Friday, June 6, 2008 11:21 PM CDT
McDowell's 500th win sneaks up on him
By RICK DAWSON, Staff Writer
rdawson@jg-tc.com
EAST PEORIA -- Dave McDowell was somewhat reticent about his 500th coaching victory, earned during Mattoon’s 1-0 victory against Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin in the super-sectional. In fact, he knew nothing about it until one of his player’s parents, Jim Hilgenberg, read it online and Mattoon Principal Ken Reed called him into his office a day later.
“This isn’t about me,” he said. “It’s not 500 wins for me. It’s 500 wins for Mattoon softball. The teams that I have had are just amazing and I have nothing but fond, fond memories of all the teams I’ve had and had the opportunity to coach. No. 1, you learn to love them all.”
Now he has 501 wins and counting.
n Less than a week ago in the super-sectional, leadoff hitter Lydia Hilgenberg reentered the game for Kellye Kohn and delivered the game-winning RBI. Their roles were reversed on Friday, when Kohn pinch-hit for Hilgenberg with one out in the seventh, runners on second and third and Mattoon trailing 5-4.
“I was more nervous for Kellye because in the previous game I was put in that spot,” Hilgenberg said. “It was hard for me to see her out there. I don’t mind her being out there. It’s good. I’m glad someone can do that for me. But I didn’t want the pressure to be on her. I didn’t want her to feel like it would be her fault if we didn’t get that run.”
Kohn was asked by McDowell whether she wanted to bunt and she assented. When he changed his sign and the count reached 3-2, she looked for a fastball away and swung at it when she guessed correctly. The ball rolled between the pitcher’s circle and first, allowing Bailiegh Basham to score after the ball was tossed to first.
“I’ve been in that kind of pressure situation – never like a state tournament game – but in summer ball I’ve been under that kind of pressure,” Kohn said. “So I was just thinking, ‘I’ve got to act like this is just another at-bat. I’ve got to get this done.’
“I kind of did the swinging bunt. I just knew I had to make contact.”
Jordan Miller, a .400 hitter who was forced to sit out part of the spring with an injured thumb, allowing Basham to move up from the JV, also had a key infield single in the seventh in a pinch-hitting role.
“If a player can come off the bench and do that that just shows so much more of our team,” Hilgenberg said.
Freshman Paige Roytek also got into the game, used as a courtesy runner for Frank in the fourth.
“Do I feel like I have strength coming up through my bench?” McDowell asked. “You bet. And I still have Roytek back there, who is in fact the fastest girl on the team.”
** It was an uncharacteristic start to the day for strong-armed shortstop Sara Bradley, one of the Green Wave’s steadiest fielders. She made two errors in the first inning, almost unheard of for the junior.
“I haven’t played on this field for about three years or so,” Bradley said. “I was a little shaky out there.”
Then she laughed. “But I made sure I stopped the ball.”
Mattoon’s defense has been a strong point of late, minimizing opponents’ chances. Catcher Jessica Nichols has been difficult to run against, Makenzie Mann made a running catch in center field during the fifth and there are strong arms at the corners.
“I always have faith in my defense,” senior pitcher Aubrey Frank said. “If they have one error, two errors, whatever, we always bring them back up. And other people are there to support them, too. I’m not worried about that.”
n A reversed call in the 12th inning gave Bartonville Limestone a 1-0 victory over Marengo in the other Class 3A semifinal.
Mackenzie Camp singled to right and Lauren Roudabush’s throw seemingly nailed Mackenzie Foiles at home plate, ending the inning. But as both teams ran off the field, Limestone coach Leanne Bonifas appealed the play.
The third base umpire overruled the original call, noting that catcher Amanda Voss had dropped the ball, putting Limestone in the championship vs. Mattoon today.
Marengo and Glenbard South meet at 9:30 a.m. in the third-place contest.
n The last time Frank’s Mattoon Pride summer team played at the EastSide Centre, it had to sit through a seven-hour rain delay. Rain stayed away on Friday, although it was replaced by a powerful cross wind.
Today’s forecast calls for isolated thunderstorms in the East Peoria area.
Contact Rick Dawson at rdawson@jg-tc.com or 238-6855.
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