Jacey Schuler was playing on a familiar stage Tuesday.
The Antioch sophomore was determined that the ending to her second act would be anything but.
“This was a really special game for me because last year we lost in the supersectional,” Schuler said. “So I really wanted to come out and win today.”
Schuler did exactly that, excelling at pitching, hitting and fielding in leading Antioch to a 9-0 victory over Kaneland in the Class 3A Kaneland Supersectional.
The win assures the Sequoits (29-3), ranked No. 1 in 3A in the Illinois Softball Coaches Association’s poll, of their second state trophy in program history. They will play No. 2 Lemont (32-6) in a state semifinal at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria at 10 a.m. Friday.
Schuler also pitched in the 2021 Kaneland Supersectional, where the Sequoits lost to Sterling 2-0. She’s gotten a lot better since then.
“I think she’s just had a lot more dedication, and she’s been practicing a lot more, working on different pitches,” Antioch’s Emily Brecht said. “She’s just really relaxed, and she has a lot of confidence in the circle and up to bat.
“I think today was one of her better games.”
There was no denying that. Schuler (20-2) hurled a three-hit shutout, allowing only three singles and one walk while striking out 13.
The strikeout total was five shy of her career high but was especially impressive considering the importance of the game.
“This is definitely one of my better games,” Schuler said. “My change-up was working well today and also my rise ball.
“But I also have to say my team, their energy, really brought my performance up. How they acted played a role in how I played.”
The Sequoits were cheering from the start, and there was plenty to cheer about. Schuler had a 2-0 lead before throwing her first pitch.
Wisconsin recruit Eden Echevarria and Illinois recruit Gabby Debevec led off the top of the first with back-to-back doubles, and Schuler drove in a run with a groundout.
“What we talk about most is setting a tone, so we wanted to set a tone and show that we’re able to fight for this,” Schuler said. “We want state so bad.”
They proved that from the start, never letting underdog Kaneland (14-12) get any momentum, as Schuler and Brecht each drove in four runs.
Schuler lined a two-run single to center in the second and drove in Sophia Schaffer with an RBI groundout in the fourth. Brecht, a Tennessee Tech recruit, followed by blasting a two-run home run to left for a 7-0 lead.
“It was just a great hit,” said Brecht, who had three of Antioch’s 10 hits. “I felt smooth with my swing, and I was just really relaxed in the box. It was incredible.”
The same could be said of Schuler’s all-around performance. The Knights got only five balls out of the infield and didn’t get a runner past first base until the seventh inning.
Corinne Pugh was the only Kaneland hitter to have any semblance of success against Schuler, getting a walk and a single in her two plate appearances.
But Schuler caught Angelina Campise’s bunt and doubled Pugh off first following the walk in the third, and she struck out the side in the sixth after Pugh’s leadoff single.
Antioch coach Anthony Rocco has seen this script before. Schuler has allowed only one run in five playoff games.
“That’s what she does,” Rocco said. “She’s elite. Zero errors on the season. She also played a third of the season in the outfield when she wasn’t pitching. She’s fantastic.”
As was the entire team.
“We put it all together,” Rocco said. “Our defense was good to go, our offense got rocking right away and the base running was great.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.