DMS softball wins Jaycees Tournament
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ The DuQuoin Jaycees have sponsored a middle school softball tournament for the past nine years. The Jaycees also purchase the team trophies for the tournament. On Saturday, the DuQuoin Middle School softball team earned the first place trophy with wins over District #204 and Elverado.
The Warriors played #204 in the first game of the morning. The Tigers, coached by Bryant Hale, gave DuQuoin a battle in this game. The final score was 5-3 with DuQuoin being the victor. Marisa Ferguson went the distance on the pitching rubber. In seven innings, she allowed three runs (2 earned), allowed 5 hits, struck out 7, and walked none. Ferguson's record is now 7-3. DuQuoin had a good hitting day with eleven hits. Amber Williams was 2/4, 2b; Amanda Atteberry 3/4; Marisa Ferguson 1/3, 2 RBI; Abby Doerr 2/4, 2 RBI; Nikki Ridgeway 2/3; Hannah Marek 1/3.
DuQuoin's record is 7-3 overall and 5-0 in the conference. Coach Jason James thought his team played well. "We struggled making adjustments at the plate, but came up with some big hits when we needed them to pull out the win. We turned a very nice 3-6-4 double play, and we are really doing a better job of understanding the game. DuQuoin then moved into the championship game in the afternoon.
Elverado and Christopher squared off in the second game of the tournament. Elverado got through with a 10-9 (7 innings) win. The third game was between #204 and Christopher. District #204 Tigers took the third place trophy with a decisive win (15-5) over Christopher in six innings.
DuQuoin then faced Elverado for the championship. Coach James pitched three different players in this game. Ferguson started and went four innings getting the win. She allowed no runs, no hits, had three strikeouts and 3 walks. Kat Robison pitched two innings allowing no runs, no hits, and had one strikeout. Emily Born finished the game pitching one inning, allowing 2 runs (1 earned), no hits, and two walks. The three pitchers combined to throw a no hitter for DMS.
DuQuoin hitting: Amanda Atteberry 2/3, 2 RBI; Alaina Caldwell 1/1; Abby Doerr 1/3; Kat Robison RBI; Jacqueline Harsy 1/3, RBI; Brittany Clark RBI; Nikki Ridgeway 3/3, 2 RBI; Hanna Marek 1/3, RBI.
Other players seeing action were Amber Williams, Harley Dearmond, Sydney Lewis, Carissa Graham, Andrea Morgan, Timbra Mansfield, Jennifer Taylor, Ivy Nessa, and Sadie Day.
DuQuoin's record moves to 8-3 and 5-0 in the conference. Coach James stated he was "very proud of the girls and the way they work to improve every time out!"
"I expect and demand a lot out of them, and they are starting to come around. We will have to continue to work hard and really build on this momentum."
DuQuoin plays at home on Tuesday against conference team Sparta (4:00).
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