SOFTBALL BRAGGIN' RIGHTS: Lady Panthers Extend Victory Streak

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Pinckneyville Community High School's Girls Softball team stretched its latest winning streak to eight games Monday with an alarmingly easy five-inning rout of Perry County rival Du Quoin.

The final score was 11-1 and came barely two weeks removed from the Lady Indians' 3-1 win over PCHS.

Pinckneyville, 18-3, improves to 4-1 in River-to-River Conference Mississippi Division play.

Du Quoin, 9-7 and 3-1, suffered its first league loss.

Tuesday, PCHS visits Sparta while Du Quoin hosts Nashville.

"Pinckneyville just flat out handed it to us," Lady Indians coach Jason James said. "They have been playing really well of late and it showed. They have good pitching, great defense, put the ball in play and just make things happen."

The Lady Panthers struck early and often against DHS ace Chelsea Hill (8-6), scoring five times in the first two frames.

A six-run fifth ended things via the mercy rule.

Du Quoin's lone run came in the top half of the fifth on Micah Ward's RBI single.

Emily Chapman (12-1) spun a four-hitter at the Lady Indians, whiffing five and walking just one.

At the plate, Mandi Kellerman and Nicole Cheek each knocked in three PCHS runs. Emily Miller added a two-run single. Maddy Keith and Elizabeth Wittmer each stroked a pair of safeties.

We came out a lot more focused than the first time against Du Quoin," Lady Panthers coach Greg Hale said. "We had a great all-around game."

Hale also extended thanks to Pinckneyville's ground crew (Randy Ramsey, Ed Hale, Milke Chapman and Bob Baudison for its excellent work in preparing Hale, Pick and Rigdon Fields after persistent rainfall.

PCHS 11, DHS 1

DHS 000 10-1 4 1

PCHS 320 06-11 7 0

Hill and Cavins. Chapman and Cheek. WP-Chapman, 12-1. LP-Hill, 8-6. TOP HITTERS-DHS: Camden 1-2 (2B, RBI), Hess 1-2, Cavins (RBI), Hill 1-2, M. Ward 1-2 (RBI). PCHS: Keith 2-3, Cheek 1-1 (3 RBI), Kellerman 1-3 (3B, 3 RBI), Miller 1-2 (2 RBI), Wittmer 2-3 (RBI). JUNIOR VARSITY-Tied, 0-0.