General 5/16/2023 8:17:00 AM

Softball Advances to the NJCAA National Tournament for the 2nd Straight Year

Jaguars beat St. Louis in final 2 games to advance

ST. LOUIS, MO - After falling to Parkland College in the Region 24 and Central District A Championship game, Danville still had the opportunity to work their way back to the NJCAA Division II National Softball Tournament. This was the exact same path the Jaguars took last year to make it to Nationals, and this year was no different.

The group headed to St. Louis, Missouri to face St. Louis Community College in the Central District B Championship Series on Saturday. The first game was a tough loss for the group as the Archers topped the Jaguars 4-2, but due to some severe thunderstorms, the other two games in the series got pushed back to Monday. In that first game against the Archers, Danville got on the board early with 2 runs in the first inning, but St. Louis responded in the bottom of the first with 2 runs of their own. They scored another run in the second and the fifth, and the Jaguars were never able to add anymore, making the final score 4-2 St. Louis. Ashlynn McPeak had an RBI of her own and Ali Grenzebach had a sacrifice. Kyleigh Weller had 2 hits, Rylee Richey struckout 5 batters, and Raven Morrison struckout 2.

Traveling all the way back to St. Louis Monday morning, the team knew what they needed to do to get the job done. Despite all of the weather, traveling, and chaos, Head Coach Matt Cervantes knew the team was capable of winning the next two games.

"We needed to take each pitch one at a time and be present," Coach Cervantes said. "I believe if you get caught up in the moment and think too far ahead or in the past it can bite you. Our girls were resilient today, and this isn't nothing they haven't done before. The weather was going to be an issue all weekend, I do believe God had this planned from the beginning and our girls knew how to handle themselves. We preached as a coaching staff to be flexible and be ready to go when the time was called and they answered to perfection."

The second game of the series was an intense one as St. Louis scored first in the top of the fourth inning with 2 runs. Danville bounced back in the bottom of the fifth with 3 runs, then St. Louis came back with 1 run in the sixth. After seven innings, the score was tied 3-3. The Archers weren't able to score any runs against Danville's defense in the top of the eighth, and it was the Jaguars who secured the walk-off win in the bottom of the eighth, winning game two 4-3. Kyleigh Weller, Ashlynn McTagertt, Ashlynn McPeak, and Rylee Richey all had an RBI, while McPeak had 3 hits and McTagertt had 2 hits. Raven Morrison sat down 6 batters in her 2.1 innings pitched, and Weller sat down 3 in her 5.2 innings pitched.

That win forced a third game in the series 30 minutes after the conclusion of the second game. The Jaguars scored a run in the bottom of the second innings off of a solo homerun from Kyleigh Weller. St. Louis responded with 1 run in the top of the third. Danville scored 2 in the bottom of the fourth, while the Archers scored 2 in the top of the fifth, tying the score 3-3. The Jaguars were able to add 3 more to the board in the bottom of the fifth, making the score 6-3. Danville held the Archers for the next two innings, even with the bases loaded and 2 outs in the top of the seventh. A line drive was hit to Amaria Wall at third base when it hit her glove and bounced out, but she was able to easily step on third for the force out to secure the win. In total, Kyleigh Weller had 4 RBIs, while Raven Morrison had 2. Weller had 3 hits, while Danielle Shuey and Raven Morrison had 2 hits. Morrison stayed in the circle the whole game where she had 8 strikeouts.

For the first time in program history, the softball team will have back-to-back years where they are going to Nationals. The team has a 42-22 overall record and a 17-7 conference record. The team is also first in triples in the country, as well as 4th in sacrifice hits and 6th in hits. Undoubtedly, this team is ready to go as they prepare to head to South Carolina for the National Tournament.

Matt Cervantes was asked if he had any expectations for this team since last year's made it all the way to Nationals:

"We always have expectations; we are in the toughest region in all of NJCAA softball. Our mindset does not change just because we qualified for the World Series, we need to prepare for anything and be true to ourselves and trust our preparation. We are going to take it pitch by pitch and compete. This group has been battled tested all year. Our schedule has been the toughest one we have ever had here at DACC and I know that will help our girls feel ready as we head to Spartanburg."

What does it mean for this group of girls though after a long season so far?

"Like I stated before, this group has been battle tested all year. We've been through the gauntlet with tough opponents, traveling all over the state, playing in cold weather, etc. the list goes on. Not to mention the adversity we have been through outside of softball," Cervantes stated. "This group needs to be given a ton of credit just by how they carry themselves and believe in one another and how they have responded to adversity. Therefore, it means an incredible amount to us coaches to watch this group succeed. The first time in school history to go Back to Back District Champions and qualify for Nationals. Sometimes I don't think people really understand how huge of an accomplishment qualifying for the dance and competing at the highest stage NJCAA Softball has to offer. The best 16 teams in the country qualify, and it's no easy task, especially when we compete in the toughest Region in all NJCAA Softball. We have a wonderful culture here at DACC and it is a true testimony for the girls and their families. We are truly blessed to coach our student-athletes and play a small fraction in their lives. This is an accomplishment this group can cherish for a lifetime."

The National Tournament is set to take off on Tuesday, May 23rd and run through till the final day on Saturday, May 27th in Spartanburg, South Carolina at the Tyger River Park facility. The seedings and matchups will be announced this Friday, May 19th at 9 AM on the NJCAA Network.

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Players Mentioned

#20 Ali Grenzebach: 3B, 2B, C; 5' 1"; Freshman

#42 Ashlynn McPeak: OF; 5' 3"; Sophomore

#12 Ashlynn McTagertt: Utility; 5' 4"; Sophomore

#4 Raven Morrison: Utility/RHP; 5' 2"; Sophomore

#5 Rylee Richey: 1B & P; 5' 10"; Freshman

#6 Amaria Wall: MI & 3B; 5' 4"; Freshman

#3 Kyleigh Weller: OF & P; 5' 3"; Sophomore

#11 Danielle Shuey: OF; 5' 2"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#20 Ali Grenzebach
: 5' 1"; Freshman
: 3B, 2B, C

#42 Ashlynn McPeak
: 5' 3"; Sophomore
: OF

#12 Ashlynn McTagertt
: 5' 4"; Sophomore
: Utility

#4 Raven Morrison
: 5' 2"; Sophomore
: Utility/RHP

#5 Rylee Richey
: 5' 10"; Freshman
: 1B & P

#6 Amaria Wall
: 5' 4"; Freshman
: MI & 3B

#3 Kyleigh Weller
: 5' 3"; Sophomore
: OF & P

#11 Danielle Shuey
: 5' 2"; Sophomore
: OF