Girls Prep Softball: Lady Panthers off to 4-0 start

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[A busy first week of the regular season ended productively for Pinckneyville Community High School's girls softball squad.

The Lady Panthers are 4-0 following wins over Okawville (13-3), Breese Mater Dei (7-4) and Red Bud (5-3).

Monday, PCHS is scheduled to visit Wesclin.

"I would like to see a reduction in the runs we are allowing," Lady Panthers coach Greg Hale said. "This might be the difference in us having a really good season. Overall, though, when you start 4-0 you've got to be happy."

In the rout over Okawville, the Lady Panthers had 11 hits in the six-inning affair Mo Ramsey going 4-for-4 and Emily Chapman adding two safeties. Emily Miller knocked in three runs,

Chapman (1-0) and Sara Malanowski combined for the mound win.

Saturday at the annual "Panther Spring Fling," PCHS opened with a tough 5-3 win over Red Bud,

Kelsey Cicardi (1-0) took the win with a six-hitter. Taylor Cheek and Malanowski each had two-hit games.

Malanowski (2-0) went the distance in the win over Class 3A Mater Dei, scattering six hits. Kortney Crawford hit a two-run homer with Dani Jenkel going 2-for-3 at the plate. Maddy Keith knocked in two runs.