The Road to East Peoria: Lady Falcons win 1A opener
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Elverado High School's softball team advanced into a semifinal match against top-seeded Marissa-Coulterville, dispatching Steeleville 16-6 in Monday's "play-n" game at the Trico Class 1A Regional.
At 4:30 Tuesday, the Lady Falcons (11-17) play M-C.
"We hit the ball extremely hard all game," Elverado coach Donette Wheatley said. "But we are going to need to do a better job defensively."
Elverado had a dozen hits in the six-inning affair, ending things on a two-run double by Sami Hicks.
Courtney Morse had three hits for the Lady Falcons and scoed three times with Hicks (five RBI), Rachel Huniker and Kelsi Teague contributing two safeties. Corrine Wilson, Morse and Meghan Trammel all scored three times.
Wilson (4-4) was the winning pitcher, striking out three in four innings of work after relieving Teague.
"Defensively we'v e got to do a batter job if we want to beat Marissa," Wheatley admitted. "We have to play focused the entrre and eliminate some of the base running mistakes we've had. If we play like we are capable, we can win."