The Williamsville Lady Bullets are headed to the Super-Sectional.
Williamsville used a late offensive surge to pull away from Rochester and claim a 7-3 victory in the IHSA Sectional Championship, ending the Rockets’ season at 25-9 and punching their ticket to Monday’s Super-Sectional matchup against Bloomington Central Catholic.
For much of the night, the game was tightly contested between two familiar opponents. Williamsville struck first in the top of the fourth inning when Hannah Louis launched a two-run home run to center field, giving the Lady Bullets a 2-0 advantage.
Rochester answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning with a pair of long balls. Kendall Edmonson connected on a two-run homer to tie the game at 2-2 before Mylie Deatherage followed with a solo shot to center field, giving the Rockets a 3-2 lead and energizing the home crowd.
The lead would not last long.
Williamsville tied the game in the sixth inning when Lucy Nell delivered an RBI single that scored Joee Griffitts. The Lady Bullets then broke the game open in the seventh.
With runners on base, Hannah Louis came through again, ripping a two-run double to left field to put Williamsville ahead 5-3. Later in the inning, Olivia Heigert laid down a sacrifice bunt that brought home another run, and Lucy Nell capped the scoring with an RBI single to left field, extending the lead to 7-3.
The Rockets were unable to mount a comeback in the bottom of the seventh as Williamsville secured the sectional title.
Louis was the star of the night for the Lady Bullets, finishing 3-for-4 with a home run, double, and four RBIs. Lucy Nell added two hits and two RBIs, while Bailey Wherley and Mia Gallaher each collected hits. Elle Smithers-Campbell scored twice and reached base three times.
In the circle, Olivia Heigert started the game and allowed just one hit over three innings before Louis took over in relief. Louis earned the win, pitching four innings while allowing three runs on four hits.
Rochester finished with five hits. Edmonson went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs, while Deatherage added a solo homer and an RBI. Peyton Purves, Brooklyn Thompson, and Deatherage each recorded hits for the Rockets.
Jaelyn Watts went the distance for Rochester, striking out 10 while allowing seven runs on seven hits.
Top Performers
Williamsville
- Hannah Louis: 3-for-4, HR, 2B, 4 RBI
- Lucy Nell: 2-for-4, 2 RBI
- Elle Smithers-Campbell: 2 runs scored, 2 walks
- Hannah Louis (P): Win, 4 IP, 4 H, 3 ER
Rochester
- Kendall Edmonson: 2-for-3, HR, 2 RBI
- Mylie Deatherage: 1-for-3, HR, RBI
- Peyton Purves: 1-for-3, run scored
- Jaelyn Watts: 10 strikeouts in complete-game effort
Williamsville advances to Monday’s IHSA Super-Sectional where the Lady Bullets will face Bloomington Central Catholic with a trip to the state finals on the line. Rochester’s impressive season comes to a close with a 25-9 record and a sectional runner-up finish.
Hannah Louis talks Sectional Final win
#6 Mylie Deatherage crushes a homer off the scoreboard for Rochester.
#18 Mia Gallaher with the INSANE diving catch in center for Williamsville.
#16 Jaelyn Watts recorded 10ks on the day… what a season and career for J.
#3 Lucy Nell with the sweet RBI single for Williamsville.
#10 Olivia Heigert with the great DIVING catch in left field for Williamsville.
#17 Kendall Edmonson with a smooth single for Rochester.
#17 Kendall Edmonson had a great game as she crushed this 2 run bomb over my our head in center for Rochester.
#24 Bailey Wherley with the great snag and double play to propel Williamsville to the win.
#10 Peyton Purves with the sweet single into right field for Rochester.
#17 Hannah Louis crushes this 2-run BOMB to left field for Williamsville.
(Yes, She is only a freshman)
#17 Hannah Louis drives in 2 runs in the 7th inning to secure the Sectional Championship win for Williamsville.