BLOOMINGTON — In the biggest game of her young life, Newark’s Kodi Rizzo needed a few warm-up pitches to get going Monday. But the seventh time seemed to be the charm.
Her first six pitches against Heyworth were outside the strike zone.
“It always takes me a batter or two,” Rizzo said afterward, shrugging her shoulders. “But once I relax and get into a rhythm, it all comes naturally to me.”
From that point on, Rizzo was The Natural.
The sophomore right-hander threw a one-hitter and struck out 11 in 4 2/3 innings as Newark earned a 1-0 victory in the Class 1A Illinois Wesleyan Supersectional.
Newark (31-3-1), which qualified for the state finals for the first time in program history, will play at 10 a.m. Friday against Illini Bluffs at Louisville Slugger Complex in Peoria.
Kaitlyn Schofield, a junior, struck out six in 2 1/3 innings of relief to post the save. She punctuated the historic victory by striking out the side in the bottom of the seventh.
It was a special moment for the Schofield family. Kaitlyn’s father, Tim, is the head coach for the Norsemen. Her older sister, Alyssa, is the top assistant.
“He coached both of my sisters throughout high school and he also coached our travel team,” Kaitlyn said. “I wanted to give him a run for his money. It means a lot for us.”
Rizzo (10-0) struck out the side in the first, second and fourth innings.
Heyworth (19-8) hit only one ball out of the infield. Rizzo also scored the only run in the top of the third on a bloop single by junior shortstop Taylor Kruser.
“Before the game, I knew I didn’t want to mess up or take all of my nerves onto the field,” Rizzo said. “I knew I wanted to leave it all out there.
“My confidence level also went up after those strikeouts. I treat every team like I haven’t seen them before.”
After reaching on an error in the top of the third, Rizzo raced around the bases from first on the two-out RBI single by Kruser.
“I had two strikes against me and I told myself I am not striking out,” Kruser said. “I took it where it was pitched.”
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Rizzo, Schofield (9-1) and Kruser (9-0) — Newark’s three primary pitchers — have combined for a 28-1 record.
After surrendering her lone hit in the bottom of the fifth, Rizzo willingly ceded the stage to her close friend.
“My arm was a little tired,” Rizzo said. “But I also know Kaitlyn and I do well as a duo.”
Schofield then brought the heat.
The only dangerous moment was the bottom of the fifth when Heyworth used two walks and a wild pitch to put a pair of runners in scoring position.
Schofield used her lightning speed for the crucial strikeout.
“I just said in my head it was any other game and I went to work,” Schofield said. “I usually work with my curve as well, but with this close of a game, I tried to lay off that.”
Newark’s poise and toughness has been especially impressive considering outfielder Kailey Wohead is the only senior starter.
“I think going into our sectional championship game last year, I felt like we were a little timid,” Schofield said. “Our hitting has been strong the whole year. We had to keep rolling with it.”
The madcap celebration at the end had its roots in the earliest point of the season.
“I knew this season was special the second we walked out onto the field for our first practice,” Rizzo said. “I felt like this whole team wants it.
“We are not going to let anything stop us.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.