Wind and lightning didn’t slow the Galesburg girls soccer team March 26 as the Silver Streaks earned a 1-0 junior varsity win and an 8-0 varsity victory on the road.
The varsity team delivered a dominant performance after a lightning delay, erupting for eight goals once play resumed.
Mady Lardi and Haleigh Jezek-Irle led the offensive surge with three goals each. The duo accounted for six of Galesburg’s eight goals and continue to pace the Streaks’ attack this season. Emma Matumona and Grace Hansen also scored.
“Mady and Haleigh continue to be a powerful combination,” coach Jessica Jones said. “Once we got settled, the goals came quickly. The team worked together well and had a lot of fun.”
Lardi now has 14 goals this season, while Jezek-Irle has nine as Galesburg improved to 4-1 overall, including four shutouts.
Jones said the day required flexibility as storms moved through the area.
“It was a wild day for soccer,” she said. “With storms coming, we had to get creative to get as much done as possible. We were really lucky to get a whole varsity game in.”
The Silver Streaks have outscored opponents 28-8 this season. Their only loss came in an 8-2 decision against Western Big 6 rival United Township.
East Peoria fell to 0-5 and has yet to score a goal this season.
The JV squad earned its first win behind a goal from Rosine Makwala.
Galesburg returns to action March 28, hosting Canton (2-2-1) at 11 a.m. The Streaks close the month March 31 with a 6 p.m. game at Alleman.
A rough first inning proved too much to overcome for Galesburg on March 26 as the Silver Streaks fell 13-1 to Biggsville West Central in a nonconference softball matchup at home.
West Central erupted for seven runs in the top of the first inning and never looked back, adding two runs in the third and four more in the fifth to end the game early.
“I think in the first inning we were not ready,” head coach Andrea Sampson said. “We let them set the tone. We had some errors that were controllable that we let go. We have to stop the bleeding when that happens, make a play for our pitcher and seize those opportunities.”
Galesburg managed just three hits and struck out 11 times, struggling to generate consistent offense against West Central pitcher Miley Stimpson, who allowed one run over five innings.
“We adjusted way too late,” Sampson said. “We’ve got to make those adjustments a lot earlier and be emotionally ready.”
The Silver Streaks’ lone run came in the fifth inning. Senior Hannah Barton scored after freshman Tamryn Davis delivered Galesburg’s only extra-base hit, a double that also accounted for the team’s lone RBI.
Evelin Guel and Barton each added a hit to set up Davis’ RBI double.
Sampson said she was glad the Streaks avoided the shutout. She also credited Davis for making difficult catches in the outfield and Guel for strong play at shortstop.
Sophomore Taylor Lee took the loss, allowing 13 runs (11 earned) on 10 hits while striking out seven and walking four.
West Central (3-0) was led by Becca Hinshaw, who went 3 for 4 with three RBIs, and Stimpson, who added two hits and an RBI.
Galesburg fell to 3-5. The Streaks open Western Big 6 play at 4:30 p.m. March 31 at United Township and host Rockridge at 4:30 p.m. April 1.
Galesburg struggled at the plate and on the mound in a five-inning, 11-0 nonconference loss March 25 at Metamora.
The Silver Streaks (1-4) were held scoreless and finished with two hits, struggling to generate offense against an unbeaten Redbirds squad.
Galesburg’s best offensive moments came from Nicolas Ojeda and Alfred Ayala, who each recorded a hit. Ojeda’s double accounted for the team’s only extra-base hit. The Silver Streaks drew two walks, struck out three times and left two runners on base.
Metamora (3-0) seized control early, scoring once in the first inning and three runs in the second before breaking the game open with seven more in the third.
On the mound, Galesburg used four pitchers. Caden Riley struck out four over 1 1/3 innings, while Noah Nalley provided a bright spot with 1 2/3 scoreless innings and three strikeouts in relief.
Control issues proved costly. The Silver Streaks issued six walks and allowed 11 runs, 10 of them earned.
Cooper Weyant and Benjamin Cronkhite limited Galesburg to two hits over five innings in a combined shutout.
Galesburg travels March 27 to Knoxville, Tennessee, to compete in the Irish Royal Classic. The Streaks face Knoxville Catholic and Central High on Friday and Providence Academy and Greenville on Saturday.
Hannah Pyle delivered a pair of standout performances, but Carl Sandburg College dropped both games of an Arrowhead Conference doubleheader, falling 13-5 and 13-6 to Black Hawk College.
Pyle homered in each game and drove in six runs.
Black Hawk used a pair of big innings to secure a 13-5 win in six innings.
Sandburg fell behind 4-0 early but responded in the second when Emma Racke reached on an error before Pyle launched a home run to center field.
The Chargers took a brief lead in the third. Lakinn Larson doubled to open the inning and later scored on an error. Pyle followed with an RBI single and later scored on a wild pitch to give Sandburg a 5-4 lead.
Black Hawk answered with five runs in the third and added to its lead late.
Pyle finished 2 for 3 with two runs scored and three RBIs. Jordyn Climer took the loss.
Sandburg again fell behind early before rallying, but Black Hawk completed the sweep with a 13-6 victory.
Trailing 6-0 after two innings, the Chargers scored five runs in the third. Climer doubled and later scored on a passed ball before Pyle hit a three-run homer.
Reese Poole added an RBI single later in the inning to make it 6-5.
Racke hit a solo home run in the fourth, but Black Hawk maintained control.
Pyle again went 2 for 3 with a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored. Cheyanne Rodgers took the loss.
Sandburg hosts Illinois Valley on March 31 for a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.
Big fourth and fifth innings lifted Southeastern Community College to a 17-2 victory over Carl Sandburg College on March 26 in Galesburg.
Sandburg struck first with a run in the opening inning, but Southeastern responded later in the first with three runs and broke the game open with four runs in the fourth and eight more in the fifth.
Carter Chapin led Sandburg, going 2 for 2 with a run scored. Chuck Hathaway drove in the Chargers’ lone RBI, while Jameson Dickerson, Carter Ramsey, Nathan Hill and Landon Binder each added a hit.
Justin Keener took the loss. Brady Peterson provided 2 2/3 scoreless innings in relief.
The Chargers host Highland on March 28 for a doubleheader beginning at noon.
Kishwaukee College used late scoring bursts to pull away for a 10-6 win over Carl Sandburg College on March 25 in Malta.
Sandburg led 5-3 after five innings, helped by RBIs from Chuck Hathaway, Braley Burford and Burke Miller and a two-run single by Brady Veselack.
Kishwaukee answered with three runs in the seventh and four in the eighth to pull away.
Carter Chapin, Hathaway and Burford each had two hits for Sandburg.
