Area Roundup: Emily Schofield hits for the cycle as Newark claims regional championship

NEWARK – The No. 1-seeded Newark Norsemen captured a Class 1A regional championship on their own field by exploding for 10 runs in the last of the sixth inning and using Emily Schofield’s hitting for the cycle to register a 14-3 victory over Serena on Friday afternoon.

Schofield and Taylor Kruser both went 4-for-4 and drove in three runs for the Norsemen, who got five innings of three-run, eight-strikeout ball from winning pitcher Kaitlyn Schofield and one frame of relief from Kodi Rizzo.

Newark (17-3) will next take on Milford on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.

For the Huskers, Paisley Twait went 2-for-3 with two runs batted in, Katie Baker went 2-for-3, and losing pitcher Taylor Staton had a hit and an RBI.

Earlville 2, Woodlands Academy 0: At Lake Forest, the No. 7-seeded Raiders moved past the No. 2 Wildcats and into Saturday’s 1A regional championship game at Marquette on the shutout pitching of Paige Marks. She struck out nine, walked two and permitted just two hits.

Elizabeth Browder had a run scored and RBI, with Brynn Guelde adding a hit and Hannah Pfaff a run for EHS (8-11).

Baseball

Streator 7, Galesburg 6: At Galesburg in Class 3A regional play, the visiting Bulldogs scored two in the top of the seventh and then held on for the semifinal win, sending them on to visit Dunlap on Monday for the regional title.

Adam Williamson (4 IP, 1 ER, 2 K) earned the pitching win in relief of starter Mason Telford (2 IP, 5 ER, 1 K), with Payton Benning (1 IP, 0 R, 1 K) notching the save.

Streator trailed 5-0 after three, but a five-run fourth tied things up. Leading the attack on the day were Payton Benning (double, two RBIs), Brady Grabowski (two singles), Logan Williamson (two singles), Sawyer Good (two RBIs), Nolan Barr (two singles, RBI) and Sean McGurk (double, RBI).

Serena 7, Indian Creek 5, 8 inn.: At Shabbona, the Huskers broke a 5-5 tie with two runs in the top of the eighth to advance to Monday’s 4:30 p.m. 1A regional championship game against No. 1 seed Newark.

Chandler Holdiman slapped two hits and drive in a run, and Ivan Stafford had a single and two RBIs at the plate, backing their efforts on the mound. Holdiman (3 IP, 4 K) got the win with three innings in relief of Stafford (5 IP, 1 ER, 5 K).

“We’ve hung in there and battled in several games all year, but we weren’t able to come from behind and pull one out, so it was a nice way to do it today,” Serena coach Chad Baker said. “I think their first four runs were unearned. It was just a matter of keeping our focus and staying in the ballgame.”

Newark 14, Earlville 0: At Newark in a Class 1A regional semifinal, the host Norsemen got things going with a nine-run first to advance to Monday’s championship against Serena.

Joe Martin (4 2/3 IP, 0 R, 10 K) pitched the victory for Newark, which received three RBIs from Dalton Reibel and two RBIs/two hits each from Jake Kruser and Mitchell Kruser.

Jake Pickert (1 IP, 9 ER, 0 K) took the loss for Earlville (6-10), which saw Bryar Keller record both of his team’s hits.

St. Bede 9, Somonauk 6: At St. Bede Academy, the visiting Bobcats saw their season draw to a close with the loss despite a valiant comeback effort.

Broc Slais singled, doubled and drove home three runs for Somonauk, with Parker Wasson adding two hits and two RBIs. Coleton Eade singled and doubled, with Brendan Roberts (1 IP, 6 ER, 3 K) suffering the pitching defeat.

Girls soccer

Morris 2, Streator 0: At Morris in the 2A sectional quarterfinals, the visiting Bulldogs finished the season 9-12 with the hard-fought loss in a game that was scoreless at the half.

Streator finished with six shots on goal and had a pair of corner kicks. Senior keeper Sydney Donahue finished with 13 saves.

“It was a battle until about the last 15 minutes,” Streator coach J.T. Huey said. “These girls have gone through a lot this year with quarantines and injuries, but they put up a good fight.

“We are a young team, and you can’t beat experience like this. We start seven freshmen or sophomores, so this will do nothing but help them and the future of the program.”

Joliet Catholic 14, Ottawa 0: At Joliet in the 2A sectional quarterfinals, the visiting Pirates (5-10) couldn’t keep up with the top-seeded Angels (12-1-1).

Ottawa keeper Faith Maltby recorded 11 saves.