Oswego’s Kennedy Gengler gets it.
The junior shortstop understands she can learn from a mistake. Sometimes, however, it’s wise to just let it go and move on.
It works for Gengler, who’s been proving in her first year on varsity that Panthers co-coach Annie Scaramuzzi has a good eye for talent.
“She does so good at practice,” Scaramuzzi said of Gengler. “She hits good pitching well. It’s one of the things that made me take note of her. She took one swing at tryouts off Jaelynn Anthony when we were throwing live and I knew then I wanted her here because she hits fast pitching well.
“You knew she was going to have competitive at-bats.”
Gengler did Tuesday in a Class 4A Oswego Sectional semifinal, delivering the winning hit with a two-out, two-run double in the sixth inning for a 3-2 victory over conference rival Yorkville.
It allowed Gengler to atone for a throwing error in the second inning that produced two unearned runs for the fourth-seeded Foxes (24-13), who almost rode a wild pitching plan to a big upset.
“I was thinking, ‘I’m the right person at the right time,’” Gengler said. “I was definitely nervous, but I knew I had to let go of my nervousness to produce a hit. I just calmed myself down and thought, ‘I got it.’
“I cleared my mind and everything clicked.”
The top-seeded Panthers (34-2) advance to the 4 p.m. Friday sectional final against the winner of Wednesday’s semifinal between Wheaton North (23-8) and Wheaton Warrenville South (21-10).
Oswego’s power-packed lineup struggled through five innings as Yorkville coach Jory Regnier used three pitchers multiple times, making seven pitching changes involving senior starter Peyton Levine and relievers junior Ellie Fox and freshman Bella Rosauer.
“We trust all three and they’re all just a little bit different,” Regnier said of the plan devolped with pitching coach Megan Leadbetter after losing twice in the regular season to Oswego by scores of 6-2 and 5-1. “Facing such a strong lineup, we had to give them something they hadn’t seen yet.
“We were trying to keep them off balance and keep their hitters at bay and never getting into any type of rhythm.”
Levine and Fox had three stints each in the circle and faced eight batters apiece. Rosauer was called on twice and pitched to 11 batters.
And it nearly worked.
“Honestly, for a second there, I thought we were cooked,” said senior catcher Kiyah Chavez, the Iowa recruit who went 0-for-3. “I’m incredibly proud of (Gengler). That’s a helluva way to pick yourself up after an error. I can have an off day and the bottom of our lineup is going to pick me up.
“Hats off to their coach. I’m sure she watched a lot of film to break down which pitcher would be best against which girl in our lineup.”
Scaramuzzi expected to see all three Yorkville pitchers.
“We didn’t expect it to go like that, though,” she said. “I thought our girls did a great job of making the adjustment, pitcher to pitcher.”
Senior designated player Sabrina Zamora came through with an RBI double one batter before Gengler to get Oswego on the board and Anthony threw a two-hitter with 12 strikeouts.
“Sabrina and Kennedy and the bottom of our lineup coming in clutch,” Scaramuzzi said. “That was the difference.”
On top of that, Gengler also is a catcher in travel.
“Gengler is probably the strongest arm on the team,” Chavez said. “My throwdowns are fast because I have a good transfer. Her ball gets there because it moves fast.”
Both have cannon-like arms, according to Scaramuzzi.
“Kennedy, having her arm at short is a difference-maker,” Scaramuzzi said. “She can go in the hole and still throw batters out.”
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