Illinois District 17 all-stars dominate Central Region opener with Bunte striking out 13

BYRON CENTER, Mich. — The Illinois District 17 softball team is looking to make it back to the Senior League World Series.

Monday, the all-stars took their first step — with authority.

Quincy Notre Dame’s Caitlin Bunte struck out 13, Havana’s Kaydi Miller doubled twice and the Illinois squad beat the Johnston (Iowa) Senior All-Stars 10-0 in six innings in the opening game of the Central Region Tournament. Illinois District 17 will again at noon Tuesday in the winner’s bracket.

It will take at least four victories to win the regional and advance to the World Series, which takes place July 31-August 6 in Roxana, Del.

Illinois scored in each of the first four innings to take control. In the first inning, Pleasant Hill’s Ava Wombles led off with a single, stole second base, went to third on a groundout and scored on an error. In the second, Springfield’s Mia Volpert led off with a walk and Pleasant Plains’ Aspen Kitowski walked with two outs before Miller singled to score Triopia’s Mylee Tracy, who was a courtesy runner for Volpert.

In the third, Rushville’s Italee Ford and Bunte led off with back-to-back singles and Chatham’s Taryn Griffith followed with an RBI single to right field. After a strikeout, Macomb’s Kylie Robinson singled to center field to drive in two runs. Robinson scored on a passed ball to make it 6-0.

Miller doubled leading off the fourth and scored on after a passed ball and a wild pitch. Wombles, who had singled, scored on Grffith’s one-out sacrifice fly.

Ford’s two-run single in the sixth ended the game.

Bunte retired the first 11 batters she faced, allowed two hits and did not walk a batter. Miller finished 3 for 3, while Wombles went 3 for 4 and Ford and Bunte each had two hits.