By Ryan Minkrmink@digitalsports.comUrbana had made four trips to the 3A West softball finals in the past six years and lost all of them, including last year to Damascus by one run.
So one would think they Hawks would be a little tense entering this year’s final against Paint Branch, who was fresh off a season-defining victory over Damascus.
But not these young Hawks. They never felt most of the heartache.
Urbana came off the bus happy and hyped and got back on it the same way after an 8-0 victory at Paint Branch. Behind stellar pitching, solid defense and a whole lot of hitting, led to Urbana’s first regional championship since 2000.
“I think as soon as we left the school we knew we had the confidence,” sophomore catcher
Kristen Juengerk said. “We were ready to get on the field and play. We were all just having a really good day.”
The No. 11-seeded Hawks – who did not receive a higher bid because they did not get in the required 14 games -- advance to the 3A state semifinals where they will take on the winner of Friday’s North region final between Franklin and Catonsville.
“It’s just phenomenal,”
Urbana Coach Frank Husson said. “To be this close and not win it, there’s a letdown. I think this year they were destined to do it.”
It certainly seemed that way early on. After Urbana’s
Katie Sebbane flew out on the first pitch of the game, Juengerk bounced a weak grounder to second base. The throw was high and wide of the bag and Juengerk slammed into Paint Branch first baseman
Rachel Hollis.
That was just the start of Paint Branch’s unfortunate blunders.
On the next play, the Hawks’
Jessie Trammell bounced to shortstop. The throw was dropped at first base then the throw to try to catch Juengerk advancing to third base was wild, allowing Juengerk to score.
Stephanie Murphy then grounded to shortstop and the throw home to nab Trammell was there in time but once again dropped.
“I think the moment got to us and we got some jitters,”
Paint Branch Coach Nate Wiles said. “We’re a young team so the experience is not there.”
While a little luck helped Urbana (14-4) out in the beginning, no assistance was needed after that. Sebbane got the second inning going with a single down the left field line then Juengerk blasted an RBI double to left-center. Trammell followed with a hard hit single up the middle that brought home Juengerk.
The rest of the damage came in the third.
Kaitlyn Wilkes led off with a single and Sebbane brought her home on a double. Juengerk then crushed a pitch to center field and would have had a triple had the throw not been off target, allowing her to come home. Trammell followed with a double and Murphy brought her home on a bloop single to right.
Overall, Juengerk was 2-for-4 with 3 RBI and Trammell was 2-for-4 with 2 RBI and Murphy was 1-for-4 with 2 RBI in the middle of Urbana’s order.
“I think we owed it to ourselves to make it to the next level because we’ve worked really hard,” Juengerk said. “I’m just happy this is my sophomore year and we can actually go to states now.”
Freshman pitcher
Alexis Murphy did the rest for Urbana. She allowed just three hits in just her eighth game pitching this season. Murphy is Urbana’s third starter after the first two each got hurt. Over three playoff games she has surrendered just one run and eight hits.
“That young lady has been phenomenal down the stretch for us,” Husson said. “They call her The Diesel. Once it gets running it gets stronger and stronger as it goes on. That’s how she’s been for us throughout the playoffs.”
Paint Branch (13-6) saw its spectacular season come to an abrupt end. Led by pitcher
Lyssie Parkhurst, the Panthers notched a huge 5-3 win over Damascus in the region quarterfinals.
“Incredible season. I’m so proud of these girls,” Wiles said. “They’ve come through a lot, the games we shouldn’t have won that we did. We came up a little short today, but we’re young and we’ll be back.”
