For those of you that have experienced travel softball or baseball in your life, you understand that weekend tournaments can be long drawn out affairs with multiple games played. You face dealing with the heat mixed in with the possibility of monsoon like downpours of rain, and entertaining yourself over long periods of time in between games. Funny how things work out, but that is exactly how the 2023 Region XXIV Softball tournament has played out thus far at Southwestern Illinois college.
On Saturday the 13th the Kaskaskia College Blue Angels, in the first round of the final four, were slated to take on the John A. Logan Volunteers. John A came in as the number two seed in the double elimination tournament with KC being the third seed. Freshman Karlie McKenzie took the ball in the circle from the start and provided a really strong performance against the Volunteers. She would pitch seven quality innings, striking out six, walking one, and giving up four runs on three hits. The Blue Angels plated two runs in third while Logan scored all four of their runs in the fifth and sixth, but the Angels would fall to the Volunteers by that same score of 4-2 at the end of the game. All hope was not lost though as the double elimination tournament was set up to still be able to make it to the championship game with a loss along the way. The second game on Saturday was set to begin against host Southwestern Illinois College, but a midafternoon thunderstorm rolled in with lightning and thunder and squashed any chance of that game being played for the day. All remaining games were canceled for all four teams for the remainder of Saturday and everything was moved to Sunday the 14th.
KC and SWIC, who also lost their first round matchup against Lake Land College, would face each other Sunday morning at 9:00am in a win or go home game. The Blue Angels were ready to go in that contest as they knew there was no tomorrow promised. KC scratched across a run in the first giving starter Karlie McKenzie a head start on the Blue Storm. McKenzie would keep SWIC scoreless in the first four frames while the Blue Angels posted a crooked number seven in the fourth inning to take a 8-0 lead with help from a grand slam from Sophomore Ivy Smart. McKenzie would continue her dominating performance striking out nine over six innings, allowing only two runs on four hits in route to a final in the shortened game of 10-2 in favor of the Blue Angels.
With SWIC eliminated, it would lead KC back to a match up with the John A. Logan Volunteers for the second time in the tournament. Ivy Smart got the start for the Blue Angels and pitched well over two plus innings, allowing only two runs on four hits. KC would come right back in the top of the fourth and score two of their own on a home run from sophomore Sydnee Garrett. The score was tied at two going into the seventh inning when the Blue Angels put together another rally and take the lead 3 to 2 over the Volunteers. The final inning would not be stress-free for the Blue Angels as John A. Logan would get two runners on at second and third with two outs. McKenzie and the John A. Logan hitter would battle it out and with those same two runners on, and the U.S. Navy Blue Angels flying overhead from the air show at nearby Scott Airforce Base, McKenzie would post a strikeout to win the game for the Blue Angels 3-2. The Freshman hurler for KC would pitch five plus innings earning the victory in relief, allowing no runs on three hits and striking out nine.
The finish to the match up with the Volunteers was super exciting and filled with joy, but that excitement and glee had to be short-lived as the Blue Angels had an immediate matchup 30 minutes later with the number one seeded Lake Land College Lakers. The game would get going and make it to the third inning before a storm rolled in again and forced the action to be cut short for the day. The game was scheduled to be played on Monday the 15th however because of rainy conditions that was pushed to today the 16th, and we just received word that has now been again moved to tomorrow the 17th at 1:00pm, possibly 2:00pm. An update will be provided tomorrow.
If anyone is wanting to watch tomorrow’s action you would proceed to download the app to your phone called GameChanger. It is a green box with a GC on it. From there you would want to make an account and either search for Kaskaskia College Blue Angels Softball (Spring 2023), or Lake Land College Laker Softball (Spring 2023). Either one should allow you to watch live stream video to catch the remainder of the action.
This is what it is all about and what our Blue Angels have worked so hard this year to do. Support them if you can by watching or even making the trip out to SWIC tomorrow.
Good Luck Blue Angels!!
