CL Central can’t hold 1-run lead in 7th

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WAUCONDA – The No. 4-seeded Crystal Lake Central softball team had a one-run lead and only two outs to go to beat top-seeded Wauconda on Tuesday in the IHSA Class 3A Wauconda Regional semifinal.

Unfortunately for the Tigers (6-21), they couldn’t close out the game and the Bulldogs scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to win, 2-1, and end Central’s season.

“They had a couple of good swings in their last at-bat, and the balls just landed in the right spots for them,” Central coach Brian Strombom said.

Wauconda’s final two runs came as Kayla Stos hit a ground-rule double over the center field fence, and she was driven in on the next at-bat by Katie Schneider.

Central senior right fielder Katie Staples made an attempt on Schneider’s line drive, but the ball landed beneath her glove and rolled all the way to the wall.

Schneider stopped for a moment after rounding second, but eventually scored the game-winning run as the Tigers failed to get the ball in to the infield in time.

“We never gave up, and we had confidence that our girls could pull it out,” Wauconda coach Tim Rennels said.

Rennels said Wauconda played the game without seven of its nine regular starters because of “team code violations.”

The Tigers scored in the top of the sixth inning when pitcher Jackie Kisman, who reached on a walk, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by first baseman Stacey Dierking and was driven home on a double by Brittany York.

Kisman struck out five batters and held the top-seeded Bulldogs from scoring for the first 61⁄3 innings, and York went 2-for-3 with a single, double and RBI.

“Both girls played a terrific game,” Strombom said. “Jackie pitched very well, and we have been able to count on Brittany to get hits in big situations all year.”