SIJHSAA Regionals: Defending Champions Advance

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Despite windy, dusty and unseasonably cool temperatures, Du Quoin (Middle School) survived the elements to again reach the Southern Illinois Junior High School Athletic Association (SIJHSAA) Region III Regional finals.

The Warriors, 19-3, needed just five innings to dispatch host West Frankfort (Central Junior High School) 11-1 in the first of tow semifinal games on Dink Broy Field.

Johnston City (Middle School) worked nine innings to eliminate Herrin (Junior High School) 6-5 in the nightcap.

At 4:30 Tuesday, the Warriors and Indians clash for the regional crown.

"We had a pretty good day all around," DMS coach Tim Craft said. "We are one game away from another of our goals, winning a regional championship. But we will have to play a good game. Johnston City is a very solid and well-coached team."

Against Frankfort, DMS pitcher Camden Youngman tossed a one-hitter with four strikeouts. The lone hit was an RBI bloop single in the opening inning.

Youngman also paced the offense with two hits and a pair of RBI. Dalton Bigham added two hits and an RBI. Brenden Shepard was 2-for-2 with a run-scoring double.

Jacob Valier was the fourth Warrior to record two safeties.

Camden Mercier doubled and Spencer Cook smacked a two-run single.

"Camden did a good job of throwing strikes and we did a good job of making plays behind him," said Craft. "The bottom of the lineup did a great job today and we hit well with runners on base."

Johnston City improved its record to 17-4 while setting a school record for wins in a season. The second-seeded Indians will face top-seeded Du Quoin in a rematch of last year's regional title game at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. Du Quoin is the defending Class L State Champion.

"Du Quoin is a very good hitting team and sound in all phases of the game," J'City coach Trevor Clark said. "We're going to have to play one of our best games of the season."

to come away with the win, and we're capable of doing that."

-Bruce Marsan contributed