DU QUOIN SOFTBALL: Lady Indians Split at Jeff Co. Invite

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Du Quoin High School's Girls Softball team split two games Monday in the 2nd Annual Jefferson County Invitational.

Hosted by Mt. Vernon, the event also included Waltonville/Sesser-Valier and Woodlawn.

After blanking Waltonville/S-V 6-0 in the first game, Du Quoin lost to Class 3A Mt. Vernon 4-0 in game #2.

Now 2-2, the Lady Indians host Goreville at 4:30 Tuesday.

"We are still not hitting like we should but its still early," DHS coach Jason James said. "We have to take better approaches at the plate."

In the opener, Lady Indian junior Chelsea Hill (2-0) tossed her second consecutive shutout. Scattering three hits, she struck out nine and walked just two. All three W/S-V hits were singles.

Hill and Jessica Hirsch each had two hits with Kelsey Toler, Heather Cavins, Micah Ward and Caitlin Williams all hitting safely.

Hill and Cavins each smacked triples.

DHS scored three runs in the third and salted things away with three more tallies in the fifth.

"Chelsea again pitched a very good game and we played good defense behind her," James said.

Against Mt. Vernon, fireballing righthander Kenzie Tate limited Du Quoin to just two hits and struck out eight. Ashley Hess doubled and Kasi Camden managed a single.

Hill (2-1) fanned eight, but walked six. She gave only two hits and allowed two earned runs. Freshman Michaela Brown relieved and pitched a perfect seventh inning.

"Again I thought we played and pitched a decent game," said James. "We just continue to get ourselves out at the plate the same way every time. Our defense has been much improved and was very good again today."

Du Quoin 6, Waltonville/Sesser-Valier 0

W/SV 000 000 0-0 3 2

DHS 003 030 x-6 8 0

Hill and Cavins. WP-Hill, 2-0. TOP HITTERS-Du Quoin: Toler 1-3 (RBI), Hirsch 2-3, Hess (RBI), Cavins 1-3 (3B, RBI), Hill 2-2 (3B), M. Ward 1-3, Williams 1-2 (RBI).

Mt. Vernon 4, Du Quoin 0

Mt. V 000 103 0-4 2 0

DHS 000 000 0-0 2 2

Hill, Brown (7) and Cavins. LP-Hill, 2-1. TOP HITTERS-Du Quoin: Hess 1-3 (2B), Camden 1-3.