Class A State Champs

Cobden knocks off Lebanon with two-run homer in fifth inning of state softball title game

EAST PEORIA -- A day after setting a state tournament record with 22 runs, the Lebanon Greyhounds were shut out.

Taylor Orsburn hit a two-run homer in the fifth inning as the Cobden Appleknockers captured the Class 1A State Softball championship for the third straight year with a 2-0 win over the Lebanon Greyhounds on Saturday.

The Greyhounds actually outhit the Appleknockers 7-4. They stranded nine base runners.

Story: Lebanon softball team finishes one win short at state tourney
"It's not like we didn't hit or anything," Lebanon senior second baseman Jenna Wood said. "We did hit. We just couldn't string them together like we normally do. Two or three in a row and we would get some runs in. This time, it was just little singles here and there, nothing connected."

Wood said the Greyhounds, who had 22 hits in a 22-2 win over Serena on Friday, knew that it would be tougher scoring runs against the Appleknockers.

"Like setting a record and all that stuff, we didn't get caught up in all of that because we knew that wasn't one of the best pitchers we were going to face," Wood said. "We faced Dacota (Knop) the last time we played them, and we hit her really well. This time, she just shut us down."

Wood said Knop did a better job of mixing her pitches Saturday than she did during a 4-1 loss to the Greyhounds earlier this season.

"Too many pop flys, too many flyballs," Lebanon coach Hank Feldt said. "We outhit them 7-4, but that doesn't score runs.

"We didn't have many groundballs, that's the key to whole thing. You can't hit flyballs over the 200-foot mark all the time, especially when you're facing a pretty good pitcher."

The Greyhounds ended their season with 35-5 record. They'll be honored along with the varsity baseball team, which placed third in the state, during a reception at 2 p.m. today at Lebanon High School.

Ana Duda led off the fourth inning for the Appleknockers with a double to left-center field, bringing up Orsburn.

"Coming into this we were a little nervous because they beat us the first time, but after Ana led off with that I double, I knew I had to get something to the outfield in the gap," Orsburn said. "That's all I planned to do."

Orsburn sent a 1-2 offering from Lebanon pitcher Courtney Washington over the right-center field fence.

"We got the pitch up, and she rode it out," Feldt said. "That's the way it goes."

The Greyhounds loaded the bases against Knop with one out in the second inning, but they were unable to score.

Courtney Belcher popped out to the catcher in foul ground and Claire Buechele was thrown out on a bunt to the third base.

The throw from Orsburn at third was off line, but first baseman Kristin Pender was able to tag Buechele on the shoulder as she ran past.

"We had our chance on that close play at first base," Feldt said. "Those twins (Claire and Paige Buechele) are going to be a lot of trouble for a lot of people for the next three years. They are quick."

Paige Buechele beat out a bunt with a head-first slide into first base with one out in the seventh inning, but Knop retired the next two hitters to secure Cobden's three-peat.

"It feels amazing," Orsburn said. "I honestly didn't think it was possible. We came into (the state tournament) expecting the best, and that's what we did."

The Appleknockers are 96-16 over the past three seasons, including a 33-4 mark this season.

Wood said she was disappointed over not winning the state championship, but the Greyhounds still had a great season.

"It's still cool that I can tell everyone that my senior year I went to state and got to the championship game and just couldn't pull through," Wood said. "It's a good experience."