SOFTBALL BRAGGIN' RIGHTS: Lady Indians Solve Pinckneyville
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ While its way too early to call it a season-maker or even a signature victory, the Du Quoin High School Girls Softball team ended a long and frustrating streak Tuesday afternoon.
The Lady Indians (7-5, 1-0) opened River-to-River Conference play by defeating perennial powerhouse-and Mississippi Division nemesis Pinckneyville- 3-1 at Lefty Pyle Field.
Its the first win for Du Quoin against the Lady Panthers in at least 20 seasons. Pinckneyville, fresh off winning its own Lady Panther Invitational Tournament three days prior, is 8-1 and 0-1.
"This was a very impressive win for the girls and our program," Lady Indians coach Jason James said. "This shows what we are capable of. I just can't stress how excited and proud I am of these ladies."
Du Quoin junior pitching ace Chelsea Hill (6-4) worked seven strong innings against Pinckneyville's potent offense, allowing just two hits and an unearned run. She struck out five and walked just one while surrendering only a second inning tally.
Maddy Keith poked a two-out single and raced all the way around the bases on a throwing error by the Lady Indians to gain the early advantage.
Du Quoin bounced quickly back, knotting things at 1-1 against PCHS starter Sara Malanowski.
Megan Edwards stroked a one-out triple and came home on freshman Megi Jones' RBI grounder.
In the third, the Lady Indians added two key insurance runs.
Ashley Hess singled to rightfield and was promptly sacrificed to second by Kasi Camden. Heather Cavins then singled, moving Hess to third.
Another freshman-Erica Rainwater-courtesy ran for Cavins and swiped second base.
Hess was picked off third on a dandy throw from Lady Panther catcher Nicole Cheek for the second out, but Hill reached on an error and Jones drew a walk.
Singles from Edwards and Curry Emling pushed the two runs across, giving Hill more than ample breathing room.
"We came up with some big two-out hits from Edwards and Emling and Megi Jones did a good job to put the ball play and drive in the first run," James said. "Pinckneyville is very good program and I respect coach (Greg) Hale a ton. Its very nice to get a win against a program like that."
Du Quoin will battle another of the area's softball elite Wednesday, playing a 4:30 game at Johnston City. Pinckneyville visits Sparta Thursday before a busy weekend at the Marshall Co., Ky. Slugfest.
"Du Quoin deserved to win," Hale said. "They out-played us in every phase of the game."
Edwards had the only multi-hit day among the two teams Tuesday, going 2-for-2.
Du Quoin 3, Pinckneyville 1
PCHS 010 000 0-1 2 3
DHS 012 000 x-3 6 3
Malanowski, Chapman (3) and Cheek. Hill and Cavins. WP-Hill, 6-4. LP-Malanowski, 1-1. TOP HITTERS-PCHS: Cheek 1-2, Keith 1-3. Du Quoin: Toler 1-4, Hess 1-3, Cavins 1-3, Edwards 2-2 (RBI), Jones (RBI), Emling 1-3.