Illinois District 17 all-stars heading back to Delaware and Senior League World Series

BYRON CENTER, Mich. — Delaware, here they come.

And a prolific offense is coming with them.

The Illinois District 17 softball team is returning to the Senior League World Series in Roxana, Del., after overwhelming the Central Regional field with an unstoppable offense. Illinois took out Ohio District 2 in Thursday’s championship, winning 16-3 behind an 18-hit barrage.

Illinois finished its four-game sweep of the regional with 50 runs scored and 53 hits.

The Illinois all-stars will head to the World Series and begin pool play Monday at the Lower Sussex Little League Complex.

The Land of Lincolners waited through a lengthy weather delay — they were supposed to play the championship Wednesday afternoon — before dismantling Ohio with a six-run outburst in the top of the first inning.

After loading the bases with no outs as Havana’s Kaydi Miller singled, Rushville’s Italee Ford walked and Springfield’s Mia Volpert reached on a fielder’s choice, Chatham’s Taryn Griffith hit a grand slam to center field for a 4-0 lead. Macomb’s Kylie Robinson followed with a single and Illini Bluffs’ Cora Ellison homered to left field to complete the six-run outburst.

In the third, a two-run single by Miller got the offense rolling again. Griffith again came to the plate with the bases loaded and delivered a bases-clearing double to center field. Robinson drove Griffith in with a groundout.

Illinois plated four more runs in the fifth as Ellison scored on a wild pitch, Pleasant Plains’ Aspen Kitowski delivered an RBI double and Miller drove in two runs with a single.

Volpert held Ohio scoreless the first four innings and finished with seven strikeouts and two walks in her second victory in the tournament.