Jordan Wheeler, Blue Ridge Softball Powers Past Regan Romshek, GCMS

Score by innings
Blue Ridge  000 124 0 -- 7
GCMS        000 102 0 -- 3

LEROY, Ill. -- Sometimes, it's a mother who knows best.

As Regan Romshek retired the Lady Knights' first four batters, one couldn't help but get a sense of deja vu.

In their previous meeting, Romshek allowed four hits and struck out eight Blue Ridge batters en route to a 2-0 shutout.

Then Sarah O'Neal (Jade's mom) doled out some advice for the fifth batter, Melinda Wilson: be patient and make Romshek throw strikes.

Although the Illinois State recruit retired Wilson after she hit a fly ball on a 2-1 pitch to right field, it was a hard-hit fly ball. And from there, the Blue Ridge hitters slowly, but surely, shook down Romshek's aura of dominance.

En route to beating Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley 7-3, the Lady Knights' offense finished with 10 hits and four walks. One of those hits moved Blue Ridge up to a place in IHSA history.

Jordan Wheeler highlighted a four-run sixth inning with a two-run homer. The home run gave the Lady Knights 40 for the season, putting them in a tie for the No. 2 spot for most home runs hit in a season.

Wheeler also made some history on the mound. Picking up her 20th win of the season, she struck out seven batters.

Wheeler entered the contest four strikeouts shy of the all-time career record at Blue Ridge. She now holds sole possession of the record.

The Lady Knights went into the sixth inning leading 3-1 thanks in major part to Wilson's two RBIs. In the fourth inning, she sent Wheeler, who got on base via one of her two walks, to home plate for the game's first one with a lined shot down the middle of the infield.

After Romshek hit a solo home run to tie the score, Jade O'Neal hit an RBI single to right-center field to drive in Jordyn Fones, who got one of her three hits on an infield single, for the go-ahead run in the fifth inning.

In the next at-bat, Wilson once again sent Wheeler home, this time with a hit to left field.

With the win, Blue Ridge improves its record to 26-5 and will play for the LeRoy Regional title on Saturday at 11 a.m. Just like last year, Tri-Valley will be standing in the way of the Lady Knights' regional-championship aspirations.

Blue Ridge Statistics

Hitting

Jordyn Fones -- 3-for-4, RBI, 2 runs

Jade O' Neal -- 2-for-4, 2 RBIs

Melinda Wilson -- 2-for-4, double, 2 RBIs

Jordan Wheeler -- home run, 2 RBIs, 3 runs, 2 walks

Marcie Crawford -- double, RBI

Pitching

Jordan Wheeler (20-4), 7 innings, 7 hits, 3 runs, 7 strikeouts, 0 walks

ARGENTA BASEBALL REGIONAL UPDATE

Argenta-Oreana, the No. 1 seed in the regional, beat Heyworth 4-1.

The Bombers will play for the Argenta Regional championship against the winner of today's game between Blue Ridge and LeRoy on Saturday at 11 a.m.