SOFTBALL: Steeleville no match for Lady Panthers
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Pinckneyville erupted for 18 runs on Thursday at Steeleville for their ninth straight win to begin the 2011 season, an 18-0 shutout of the Lady Warriors.
Taylor Cicardi (4-4, 2B, HR, 2 R, 4 RBI) and Mo Ramsey (3-3, 3B, 2 R, 3 RBI) had huge days at the plate, and along with Emily Chapman (1-3, HR, R, 3 RBI) the trio combined to drive in ten of PCHS's runs in the game.
Sara Malanowski (5-0) was the winning pitching, giving up two hits, two walks and striking out three Steeleville batters. Malanowski was also 2-for-2 at the plate with an RBI and three runs scored.
"Cicardi had a great day at the plate, hitting a three-run homer in her last at-bat," said Panthers' head coach Mike Cheek. "Malanowski pitched well, our defense was solid, and our hitting was excellent."
Contributions were made throughout the lineup with nine different Lady Panthers recording hits. In addition to Cicardi, Ramsey, Chapman and Malanowski, Maddy Keith (2-4, 2 R, RBI), Melia Bathon (1-1, R), Shersty Stanton (1-3), Taylor Kuhnert (2-3, 2B, 2 R, RBI) and Dani Jenkel (2-2, 3 R, RBI) also reached base safely.
Pinckneyville (9-0) will take on Vienna on Friday at 4:30 p.m. at home as part of this weekend's Panther Softball Invitational.
If PCHS is victorious, they will play again on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. against Fairfield. If not, they will fall into the loser's bracket against either Lebanon or Johnston City at 11:30 a.m.
Semifinals on Saturday are scheduled for 1:00 p.m. with the championship set for approximately 5:30 p.m.