DU QUOIN SOFTBALL: Lady Indians Keep on Fighting

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Du Quoin High School's Girls Softball team rallied from three seperate deficits to win its third consecutive game Wednesday afternoon.

The Lady Indians-connecting for a season's best 14 hits-held back host West Frankfort 9-7 at Lazzeri Memorial Field, improving their record to 5-3.

Thursday, weather permitting, the Lady Indians host 1,300-student Wauconda at 4:30 p.m.

"This was very nice to come out and get a win," Lady Indians coach Jason James said. "We could have folded on a several occasions but we kept on battling. I am very proud of these girls for not getting down and bouncing back in every inning."

Du Quoin lost leads of 1-0, 3-2 and 6-4 but finally went ahead for good with two runs in the top of the seventh inning.

Heather Cavins reached on an error to begin the rally and raced to second on a Frankfort overthrow. Courtesy runner Erica Rainwater then moved to third on Chelsea Hill's single. Megan Edwards then stroked an RBI single to put Du Quoin up 8-7.

Caitlin Williams' knocked home an important insurance tally, making the score 9-7, with another RBI hit.

Chelsea Hill (5-2) pitched out of a bases loaded jam in the Frankfort half of the seventh to secure the victory. Hill scattered seven hits and struck out nine, but struggled with an uncharacteristic nine walks.

"Chelsea really didn't have her best stuff but she kept her head up and stayed after it," James said of his junior pitching ace. Hill allowed just three earned runs.

At the plate, Edwards went 4-for-4 and knocked in three runs.

Kelsey Toler and Kasi Camden (three RBI) doubled twice.

Cavins added two hits. Ashley Hess tripled.

Eight of the nine spots in the Lady Indian batting order produced at least one safety.

"We really came out and hit the ball today," James said. "Again I liked our focus at the plate. The girls have worked very hard and their hitting gets better and better every time out."

Saturday, the Lady Indians host defending Class 2A State Champion Carterville and Harrisburg in a round-robin at Lefty Pyle Field.

Play starts at 10 a.m.

Du Quoin 9, W. Frankfort 7

DHS 100 231 2-9 14 1

WF 011 230 0-7 7 3

Hill and Cavins. WP-Hill, 5-2. TOP HITTERS-Du Quoin: K. Toler 2-4 (2 2B, RBI), Hess 1-3 (3B), Hirsch 1-4, Camden 2-3 (2-2B, 3 RBI), Cavins 2-4 (2-2B, RBI), Hill 1-4, Edwards 4-4 (3 RBI), Williams 1-3 (RBI).