Marengo softball finishes second in Class 3A

Gregory Harutunian
Fans, players, and parents mingle together on the field after the trophy presentations marking the end of the IHSA Class 3A state finals tournament. Photo by Greg Harutunian/for Chronicle Media

Fans, players, and parents mingle together on the field after the trophy presentations marking the end of the IHSA Class 3A state finals tournament. Photo by Greg Harutunian/for Chronicle Media

The Marengo girls’ softball team tore through its regular schedule and into post-season tournament play like a buzzsaw, while becoming the lone entry from McHenry County in the IHSA Class 3A state finals at East Peoria.

They were edged in a 2-1 heartbreaker June 13 by the Washington Panthers in the state final game.

Despite the disappointment, the Indians (35-7) achieved the following: First place in the Big Northern Conference East Division with a perfect 14-0 record; and winning the Woodstock Regional, Belvidere North Sectional, and Northwestern University Supersectional. They were also one of the top two teams in the state at their class level.

“There were 638 total high schools entered in softball at all the class levels statewide to begin the spring 2015 schedule,” said Tracy Henry, the Illinois High School Association’s assistant director and softball administrator. “There were a few drop-outs, at the last minute, but 159 schools started Class 3A competition in the post-season.

“To finish as one of the top two teams in the state is an amazing accomplishment. Both of Marengo’s games were well-played and great fun to watch. Their (semifinal) win against Kaneland, 2-1, was a classic. The final was just as good.”

In that final game for all the marbles, the Panthers (28-11) opened the scoring, with one run in the top of the third inning. The Indians answered in the bottom of the fifth, as Veronica Ruelius was on base, and came home when Rebecca Schultz shot a single up the middle.

Marengo coach Dwain Nance (center) talks with his charges June 13, for the last time as one team on the same field. Photo by Greg Harutunian/for Chronicle Media

Marengo coach Dwain Nance (center) talks with his charges June 13, for the last time as one team on the same field. Photo by Greg Harutunian/for Chronicle Media

The tie was broken in the top of the seventh, as Marengo shortstop Leah Secor lost the handle on a groundball, which allowed the Panthers’ Lexi Carlsten to come around the horn from second base and score. “I don’t know what happened…when I was set to throw, she was already scoring, and it was too late to go to first,” said Secor. “It just…happened.”

Marengo coach Dwain Nance said, “It was just a freak play. A hit here, an error there, those are the breaks, and we’ve gotten breaks along the way. There’s luck involved, but in no way does it take away from what this team accomplished through effort and commitment. I’m very proud of them.”

The Indians’ last turn at bat brought three improbable outs. The first was Jessica Turner. Then Ruelius singled to left, saw the outfielder’s miscue on the ball, stopped for a moment and charged to second base only to get caught by the throw coming in. Pitcher Mariah Dionne ratcheted up the suspense before striking out on a 3-2 count.

Dionne pitched three shutouts in the post-season, and finished 26-4 on the year. Her ability to strike out opposing players including 12 out of 21 batters in the Woodstock Regional final against Richmond-Burton, earned her consecutive Big Northern Conference East Division Pitcher of the Year accolades. She enters the junior class this fall.

“I’ve been pitching since I was 8 … there’s been a lot of effort put into it, a lot of long hours, a lot of practice, and I had a lot of support to get better,” she said, after the regional final.

Marengo coach Dwain Nance and pitcher Mariah Dionne pose wearing their runner-up medallions, issued by the IHSA. Photo by Greg Harutunian/for Chronicle Media

Marengo coach Dwain Nance and pitcher Mariah Dionne pose wearing their runner-up medallions, issued by the IHSA. Photo by Greg Harutunian/for Chronicle Media

The season’s end also marked the matriculation of senior players Veronica Ruelius, Trinity Martin, Jessica Turner, Jackie Pulak, and Rebecca Schultz. Ruelius summed up the overall feeling, saying, “It’s sad because it’s over. But we’re all friends, and it’s been a great team to play on.”

Nance also noted the season’s end.

“There were a lot of hurdles to overcome like playing our conference rivals Richmond-Burton and Burlington Central three times this season, including the regionals and sectionals. We also beat one of the state’s best pitchers, Wauconda’s Kayla Wedl, in the supersectional.

“The competition got harder, as we went further, and the team responded well. They did everything they could, and I’m proud of them. It meant so much to our community too, and the city of Marengo even gave them a couple of parades with fire trucks, and they got to ride on the trailer.”

City officials were glad to oblige, and expressed their well-wishes. “I’m extremely happy and proud of the Marengo girls softball team for their victories and as runner-up,” said Marengo Mayor Donald Lockhart. “We are fortunate to have a high school with a strong athletic sports program. My, and our, congratulations go out to each member of the softball team.”

Those June 12-13 games did prove to be “metaphysical” events with all the threatening weather and rain delays dotting the weekend play, clearly an endurance test. “Marengo’s game with Kaneland was supposed to start at 10:30 a.m., and didn’t get underway until after 2 p.m., because we’d get ready and then the word for rain would come,” said Henry.

“Dealing with the amount of rain sustained, getting the fields ready for play…it was quite an achievement by the grounds crew.”

Henry also noted that the state finals would be played at the facility through 2020, as the IHSA board members approved a Jan. 12 recommendation to extend the hosting agreement with East Peoria and the Eastside Centre site. “Who knows? We could see Marengo there again,” she said.

The possibility is not remote, since 10 of the 15 players on the 2015 squad, should be returning for the 2016 season.