The Road to East Peoria: Lady Panthers open Carterville Sectional

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Four teams with a glittering combined won-loss record of 112-26-resume the chase for East Peoria Wednesday as the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Class 2A sectional begins at the Tri-C Elelmentary School softball complex in Carterville.

The first semifnal is Wednesday at 4:30 when pre-tourney favorite Pinckneyville (35-1) is challenged by Herrin (20-12).

Powerful Johnston City (32-3) plays Waterloo's Gibault Catholic (25-5) Thursday. The finals are Saturday morning.

"At this time of year you cannot overlook anyone," said retiring Pinckneyville coach Greg Hale (27th year, 675-209-2).

The Lady Panthers stretched their winning streak to 18 with a heart-stopping 3-2 win over Anna-Jonesboro at the Murphysboro regional.

A hard smash to third base by Taylor Cicardi scored the deciding run in the final inning, scoring Kortney Crawford.

Herrin defeated host Benton to win its 24th regional crown-but first under current coach Jennifer Cobin-last week by a 12-4 count.

Cobin, a prep star at Elverado and former assistant coach for Du Quoin-survived a semifinal scare from Zeigler-Royalton/Christopner to reach the regional finals.

The Lady Tigers then weathered a slow start against Benton before putting things away with a five-run fifth.

Herrin's young Lady Tigers squad relies on a pitching rotation of Taylor Winn, Alyssa Russell and Katie Russell.

Pribble, Emily Cripps and Jessica Lloyd are the top offensive threats.

Hale rotates undfeated Sarah Malanowski (17-0) Emily Chapman (15-1) and Kelsey Cicardi (3-1) in the pitching circle.

PCHS has nine batters hovering around or exceeding the .400 mark in its hard-hitting line-up. Kortney Crawford, Maddy Keith and Mo Ramsey,

"We've had an exceptional hitting team this year," Hale admits. "But the pitching and defense have also been very, very solid. This has really been a team effort."

2010 marks the 11th season Pinckneyville has posted 30 or more wins under Hale. They've won 19 regionals, nine sectionals and seven state tourney trophies. There have been 24 years of 20-plus wins since 1983.

Longtime assistant coach Mike Cheek was named last month by the Pinckneyville Community High School District #101 Board of Education to succeed Hale.

Gibault (25-5) upset Columbia in the regional finals and features highly-touted all-state pitcher Emily Morris. Johnston City is led at the plate by LSU signee Kaley Coonce (P-DP).