Pictured in front are Kaitlyn Kalata, Faith Stoddard and Jovanna DelaTorre. Pictured in the second row are Hannah Galvan, Alexis Zepeda and Jaelyn Kammes. Pictured in the third row are Gabby Villalobos, Hannah Ormond, Savannah Moore and Megan Reineck.

ROCK FALLS — Rochelle’s 10-11 Softball All-Star team saved itself an extra trip on Monday by sweeping Rock Falls in the first two games of a best-of-three series on Saturday.

Now the team gets to take a trip to state.

Thanks to its 15-13 and 20-19 wins, along with a lack of opponents at the sectional level, Rochelle will advance straight from the district level to the final four in Oglesby, where they will play Calhoun County on Saturday, July 31.

“It’s exciting to see the girls play so well after struggling with some of the teams the last few years,” said coach Greg Stoddard, who was assisted by Kristen Buck. “They played hard against Rock Falls and they’re exited about going to state.”

Hannah Galvin pitched all six innings in Rochelle’s 15-13 win. Rochelle scored six runs in the third inning and Jovanna DelaTorre, Galvin, Kaitlyn Kalata, Alexis Zepeda and Jaelyn Kammes all had key hits in the game.

In the second game, DelaTorres pitched the final five innings as Rochelle gradually climbed out of an early three-run hole. Faith Stoddard scored five runs, DelaTorre scored three and Galvan scored the eventual winning run in the top of the sixth. Megan Reineck added a hit.

“The scoreboard doesn’t reflect it, but we played pretty good defense,” Stoddard said. “We were able to keep it close and pulled ahead late.”