SOFTBALL: Sparta makes one run hold up vs. DHS
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[DuQuoin High School softball pitcher, Cassidy Rice, pitched well enough to win on Thursday against Sparta. Unfortunately, the DuQuoin offense did not hit very well in the game. Sparta managed to score one run in the first inning and that run held up the entire game as Sparta defeated DuQuoin 1-0.
This game was originally scheduled for Friday, April 15, but was moved up to Thursday because of weather reports indicating that we will have rain on Friday.
In the first inning, Sparta's Jade Vaughn started out with a infield base hit that DuQuoin shortstop Jessica Hirsch made a great play on to keep the ball in the infield, but Vaughn's speed got her on base. Corrie Opolka laid down a nice sacrifice bunt to advance Vaughn to second. Vaughn stole third base, and scored when Jamie Woodworth hit a single giving her the RBI. That run was the only run scored by both teams and the winning run for Sparta.
The winning pitcher for Sparta was Alexis Kohrs. Kohrs pitched all seven innings for Sparta allowing no runs on two hits, had 5 strikeouts and 2 walks. Cassidy Rice was the losing pitcher for DuQuoin allowing one earned run, 4 hits, had 11 strikeouts, and only 1 walk. Rice's record is 10-3.
DuQuoin only had two hits and both were by Jessica Hirsch. Hirsch had a single in the fourth inning and another single in the seventh. She also had a sacrifice bunt in the first. In the first inning DuQuoin moved a runner to second, but could not score in the inning. Another runner (Hirsch) got on in the seventh, but DuQuoin was unable to advance her.
Other players seeing action for the Indians were Kelsey Toler, Kelsey Robinson, Hadley Marek, Cassidy Rice, Magen Edwards, Cassidy Hill, Aubrey Davis, Ashley Ward, Jessy Wallace, and Curry Emling. The Indians are 13-4 overall and 0-3 in conference play.
Coach Jason James said "this was about what we expected--one run was important. That was the big run in the game. We just didn't put the ball in play with anything on it. Sparta executed when they needed to. We have to regroup and come back strong."
DuQuoin plays next on Monday, April 18, at home against Carterville (4:30).