Rockridge (30-3-1) won its eighth consecutive sectional championship with an 11-2 win over Riverdale (20-15) at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria Friday.
The Rockets opened the scoring in the top of the second inning on an RBI infield single from Baylee Kelly to go ahead 1-0.
In the bottom of the third, Riverdale sophomore Katie Cox ripped a two-out, two run double to put Riverdale in front 2-1.
Rockridge scored the final 10 runs of the game with three in the fourth, four in the fifth, and three in the sixth. All 11 of Rockridge’s runs were scored with two outs.
Charley Perkins led the Rocket offense, going 3-5 with five RBI. Taylor Dieterich and Kendra Lewis each drove in three runs in the win.
Lewis (21-3) was the winning pitcher, allowing two runs on three hits in seven innings. With six strikeouts, Lewis surpassed the 800-career strikeout milestone.
Rockridge advances to Monday’s 2A Super-Sectional at the Eastside Center in East Peoria to play Beecher (32-1) in a rematch of last year’s 2A state championship game. The Bobcats beat Seneca, 5-4, Friday.
Highlights from WRMJ’s broadcast
Rockridge sophomore Charley Perkins
Rockridge head coach Scott Durbin