Only a sophomore, Isabella Rosauer bears down for Yorkville in sectional semifinals. ‘Pitched a great game.’
· Yahoo Sports
This could be the start of a beautiful rivalry.
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A friendly one?
Time will tell, but very likely. Yorkville sophomore Isabella Rosauer and sophomore Jocelyn Cushard, her Plainfield East counterpart, are definitely on good terms and share mutual respect.
Rosauer, however, is more than ready to be on the other side of the outcome the next time the two right-handers go head-to-head while pitching from the same circle on a softball field.
“At the end of the day, there’s not much you can do if you’re not hitting the ball and they’re also making great plays,” Rosauer said. “There’s really not much you can do about that.
“Definitely, the next time, I want to beat them.”
Rosauer and the host Foxes came up on the short end of a 2-0 decision Tuesday, losing to Cushard and the Bengals in a Class 4A Yorkville Sectional semifinal game.
Both pitchers threw four-hitters with seven strikeouts, but Plainfield East (21-6) advances to a 4:30 p.m. Friday championship game against the winner of Wednesday’s semifinal between defending state champion Oswego (19-11) and Naperville Central (25-9).
The two pitchers dueled 19 days earlier, too, with the Bengals prevailing 2-1, although Yorkville (28-10) went on to win the Southwest Prairie Conference title. Plainfield East finished two games back in fourth place.
Rosauer and Cushard were center stage Tuesday, especially through a scoreless five innings.
In the sixth, Kaleigh Cawthon hit a line drive for a home run to center. In the seventh, Giselle Ascencio drove in an insurance run for the Bengals with a fielder’s choice ground out.
“I’m sure Bella is disappointed because of that home run, but I don’t think she threw it over the middle or anything,” Yorkville coach Jory Regnier said. “The girl went down and got it and hit it straightaway.”
Freshman center fielder Alyssa Muhlbach doubled to right-center to lead off the fourth inning for Yorkville, but she was cut down trying to stretch it into a triple, ending the threat.
The next inning, senior designated hitter Brooke Ekwinski came through with a one-out double, but Cushard worked out of that jam.
“The bottom line is, I’ve gotta own this,” Regnier said, remembering Muhlbach’s hit. “That’s a run that could’ve scored if I didn’t get her thrown out at third. That’s on me as a coach.
“I could have put us in a position of pitching with a lead and that’s a different game then.”
Muhlbach and senior third baseman Callie Ferko had back-to-back singles in the sixth for Yorkville’s other two hits.
Unfortunately, they came after Iowa-bound senior catcher Kayla Kersting was called out on her bid for a bunt single that could have gone either way.
Last season, Cushard was on the other side, dropping a 1-0 decision to the Foxes in the regional final. Rosauer and Cushard likely will battle again.
“The first time we played this year we had the energy and we kept it again,” Cushard said. “I think my strong suit is my spin and hitting my spots. That and full confidence in my defense.
“(Rosauer) had a lot of spin, too, and a good drop. She hit her spots, too. The ump was calling the outside corner and we were both hitting it. I think we both like those umpires.”
Kersting, who confirmed that Rosauer has been dominant all season, pointed out that Rosauer has three elite pitches with a curve, rise and drop.
“I can’t wait to see what happens,” Kersting said. “She’s really stepped up in the postseason. It takes guts — all these games have been close. Bella has the mentality and physicality.
“It’s gonna be one lethal mixture the next two years. She’s gonna do big things. I can’t wait to see what she does.”
Neither can Regnier.
“Bella stays very consistent and wants the ball in her hand,” Regnier said. “She pitched a great game.”