The East Peoria High School softball team had a chance to repeat Peoria area sports history in back-to-back weekends. Last weekend, the Peoria Heights baseball team won the school’s first-ever IHSA sports state championship, taking home the Class 1A title in front of a partisan crowd at Dozer Park.
This weekend, the Raiders softball team got to play the semi and final on its home field at EastSide Centre in EP, hoping to earn the school’s first-ever sports state championship in Class 3A. Alas, the story doesn’t have that happy ending.
East Peoria and Marengo were locked in a tense, scoreless game into the 6th inning on a hot, windy and sunny day. In the top of the 6th with two Marengo runners on base, the Raiders made a throwing error that allowed the first run to score. Then a bloop single to right drove in another to put the visitors from the Northwest Chicago suburbs up, 2-0.
The Raiders threatened on their last bat, getting two runners on base, before Ashley Emert smacked a hard grounder right at the shortstop for the final out.
EP actually outhit Marengo, 4-3, in the title game, but the Raiders’ greatest softball team fell just short of their championship ending to finish 31-5. At least three seniors will play on at the college level. Shortstop Emert is going to play at ISU. Star pitcher Alyssa Graves, who lost for the first time all season (30-1 record!) and gave up no earned runs in today’s game, will pitch at Butler. And catcher Remi Ferguson is bound for Quincy University. Outstanding, historic season, girls!
Doc Watson
