This is no fish story.
But Aurora Central Catholic pitcher Corina Miller — sadly — has a tale to tell of one that got away.
The sophomore right-hander was pure magic in the circle Friday afternoon in what could only be described as a classic pitching duel with a regional championship on the line.
“Going forward, it’s good that she’s only a sophomore,” ACC coach Mark Pasqualini said. “She pitched under immense pressure for the entire game, basically, and worked out of jams.
“She threw the pitches she needed to get a strikeout or a groundout or a pop-up.”
In the end, though, this one wasn’t Miller’s time.
The Chargers came up on the short end of a 1-0 loss to Richmond-Burton and junior Hailey Holtz in the Class 2A Aurora Central Catholic Regional at Aurora University’s Spartan Athletic Park.
One pitch in the first inning led to the one run that decided one important game, but no one knew the drama that would follow.
“I feel like I trusted my defense a lot (Friday) because we all came ready to play,” Miller said. “Everyone’s heart was in it, and sometimes it just happens that you don’t score.”
it was the first time this season ACC (23-6) was shut out. The Chargers came in averaging 8.8 runs a game.
Miller gave up a single around two groundouts. A double moved the runner to third, and the run scored on an offering deemed a passed ball by some observers, a wild pitch by others.
Holtz, an Iowa State commit, was perfect through four innings before giving up ACC’s only hit, a double to the wall in left-center from senior outfielder Amelia Lohrey.
“It didn’t feel solid off my bat,” Lohrey said. “There are times you hit one out and know it’s gone. This wasn’t one of them.
“It’s 220 to center and 200 to left. If I had turned on it a little more, it might have gone out. I really just hit it to the wrong part of the field.”
Holtz (14-7) finished with nine strikeouts and no walks. She had one runner reach on an error, facing two batters over the minimum.
“She threw a really good riseball,” Lohrey said of Holtz. “Climb the ladder. It’s Softball 101. If you’re gonna swing high at it, they’re going to throw the next one higher.”
Miller, who scattered eight hits, struck out eight and topped 100 for the season. She walked two and hit a batter. She kept working in and out of trouble and ended up stranding 10 runners.
On top of that, she got the third out in five innings with at least one runner in scoring position.
She also relies on the rise.
“In the offseason, I developed the rise,” Miller said. “I feel like that’s been my go-to pitch to get strikeouts.”
For the season, Miller (11-3) finished with 102 strikeouts in 84 2/3 innings after going 7-3 last season with 70 strikeouts in 60 innings.
“I feel like I’ve definitely improved from last year to this year with more innings under my belt,” Miller said. “I’m just glad that Mark trusts me to pitch and I get the opportunity.”
Sophomore first baseman Ashley Moore helped thwart the Rockets in the fourth, grabbing a soft liner on a one-out bunt with two runners on and doubling the runner off second with a throw to sophomore center fielder Grace Grunloh covering.
“I think she was confident the whole game and I thought we were confident in her,” Lohrey said of Miller. “I’m so proud of her getting that 100th strikeout.
“She was in the same spot last year and didn’t have her best game. She threw her best game (Friday) and was amazing. There’s nothing more you can ask from a sophomore.”
