WATERLOO — Sometimes you have to play hurt. Just ask Freeburg senior softball pitcher Sam Roulanaitis.
The senior pitched with a sore back. Despite pitching with pain, Roulanaitis helped the Midgets score a 4-2 victory over the Effingham Flaming Hearts on Tuesday afternoon in a Class 3A Waterloo Sectional semifinal at Waterloo High School.
Roulanaitis gave up two solo homers among the five hits she allowed to improve to 24-1 on the season.
“I wasn’t really on today,” Roulanaitis said with some tears. “I didn’t feel the best physically. My back hurt. I told my team I would need them.
“I’m here for my teammates any time any way. My muscles hurt. I knew there were other choices for pitchers, but I wanted to go.”
Freeburg (31-3) advanced to play host Waterloo (26-6) for the sectional title at 4 p.m. Friday. Waterloo beat Marion in the second semifinal.
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Last season, the Midgets lost in the super-sectional round in Class 2A. They were the 2A runner-up in 2022.
Freeburg coach Becky Mueth knew she was giving the ball to Roulanaitis on Tuesday.
“She’s been our warrior all year,” Mueth said. “There was really no question of who was going. She’s at a point where she doesn’t want us to go with any other options. She wants the game ball.
“It’s nice to have that kind of senior leadership from her and I guess you could say stubbornness. She wants the ball.”
The other Midgets were not surprised by Roulanaitis’ performance.
“We depend on Sam a lot,” senior shortstop Lindsey Muskopf said. “Having her push through the game meant a lot. That was huge for us. I’m just happy she can trust us with the defense she has behind her.”
Freeburg sophomore Olivia Joseph agreed.
“We’re all really proud of her,” said Joseph, who caught three fly balls in center field. “She’s been dealing with injuries so her pushing through that game and pitching well for us is so big. We appreciate what said did.”
Taking lead in second
All of Freeburg’s runs were unearned.
The Midgets took the lead with a three-run second inning.
With one out, senior Maggie Wolf drew a one-out walk. She went to second on a bunt single by freshman third baseman Aryana Blomenkamp.
Freshman Kate Whitworth laid down a beautiful sacrifice bunt to advance the runners. However, Effingham second baseman Reagan Boone threw wildly to third trying to cut down Wolf. Both runners scored on the throwing error.
Joseph singled to left and then stole second.
“I was hyped up,” Joseph said. “I just want to do whatever it takes to win for the team. It’s nice to get ahead in the game. You can take a breath when you have the lead.”
She came home on a single to right field by Muskopf.
“Pressure situations are right up my alley,” Muskopf said. “I love hitting with pressure. You’ve just got to get ball to the bat. That’s all it is.”
Run in the fourth
The Midgets went ahead 4-1 when they scored their final run in the fourth.
Again, an error helped Freeburg.
“We were able to take advantage of some things today,” Mueth said. “They made some mistakes and we were able to move our runners around the bases.”
Whitworth drew a two-out walk. Joseph singled her to third. Muskopf hit a grounder to third but Alyssa Martin misplayed the ball, allowing Whitworth to score.
“We were ready to play from the get-go today,” Muskopf said.
Great defense by Midgets
Freshman Aubrey Waeltz was like a vacuum cleaner at third base. In the third inning, she handled a hot grounder by Sidney Donaldson and threw to first, where senior Briley Schmittling dug the throw out of the dirt.
The duo pulled off a similar play in the seventh for the first out.
Ryley Eagel smacked a hard grounder that Waeltz cleanly fielded. She threw to first just in time, aided by a great stretch by Schmittling.
“I think our defense showed up and made some great plays,” Mueth said. (Waeltz) is just 14 years told. She did a tremendous job out there for us. She came ready to play.”
Roulanaitis said she appreciated the play of Waeltz. She knows what it’s like to play at the hot corner.
“I’ve kind of taken her under my wing this year,” Roulanaitis said. “I used to be the starting third baseman my sophomore year. She played really well for us.”
Muskopf noted the girls were prepared to play.
“It’s been a while since a team has put the ball in play against us,” Muskopf said. “Sam is such a dominant pitcher that it’s nice to see the defense play so well behind her. Everyone overall play good defense.
“We were pumped up to play this game.”
Home runs
Effingham scored on two solo home runs by Martin.
She led off the third with a homer to left field.
In the seventh, Martin made it interesting when he hit a one-out home to left.
However, Roulanaitis didn’t get upset.
“I just think next pitch,” Roulanaitis said. “Whenever I see home runs, I just think they got a good hit on me. I just go on to the next batter and pitch.”
On the final play, Effingham pitcher Serge Althoff hit a hard grounder to Roulanaitis. The ball bounced off her glove to third, where Blomenkamp scooped it up and made the throw in time to first to end the game and allow the Midgets to celebrate the victory.
Mueth liked what she saw from Roulanaitis.
“She did what she needed to do,” Mueth said. “They hit the ball a little bit more than we’re used to, but our defense was right there behind her making plays.
“That’s the definition of playing for each other at this time of the year. We know the opponents are getting tougher and tougher.”