4 tournament.
Illinois College takes weekend series from Knox baseball
The Prairie Fire baseball team was swept in a three-game weekend series at Illinois College, falling 9-5 and 21-6 in its April 25 doubleheader before dropping the April 26 finale 12-2 in seven innings.
Knox, which fell to 5-31 overall and 3-15 in Midwest Conference play, showed some early offense Saturday but could not keep pace with Illinois College’s big innings.
In Saturday’s opener, Owen Shannon doubled home Clayton Rice to give Knox a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Illinois College answered with two runs in the bottom half and three more in the third to take control. Knox cut into the deficit in the fifth on RBI hits by Hayden Derlein and Jacob Halseth, then added two runs in the ninth when Nicholas Nitti singled home Tyler Kemp and Buckie Zamora.
Kemp led Knox with three hits and two runs, while Nitti drove in two and Rice added two hits.
In the second game Saturday, Aidan McMurtrie’s RBI groundout gave Knox a 1-0 lead in the first, but Illinois College responded with six runs in the bottom half and continued to pull away. Knox scored three runs in the fourth, including a two-run hit by Kemp and an RBI single from Shannon, then added two in the sixth on RBI singles by Caysen Bamford and Luke Simpson.
Knox trailed 5-0 in Sunday’s finale before scoring twice in the sixth, when Tyler Thiem singled home McMurtrie and Zamora. Illinois College answered with five runs in the bottom of the sixth and added two in the seventh to end the game early.
The Prairie Fire return home April 29 to face Eureka in their regular-season home finale.
Prairie Fire softball swept in weekend doubleheaders
The Knox College softball team was swept in a pair of Midwest Conference doubleheaders over the weekend, dropping two games April 25 at Illinois College before falling twice April 26 at home against Cornell.
Knox fell to 8-26 overall and 2-10 in league play. The Prairie Fire next play Wednesday at Grinnell before closing the regular season May 2 at home against Ripon.
Illinois College shut out Knox 10-0 and 8-0 on Saturday in Jacksonville. In the opener, Knox trailed 1-0 before Illinois College scored seven runs in the third and two more in the fourth. Lauren O’Neill, Kara Burwell and Kylie Thomson had Knox’s three hits. In the second game, Illinois College scored four runs in the first and added single runs in the second, third, fourth and sixth. Taylor Goudschaal had Knox’s lone hit.
Knox generated more offense Sunday but was swept by Cornell, 9-5 and 7-1. In the opener, the Prairie Fire answered an early 3-0 deficit with two runs in the first on Goudschaal’s double, then took the lead in the second when an error allowed Chelsea McKee and Thomson to score. Cornell tied it in the third, scored four in the fifth and added one in the sixth. Knox scored once in the seventh on Maddie Hicks’ RBI single.
Hicks had three hits and three RBIs in the opener, while Goudschaal drove in two.
Cornell completed the sweep with a 7-1 win in the second game. The Rams led 7-0 before Burwell singled home Cheyanne Merkel in the seventh. Burwell finished with two hits and an RBI.
