The postseason in high softball is now in full swing as Pinckneyville and Marissa-Coulterville have both secured spots in the regional finals, while Steeleville and Chester’s seasons were ended in the quarterfinal round.
Pinckneyville 5
Murphysboro 0
Pinckneyville secured a spot in the Murphysboro 2A Softball Regional finals with a 5-0 win Tuesday over the host Lady Devils.
Sara Malanowski tossed a four-hit shutout while the Lady Panther offense scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth for the win.
“A tight game, and I have to give credit to my players on keeping focus on the game,” said Pinckneyville coach Greg Hale. We had a great rally in the sixth. Give a lot of credit to Leslie Bridges as she pitched a great game for Murphysboro. Emily Miller and Taylor Cicardi had some clutch hits in the sixth. The name of the game is to advance and not how you did it or when you do it.”
Miller was 2-for-2 in the game with a double and two runs batted in while Mo Ramsey was also a perfect 2-for-2. Dani Jenkel was 1-for-3 with a home run in the win.
With the victory, Pinckneyville improved to 34-1 on the season and advance to the regional final Saturday to face the winner of Anna-Jonesboro and Sparta.
Marissa-Coulterville 9
Elverado 0
Marissa-Coulterville scored nine runs on 10 hits Tuesday to knock off Elverado 9-0 to advance to the Trico 1A Softball Regional final.
The Lady Meteors scored a run in the bottom of the second inning, four in the third, two in the fourth and two in the sixth.
Ashley Lehman picked up the complete game shutout victory as she gave up just four hits while striking out eight.
The Marissa-Coulterville offense was paced by Camille Bumann (3-for-4 with two RBI), Abbie Lehman (1-for-4 with three RBI), Paige Phelps (1-for-4 with a home run and two RBI), Bailey Setzkorn (2-for-4), Sonnie Young (1-for-4 with a RBI) and Kendra Goss (1-for-2 with a RBI).
With the win, the Lady Meteors advance to the regional final Saturday to face the winner of Trico and New Athens.
Murphysboro 3
Chester 0
Chester’s season came to an end Monday in the quarterfinal round of the Murphysboro 2A Softball Regional with a 3-0 loss to the host Lady Devils.
The Lady Jackets were held to just three hits in the loss.
Morgan Colvis was saddled with the defeat, while the offense was led by Megan Atchison (2-for-3) and Taylor Gross (1-for-2).
With the loss, Chester finishes the 2010 campaign with a record of 5-20.
In other softball action, Elverado knocked off Steeleville 16-6 Monday in the quarterfinal round of the Trico 1A Regional.