PEORIA — Truth be told, it sounds like Oswego’s Kennedy Gengler may have surprised herself.
Good for her and the work ethic that made it happen for the senior shortstop.
It’s fitting that Gengler became a key contributor for two strong playoff runs by the Panthers during a stretch that’s very likely to go down in history as the softball program’s heyday.
“I never really wanted to play college ball growing up and never put myself in a position to get scouted,” said Gengler, who will take a step next year by playing at Waubonsee.
“Getting to high school and varsity, I thought, ‘Why not?’ Some of my teammates are going there and I can save money, too. I just love playing. Now, I just happen to think bigger.”
It included the dream of being part of a second straight state championship team that came to an end Friday in a 13-3 Class 4A semifinal loss to Mundelein at Louisville Slugger Sports Complex.
The Mustangs (23-5) sent 11 batters to the plate and struck for five runs in the first inning. They rolled from there despite Gengler’s two singles and her team’s first RBI in the top of the fourth.
Oswego (24-12), which trailed 8-0 by that point, plays Marist (36-2) at 12:15 p.m. Saturday in the third-place game.
“I think we were still on the high from our supersectional and were a little overconfident,” Gengler said. “I think that we just thought that our skill was just gonna lead us all the way.
“We definitely needed the energy and lacked it (Friday).”
Senior first baseman Ahlivia East tallied a double and a single and senior outfielder Brynn Broughton added an RBI double, but Oswego was stymied by senior pitcher Shae Johnson, who took the loss for Mundelein against the Panthers two years ago in the third-place game.
Purdue-bound senior pitcher Jaelynn Anthony praised her counterpart.
“She did a great job — her riseball is very effective,” Anthony said.
Anthony, who wasn’t nearly as sharp as she had been earlier in the playoffs for Oswego, gave up 11 hits and eight walks and hit a batter. She was also hurt by three early errors.
“It definitely wasn’t us,” Oswego coach Annie Scaramuzzi said. “We told the kids afterward we beat ourselves, but obviously all the credit goes to Mundelein. They showed up swinging and put hard balls in play.
“I think our defense kind of crumbled a little bit at the beginning and we lost our momentum.”
Gengler, who emerged as a defensive stalwart in last season’s run to the state title, credited Scaramuzzi on her hits.
“Annie figured out when they were going to pitch inside and would say, ‘Turn,’” Gengler said. “I would turn my hips and be able to handle the inside pitch better.
“I don’t know how she picks it up, but she just does.”
Gengler was one of only three senior starters back from last season.
“We wanted to repeat because it’s never been done at the school before,” she said. “We can’t make it happen every time, but I think it’s super impressive we even made it to state.
“I feel like the odds were against us being here, especially when we were 0-4.”
Scaramuzzi, meanwhile, pointed to Gengler’s leadership.
“She stepped into that role last year and has been kind of the glue of our defense the last two years,” Scaramuzzi said. “She makes some plays over there that I think are like ESPN-type plays. She dives all over the place and has an absolute cannon for an arm.
“She’s so clutch in the postseason. Last year in our two sectional wins, she came up big. She just comes alive when the pressure is on. She’s her own worst critic and strives for perfection, and I’m super proud of her. We’re seriously going to miss her.”
