By Bobby Narang
Barrington High School veteran coach, Perry Peterson, did the math before Saturday’s game.
The Hall of Fame coach was seeking his first State title in his illustrious career.
Barrington and Oswego were slated to battle in the Class 4A State championship softball game at Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria late Saturday afternoon.
Oswego, like Barrington, was seeking its first state championship in program history.
“An interesting story going into the game, both teams have scored 396 runs going into today’s game,” Peterson said.
The Panthers made sure Peterson, who has 1,006 victories in 34 seasons, will have to wait another season for his elusive first state championship. Oswego, which finished in third place last season, rode the strong arm of Jaelynn Anthony and the big bat of Aubriella Garza to a 4-1 victory over the Fillies in the 4A final.
The Panthers (37-2) celebrated their state crown by mugging Anthony in the pitching circle following a ground out to end the game to shortstop.
“It’s amazing to have made history and taken first and proven that we can do it,” Garza said, a four-year starter. “But it’s also sad because I grew up with these girls and this is our last time together. They mean everything to me.”
Anthony, a Purdue recruit, battled the severe heat and humidity, holding down the Fillies’ potent lineup with an array of pitches. Anthony (22-1) gave up one run on four hits and struck out eight batters, while adding a hit and walking twice at the plate to power Oswego’s offense.
Garza finished her career as Oswego’s leading in hits, doubles, RBIs and home runs, but her two-out solo shot – her 14th of the season – in the third inning kick-started Oswego’s offense.
“I knew right off the bat,” Garza said. “I can tell very few times, but it was like “Oh, that’s gone.’ It really meant something honestly. I don’t know how to describe it. Year before down here, didn’t have the best at-bats, so being able to do it here was special.”
Garza, a Northern Illinois recruit, wrapped up her memorable career with a 3-for-4 effort from the plate, smacking a solo home run over the left-field fence and adding a double and a single. Kennedy Gengler and Savannah Page also drove in a run for the Panthers.
Barrington (34-4-1) missed a championship in its 13th trip to state, with 11 coming during Peterson’s era.
“If we would have played a little better on the defensive end, which we have been so stellar at, it might have been a different story,” Peterson said. “But that takes nothing away from Oswego.”