Troy Keegan earns 100th win at Edison in sectional final

MILAN — Milestone wins are always special. Claiming a sectional title in the process is even better. Edison accomplished both Friday with its 6-0 win over Carey, notching Troy Keegan's 100th coaching victory at the school, while taking the Division III sectional crown. "It's a credit to these girls," Keegan said of the win. "We just put them in positions to win, but they have to go out and execute. And we've had some good ones over the years." "Our coaches put everything they have into this program," senior Kira Appeman added. "They really sacrifice for us, so it's important that we do our jobs." Appeman did a bit more than just her job on Friday. The senior went the distance, allowing no runs on three hits with 10 strikeouts and a walk to improve to 14-5 on the season. "I really felt in a groove today," she said, "Everything was working today, I really didn't have to struggle with any command and I felt comfortable on the mound and at the plate as well. It just seemed like everyone was doing their jobs." Appeman gave up a two-out single in the first inning, but also struck out the side. She also struck out two in each of the fourth and fifth innings. "I try to do my best every game, but some games are different than others," she said. "Today, I really felt like my team came to play. All of us were here and ready to go." The win sends the second-seeded Chargers (17-6) to the district semifinal at 5 p.m. May 18 at New Riegel against three-seed Colonel Crawford. Edison took the lead in the first when Audrey Linder drew a one-out walk and went to second on a single from Olivia Vitaz. Reagan King drove in Linder with a single off the glove of Riley Brodman at short, with Vitaz going to third. Vitaz came home on an error on a grounder from Sophia Guerra, with King getting gunned down at home and Guerra going to third. She then came home when a pick-off throw went into left field. The Chargers tacked on two more runs in the third, starting with back-to-back singles from Vitaz and King. Vitaz was erased on a fielder's choice from Guerra, with King scoring on an error and Guerra scoring on a wild pitch. In the bottom of the sixth, Elena McCord singled and was replaced by pinch runner Emma Crabtree, who went to second on a wild pitch and home on a single from Appeman. Vitaz and King each had two singles to lead the Edison offense, while the Charger defense didn't commit an error. "We played great defense," Keegan said. "It all starts on the mound and our catcher (McCord) did a great job. She really worked her glove well. Elena was great. "We got hits when we needed them, which is something we haven't had all year, and we got hits from the bottom of our lineup which really helped out big time." Carey (11-8) stranded four baserunners. Rylee Row walked with an out in the seventh, but Appeman got Meghan Littlejohn to pop out to first and Carmen Conigy to pop to second to end the game, "(Appeman) pitched a great game; she's a great pitcher," said Carey coach Teresa Gillig. "We had a couple of hits that fell, but most of the hits were right to them or they made good plays. They came out with the better night tonight. "We just couldn't get the bats in a row. The couple of hits here and there were good, but just not enough together to score runs." Carey 000 000 0 — 0 3 3Edison 302 001 x — 6 8 0 WP—Kira Appeman (14-5) LP—Kenzie Simons 2B—Kyla Orians