BASEBALL BRAGGIN' RIGHTS: Cushman Dominant as Tribe Rolls
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ While it pales in comparison to the long streak ended by Du Quoin High School softball Tuesday, the Indians' baseball team also broke through against its traditional rival.
A 10-0, six-inning whitewash of Pinckneyville (3-6, 0-1) gave Du Quoin its first diamond victory against the Panthers since the Class A Sectional finals in 2006.
The six-game skid was ended early as the Tribe plated three unearned runs in the opening inning against Pinckneyville mound ace Matt Gill (1-1).
Setting the stage for a day of frustration, Pinckneyville committed a pair of key errors in the first frames sandwiched around Josh Cushman's two-RBI single.
For the game, PCHS had five miscues and walked seven Du Quoin batters.
"Of their first six runs five of the six were hit batters or from walks," Pinckneyville coach Alan Engelhardt said. "They didn't gash us to death as far as hitting the ball. We had a lot of self-inflicted wounds there."
The early cushion was more than plenty for Indian mound leader Cushman, 2-1.
Allowing just singles to Michael Rakers and Gill, Cushman whiffed 12 and didn't issue a walk. Pinckneyville had just four base runners.
Cushman faced only 20 batters in the six-inning affair.
"Josh was outstanding on the mound today," Indians coach Tim Craft said. "He was consistently ahead of the hitters and very efficient with his pitches."
Du Quoin managed eight hits against Gill and reliever Garrick Hale, six coming from the trio of J.C. Davis, Ethan Beasley and Cushman. Colin Jones added a two-run single in the sixth. Garrett Hopkins and Seth Flint also hit safely.
"We did not have that many hits," admitted Craft. "But our hitters were patient at the plate and hit their pitches when they got them. We just need to keep this level of intensity every game on the field and in the dugout."
The Indians sent Trent Bigham (1-0) to the mound for Wednesday's game at Freeburg. Pinckneyville hosts Sparta Thursday.
Pinckneyville and Du Quoin pushed back the junior varsity game until Wednesday. The contest will be held at the Ballpark at DHS. Start time is 4:30.
Du Quoin 10, Pinckneyville 0
PCHS 000 000-0 2 5
DHS 310 033-10 8 0
Gill, Hale (5) and Rakers. Cushman and Jones. WP-Cushman, 2-1. LP-Gill, 1-1. TOP HITTERS-PCHS: Gill 1-3, Rakers 1-3. DHS: Bastien 1-1 (RBI), Hopkins 1-4 (RBI), Beasley 2-3 (2B, RBI), Cushman 2-4 (2B, 2 RBI), Davis 2-3 (RBI), Flint 1-4, Jones 1-2 (2 RBI). JUNIOR VARSITY-cancelled, wet grounds.