For the Waterloo Lady Bulldogs, they will be making just the program’s 2nd ever trip to the IHSA State Finals with their only other run coming in 1989 when they lost their game. At 28-6, Waterloo won the Millikin University Super Sectional on Monday over a tough Mt Zion squad 4-1 after beating Freeburg to win the Waterloo Sectional. Waterloo is led at the plate by Raelyn Melching who has hit 8 home runs while batting with a .432 average and 44 RBI, all team leads. Mia Miller is 18-3 in the circle with 136 innings pitched she has only allowed 20 earned runs and 251 strikeouts. Coach Matt Mason is in his 10th year with the program.
They take on the Antioch Sequiots (28-6) out of the Northern Lake County Conference. Jacey Schuler has had a great season at the plate hitting .530 with 11 home runs and 44 RBI in 100 plate appearances. Addison Webb has 32 RBI on the season and Kailyn Bockwoldt has hit .407. Schuler is also the main pitcher going 22-3 on the year with a 1.45 EAR. She has 302 strikeouts to just 35 walks and 33 earned runs allowed. Coach Anthony Rocco is in his 12th year with the program who has been to state 3 times total, but the past two years have seen them finish 3rd in 2022 and 2nd last year falling to Lemont in the title game. Game time is 12:30 from the Louisville Slugger Complex in Peoria.
The first game of the day at 10:00 a.m. will see Pontiac (29-7) against Oak Park Fenwick (18-7). Pontiac is out of the Illini Prairie Conference and won the East Peoria Super over Lemont 7-0 to get to the final four. Elena Krause has been a dual threat for Pontiac. In the circle, she is 22-5 in 161 innings she has 317 strikeouts and a 0.78 ERA. At the plate, she hit .557 with 34 RBI. Maddie Gourley hit .461 and Bailey Masching has a team leading 40 RBI. Coach Nicole Hayner is in her 12th year with the school who made their only other state final four in 2022 where they finished 4th.
The Lady Friars of Fenwich are out of the Chicago Catholic Conference. Leah Lowery hit .444 to lead the team and Maddie Entler drove in 19 to lead them as well. Sophie Stone was 7-1 in the circle with 134 strikeouts and a 1.81 ERA. Coach Valerie Jisa is in her 5th year and the school is making their 2nd trip to state, finishing 4th in 1998.
