EAST PEORIA — Taylor Norkus almost wasn’t a Beecher Bobcat. When she was in middle school, Norkus and her parents had a decision to make.
Norkus was a talented pitcher, but at Beecher, she would likely be behind Ava Lorenzatti, who was in the same 2026 class and even back then was considered one of the top pitchers in the country.
“There was an opportunity for me to go to a different school,” Norkus said. “We passed it up and this is where we are now. I’m so grateful for that.”
So is Beecher, especially after Norkus’ heroics Monday.
The junior pitcher earned the win in relief and delivered a two-out, walk-off single in the 10th inning, sending the Bobcats back to state with a 4-3 win over Brimfield/Elmwood in the Class 2A East Peoria Supersectional at the EastSide Centre.
Norkus, a Colgate recruit, threw the final 4 2/3 innings without allowing a run. She struck out eight and scattered five hits.
Northern Kentucky commit Makenzie Johnson went 2-for-5 with an RBI double and Lorenzatti, a Florida State recruit, added an RBI double for Beecher (35-2). Carmela Irwin singled and drew a walk, while Rockford commit Tayiah Scanlan made two key catches in left field.
The Bobcats will take on Auburn (24-5) at 5:30 p.m. Friday in the state semifinals at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria. Beecher, which clinched the eighth state trophy in program history, will play in the Final Four for the second time in three years after last season’s supersectional loss.
“I’m so excited,” Johnson said. “Last year, we came up short down here against Rockridge. That hurt. This season, we knew this was our year. We needed to make it back.
“We weren’t going down again like we did last year.”
Norkus has pitched terrifically all season, but her batting has been inconsistent. Her average is .289, she was hitless in her last five games and she wasn’t in Monday’s starting lineup.
But when she came up with the bases loaded and two outs in the 10th, she was ready to break some hearts for Brimfield/Elmwood (33-4).
“My mind was just like, ‘Hit the ball — the game has to end somehow,’” Norkus said. “There was a lot of pressure, but I just really wanted to do it for my team.”
Norkus then ripped a single up the middle to start the celebration for the Bobcats.
“Her pitching has been amazing, but hitting … we didn’t know which Taylor we were going to get,” Johnson said. “Line drive base hit up the middle to walk us off. It was great. She’s amazing.”
Beecher coach Kevin Hayhurst, who celebrated after the game with a lime snow cone he got from a food truck at the stadium, was definitely proud of Norkus.
“That was really nice to see,” Hayhurst said. “She didn’t start the game. She didn’t pout. She was ready to go. She’s a team player.”
When it comes to pitching, Norkus has certainly taken a backseat to Lorenzatti in past years.
But this season, she has appeared in 25 games to Lorenzatti’s 21. Norkus is 17-1 with a 1.03 ERA and Lorenzatti is 18-1 with a 1.48 ERA.
Norkus also has had plenty of motivation. Before the season, she knew that, if she was going to get more than a few pitching chances, she was going to have to earn them.
“You know you really have to be good,” Norkus said. “You have to take after her footsteps. There can’t be a hole in the pitching staff. I try to fill that.”
Lorenzatti was terrific through five innings Monday, allowing just one hit as Beecher took a 3-0 lead. But Brimfield/Elmwood started hitting her in the sixth, rallying to tie the game,
Norkus was there to help. What a duo.
“We really have each other’s backs,” Norkus said. “I didn’t expect to have this big of a role this season, but it feels amazing.”
