The Rockridge High School softball program will try to become the first team in IHSA history to win four consecutive state championships this weekend at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria.
With last season’s third straight 2A state championship, Rockridge matched Alleman from 1992-94 and Cobden from 2008-2010 as the only softball programs in the state to accomplish that feat. Rockridge won the 2021 state title by shutting out Joliet Catholic Academy, 4-0. The Rockets claimed the 2022 championship after rallying from down four runs to beat Freeburg, 5-4, in 11 innings. Last June, Rockridge beat Beecher, 7-1, to win the 2023 state title.
Rockridge head coach Scott Durbin says the focus is on their semifinal opponent, Carterville, not the chance at history.
The Rockets also won state championships in 2005 and 2018 for five all-time. That figure is fourth in IHSA softball history, behind Alleman and Moline, which are tied for second with six state titles each. Casey-Westfield has the most softball state championships in IHSA history with seven.
2024 marks the sixth straight state finals appearance and 12th time in history Rockridge has qualified for the softball state tournament. In addition to the five state championship trophies, the Rockets have taken third place three times.
Rockridge (31-3-1) enters the state semifinals on an IHSA record 27-game postseason winning streak. Rocket senior Kendra Lewis is the only player in IHSA history to be the winning pitcher in three state championship games.
Rockridge plays Carterville (36-1) in the 2A semifinals Friday at 3 p.m. WRMJ’s coverage will start at 2:30 p.m., on 102.3 FM, wrmj.com, and streaming on the WRMJ app.