U High rallies past BHS in sectional softball title game

BLOOMINGTON — Things did not start well for Kali Riddell on Saturday.  Bloomington High School’s Ariel Frantz fouled off several Kali Riddell deliveries before hitting a 3-2 pitch for a leadoff home run in the Class 3A Bloomington Sectional championship game.

That quick, Riddell and her University High softball teammates were down 1-0.

“I really had to buckle down after that,” said Riddell, a sophomore right-hander. “It helps that all my teammates are supporting me. I can hear them from the outfield saying, ‘Let’s go, Kali!’ ”

Effectively mixing in a curve and changeup, Kali Riddell shut out BHS on three hits the rest of the way, enabling her team to rally for a 3-1 victory.

She struck out eight, walked three and retired the final 12 batters as top-seeded U High (20-14) advanced to the Streator Sectional. The Pioneers face Streator at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.

“Kali did a nice job of keeping them off balance,” U High coach Mike Sondgeroth said. “After the third inning, she stayed in control.”

BHS (20-15) stranded two runners in the first and third innings, then had only one hitter reach base after that.

U High tied the game at 1-1 in the second. Maggie Bee’s leadoff hit to right-center was bobbled and she raced into second base. Haley Cook drove her in with a single.

The Pioneers took the lead in the fifth. One-out singles by Jane McCullough and Kelsey Wilson and a fielder’s choice grounder put runners at first and second with two outs.

A BHS error on Shannon Stuart’s ground ball brought home Wilson with the go-ahead run. Bee made it 3-1 with an RBI double off the top of the left field fence.

“I’ve never seen one bounce back in like that,” Sondgeroth said.

“Oh, well,” said Bee, a senior who has missed much of the season with a shoulder injury. “I haven’t been hitting for a month and a half, so I’m just happy to get hits right now.”

Bee and Wilson each had two hits for U High. Frantz had two for the third-seeded Raiders.

Losing pitcher Tycie Justice did not allow an earned run.

“Tycie deserved to win today, but we didn’t support her on offense or defense,” BHS coach Kat McCreery said.

“We beat ourselves with a lack of execution. Early, with runners in scoring position, we’re taking called third strikes. That’s execution.”