Cheyanne Rodgers looks on after hitting a double during Kewanee’s 11-5 regional win over Orion. Rodgers went 2-3 at the plate, scored two runs and had three RBI for the Boiler Girls. [Photo courtesy of Lisa Sieghartner]

The Kewanee Boiler Girls took down Orion 11-5 Monday in regional quarterfinal action at Northeast Park and advanced to play Sherrard in Riverdale.

Kewanee (7) avenged an earlier season loss to the Chargers and will now attempt to take down Sherrard (22-9) for a second time this season. On April 9, the Boiler Girls (16-10) scored a narrow 8-6 win over the Tigers. 

The winner of Tuescay’s game will play the winner of the Knoxville (3) vs Riverdale (6) game (at 6:30 pm following the Kewanee/Sherrard game). The Riverdale Regional championship game will be at 4:30 pm Friday in Riverdale. 

Kewanee 11, Orion 5

Orion looked poised to score early as the second batter in the lineup, Lainey Kunert, hit a triple. Kewanee pitcher Kalleigh Gale, however struck out two of the four batters she faced and Kunert was left stranded on third. 

The Boiler Girls went to work in the bottom of the first inning. Hannah Tiska hit a single and Cheyanne Rodgers followed with a double, sending home Tiska for the first run of the game. 

Hope Peed then reached on an error and Rodgers scored to give Kewanee a 2-0 lead.

Gale made quick work of Orion in the second inning, striking out two of the three batters she faced. 

In the top of third inning, Kunert followed up her triple with a double to center field. Avah Jones scored on the play to bring the Chargers within one. Gale fanned two more batters and Kunert was again left stranded. 

The Boiler Girls loaded the bases in the third inning. Tiska walked and Gale and Peed each hit singles. Kieryn Abernathy then walked and Tiska scored, increasing Kewanee’s lead to 3-1.

Lyric Duytschaver then grounded into a fielder’s choice and Gale scored, giving Kewanee a 4-1 lead heading into the fourth inning. Orion hit a pair of singles in the top of the fourth inning, but the Kewanee defense held. 

The Boiler Girls had a productive fourth quarter. Macee Pickering and Remy Hicks hit singles and Tiska and Abernathy each hit doubles in the hitting frenzy. 

Pickering, Hicks, Tiska and Gale were the first four to score (8-1). Rodgers then scored by stealing home, increasing the lead to 9-1.

The Chargers responded by hitting back-to-back triples at the top of the fifth inning. Grace Passno hit the first 3-bagger, plating Ellie Knupp and Jones (9-3). 

Kennadi Sovey hit the second triple and Passno scored (9-4). Hayden Gehring then hit an RBI single to bring Orion within four at 9-5. 

The Boiler Girls had a little offense left in the tank and scored two more runs in the fifth inning. Hicks, Gale and Rodgers all hit singles, while Hicks and Tiska scored the final two Kewanee runs, giving the Boiler Girls the 11-5 win. 

Kewanee pitcher Kalleigh Gale struck out nine batters in the 11-5 win over the Orion Chargers. Gale is 11-5 on the season. [Photo courtesy of Lisa Sieghartner]

Gale pitched all seven innings to earn the win for Kewanee. She struck out nine and walked one, while surrendering 11 hits and five earned runs. 

Hannah Swope suffered the loss for Orion. In six innings on the mound she walked three and gave up 13 hits and 11 runs (10 earned).

At the plate

Gale (3-4, 2 runs, 1 RBI). Rodgers (2-3, 1 double, 2 runs, 3 RBI). Tiska (2-2, 1 double, 4 runs, 2 BB). Hicks (2-3, 2 runs, 1 RBI). Abernathy (1-3, 1 double, 3 RBI, 1 BB). Pickering (1-4, 1 RBI). Duytschaver (1-4, 1 double, 1 RBI). Peed (1-4).