Quincy Notre Dame finishes unbeaten in WCC after outlasting Central in eventful nine-inning softball game

CAMP POINT, Ill. — Whew!

That major exhale heard shortly before dusk Wednesday four miles northeast of Camp Point was compliments of Quincy Notre Dame softball coach Eric Orne.

QND extended its win streak to 10 games but not before dodging several sizable upset-minded bullets from longtime rival Central on a breezy, 83-degree sun-swept afternoon and early evening.

Notre Dame’s 10-8, nine-inning victory featured the two schools combining for eight runs in the ninth inning, which was only fitting consideering how the first eight frames had unfolded.

QND (26-4) and Central (14-7) combined for 18 runs, 22 hits, eight walks, somewhere between three and six errors (depending on which scorebook was utilized) and numerous wild pitches and passed balls. Oh, add to those totals a combined four pitchers who surrendered base hits to a combined 15 different players.

“This was kind of a typical QND-Camp Point softball game at the end of the season,” Orne said. “Central had us against the wall.”

One other tagline associated with the game, which took 2 hours and 43 minutes to complete, found the victory allowing Notre Dame to finish 9-0 in the West Central Conference. Central ended 5-4.

“This gave us the undefeated conference championship, and that’s always important,” Orne said.

Notre Dame kayoed three home runs in the game, including a three-run shot by Joselyn Boyer in the five-run top of the ninth. Other blows were delivered by Caitlin Bunte, a two-run shot that tied the game 5-5 in the top of the seventh, and a two-run smash from Morgan Zanger in the sixth that had knotted the game at that point 3-3.

“We needed those home runs. They kept us going,” Orne said. “Those were strong at-bats.”

Zanger said the Raiders never became discouraged, despite Central’s repeated comeback efforts.

“We just kept pushing,” she said. “This was definitely not the way we wanted it to go, but to see this team work back in the later innings and not hang our heads is good.”

Zanger also finished with three RBIs and scored three runs.

“I was just happy there were people on base when I came up,” she said.

Bunte, who pitched the first seven innings for QND before giving way to Madalyn Boyer, struck out 14. Bunte also reached base in four of five at-bats — three times via walks — and had nothing but praise for Central.

“Central is always a good opponent,” said Bunte, who once attended school in the Central district before transferring to QND. “I’m just glad that it all worked out. I’m glad we powered through this game.”

Lauren Miller had three hits for QND. Madalyn Boyer and Zanger each delivered a pair of hits.

“It could have been anyone’s game,” Central coach Brey Genenbacher said. “There were a lot of momentum shifts, a lot of ups and downs, and I thought our girls did an excellent job competing with QND. (Bunte) is a phenomenal pitcher.”

Emma Stephens, who pitched the first six innings for Central, led the Panthers with three hits. Lauren Miller tossed the final three innings.

QND’s victory was the 650th in Orne’s 27-year softball-coaching career at 10th and Jackson. Neither his 650-254 softball mark, or an equally impressive 581-128 coaching record in girls basketball at QND, seem to faze him. Neither do his 50 combined seasons in those two sports.

Orne says he pays no attention to his own accomplishments.

“Absolutely not,” he said. “I just feel honored to have been coaching both of those sports this long at QND.”

Notre Dame’s victory over Central concludes its regular season. It opens regional play later this month.

Central plays at Winchester Friday and will host a Class 1A regional later this month.