The Class 2A IHSA Softball State Finals are being held at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria Friday and Saturday with Rockridge, Carterville, Auburn, and North Boone competing for the state championship.
SCHEDULE
Friday, May 31 – Semifinals
Rockridge vs Carterville – 3 p.m. (WRMJ broadcast, pre-game coverage starts at 2:30 p.m.)
Auburn vs North Boone – 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 1 – Championship Day
3rd place game – 2 p.m.
Championship game – 4:30 p.m.
STATE FINALISTS
Rockridge Rockets
- Conference: Three Rivers Athletic Conference
- State Finals History: 12th state finals appearance (1996, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
- State Championships: 5 (2005, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023)
- Last Year: Beat Beecher in state championship, 7-1
- Head Coach: Scott Durbin (1st season: 31-3-1)
- Ranking In Final ICA Poll: #3
The Rockridge Rockets are back in the state finals for the sixth consecutive season and for the seventh time in eight years after defeating Beecher, 6-2, in the Eastside Centre Super-Sectional Monday. The Rockets broke a 1-1 tie with two runs in the top of the sixth inning on a Stella Riley bunt that Beecher made two errors on. Rockridge added three more runs in the top of the seventh inning on an RBI single from Charley Perkins and a two RBI double from Morgan Hofer to make it 6-1. The Bobcats cut the lead to 6-2 and brought the tying run to the plate with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Kendra Lewis was able to get out of the jam and get the Rockets back to state.
With the super-sectional win, Lewis is 25-0 in the postseason for her career in the pitchers circle. She’s the only player in IHSA history to be the winning pitcher in three state title games. This season, Lewis has dazzled with a 22-3 record and 0.73 ERA. She has struck out 231 batters this season and has more than 8o0 strikeouts for her career.
Lewis, a future University of Wisconsin Badger, also leads the Rockets at the plate with a .531 batting average to go along with seven home runs and a team-high 50 RBI. Junior shortstop Taylor Dieterich has 11 home runs and 39 RBI on the year.
In the regional, Rockridge blasted Alleman, 10-0, and shutout Brimfield-Elmwood 2-0. The Rockets blanked IVC, 5-0, and defeated conference rival Riverdale, 11-2, in the sectional.
Rockridge enters the 2024 state tournament on an IHSA record 27-game postseason winning streak. The Rockets are two wins away from becoming the first program in state history to win four consecutive state championships.
Carterville Lions (36-1)
- Conference: Southern Illinois River-to-River Conference
- State Finals History: 5th state finals appearance (2006, 2007, 2008, 2016, 2024)
- State Championships: 2 (2008, 2016)
- Last Year: Lost in sectional championship to Johnston City, 11-1
- Head Coach: Will Capie (8th season: 199-57)
- Ranking In Final ICA Poll: #2
The Carterville Lions are riding a 36-game winning streak entering the state finals after beating Newton, 8-1, in the Johnston City Super-Sectional Monday. Carterville scored four runs in the second inning to jump ahead and never looked back. Maddie Rosenberry and Taryn Ford each homered for the Lions in the win. Sophomore pitcher Caidence Phillips struck out 16 batters and allowed one run on four hits to pick up the win.
Phillips and Ford, both sophomores, have combined to form a dominant duo in the pitchers circle for Carterville this season. The Lions have allowed just 21 runs all season and haven’t given up more than two runs in a single game. Phillips is 19-1 with a 0.49 ERA, while Ford is 17-0 with a 0.26 ERA. The two pitchers have combined to strike out 461 batters this season and have shutout teams 24 times.
Amayah Doyle, a senior, is a University of Tennessee signee. She paces the Lions offense with a .444 average and 10 home runs.
Earlier on the postseason trail, Carterville beat Ziegler-Royalton, 10-0, and Murphysboro, 3-2, in the regional round. The next week, the Lions defeated Carmi-White County, 1-0, in 14 innings, and Johnston City, 9-0, to win the sectional.
Auburn Trojans (27-7-1)
- Conference: Sangamo Conference
- State Finals History: First-ever appearance
- Last Year: Lost in sectional championship to Quincy Notre Dame, 4-3
- Head Coach: Ryan Patterson (3rd season: 65-28-1)
- Ranking In Final ICA Poll: Unranked
The Auburn Trojans are in the state finals for the first time ever after defeating Effingham St. Anthony, 12-2, in the Millikin University Super-Sectional Monday. Auburn scored the first seven runs of the game across the first and second innings to pull away early.
Meana Taylor has led the Trojans to success in the pitchers circle this season. She has amassed a 17-3 record with a 1.24 ERA. Taylor has 224 strikeouts in 136 innings pitched.
Auburn’s offensive attack is balanced, led by Taylor Patterson with a .430 batting average, four home runs, and 33 RBI.
The Trojans postseason run started with an 11-0 win over North Mac and a 1-0 win in eight innings against Carlinville in the regional. Auburn earned sectional wins against Tremont, 10-4, and Olympia, 4-3.
North Boone Vikings (28-4)
- Conference: Big Northern Conference
- State Finals History: First-ever appearance
- Last Year: Lost in regional championship to Rock Falls, 2-0
- Head Coach: Tim Fleming (6th season: 109-27)
- Ranking In Final ICA Poll: #13
The North Boone Vikings beat IC Catholic, 5-3, in the Benedictine University Super-Sectional Monday to qualify for the state finals for the first time ever. North Boone scored three runs in the top of the fifth inning to break a 1-1 tie.
The Vikings have two players with double-digit home run totals on the season. Danielle Goodman has 13 homers and Camryn Carter has 10 home runs. Goodman, 52 RBI, and Carter, 50 RBI, also are the team leaders in the RBI category.
Carter is North Boone’s top pitcher, too. She has racked up a 21-3 record to go along with a 1.69 ERA and 205 strikeouts in 153 innings pitched.
In the regional, the Vikings beat Johnsburg, 2-0, and Marengo, 9-3. North Boone blanked Bureau Valley, 12-0, and shutout Richmond-Burton, 2-0, in the sectional.