Sterling upsets L-P, extends regional streak to nine straight

The Sterling softball team brought a tradition of postseason success into Friday’s Class 3A championship game.

This time, however, the Golden Warriors were the underdog as the No. 4 seed against No. 1 La Salle-Peru, which was ranked No. 2 in Class 3A in the final Illinois Coaches Association poll.

That suited Sterling fine.

The Golden Warriors jumped ahead early and led throughout to earn a 5-1 victory and extend their regional championship streak to nine consecutive seasons.

“I’m just totally floored that we came out and played like that,” Sterling’s Riley Dittmar said. “I know we’re kind of the underdog this season coming out as the No. 4 seed, but the way we played today, I know we can take it far. I’m OK being the underdog. It means the world to me as a senior to be able to continue our season like this.”

Sterling (14-7) advances to face defending state champion Sycamore (14-15) in a sectional semifinal at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in Sycamore.

“Sycamore took us out two years ago,” Sterling coach Becki Edmondson said. “They’re very well-coached. We know what they’re capable of. I told the girls to play with the same energy and same momentum. The last two weeks we had some ups and downs. Today, we really came together and did what we knew we could do. Hopefully, we continue that against Sycamore.”

The Golden Warriors started strong Friday as Dittmar singled to start the game and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Lauren Jacobs.

Amayia Hernandez then singled to drive in Dittmar for an early 1-0 lead.

“I think the earlier we can score, the more pressure it’s going to put on the other team,” Edmondson said. “Even if it’s a run, it’s still a pressure point. I knew if we kept that one run [lead] for a couple innings, they were going to start to feel a little bit more pressure. Then if we scored more, even better – and we did.”

Elizabeth Palumbo made the one run hold up as she kept the Cavaliers in check.

She held L-P to four hits through six innings while striking out seven batters.

“I trusted my spin and trusted my movement,” Palumbo said. “I knew my defense had my back. I felt super strong today.”

Palumbo shut down L-P’s few scoring opportunities through the first six innings.

In the second, Alexia Michael doubled with one out, but Palumbo struck out the next two batters.

In the fourth, Kaitlyn Gibson ripped a double to start the frame and advanced to third when the ball was mishandled in the outfield.

However, Palumbo retired the next three batters on a pop up and back-to-back strikeouts.

While Palumbo was limiting L-P, the Golden Warriors added insurance runs.

In the fifth, Katie Dittmar was hit by a pitch to start the inning, and Riley Dittmar followed with a single. Katie Dittmar scored on a wild pitch, and Palumbo smacked a two-out double to score Riley Dittmar.

Palumbo blooped a single to left field in the seventh to score both Dittmars to extend the lead to 5-0.

“I think it was key hitting in crucial situations with runners on base,” Riley Dittmar said about the key to the win. “Getting hit by pitches, taking those walks. Also, the defense was really on today, and our pitching was really strong.”

The Cavs broke through in the bottom of the seventh.

After a strikeout, Lauren Phillips doubled and Kellie Boyer ripped a single off the third baseman’s glove to put runners on first and second.

Following a strikeout, Paige Kirkman singled home a run before Palumbo induced a pop out to end the game.

“[Edmondson] had them ready and they earned that game, but we just didn’t play up to our standards,” L-P coach Randy Huebbe said. “I think we played hard, but it wasn’t what we did all year.”

The Cavs, who graduate seven seniors, finish 20-6.

“I could not be prouder of this team,” Huebbe said. “I’m going to miss these seniors, especially the ones who have been with me three or four years.

“We weren’t looking for this year to be the year, but it turned out being a pretty good year. We told the girls it will be sad today, but a week from now they’ll be like, ‘Man, we were a darn good team.’”