SOFTBALL: DHS's Rice one-hits Harrisburg
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The DuQuoin High School Softball Team was to play in a three-team tournament at Harrisburg on Saturday, but the rainy weather allowed only one game to be played. The first game of the morning had DuQuoin playing Harrisburg. DuQuoin won the game 4-1. DuQuoin's record is now 19-9 and 1-8 in the conference. The conference game with Anna-Jonesboro was rained out on Friday.
DuQuoin scored first in the third inning. Kelsey Toler tripled to right field. Jessica Hirsch then had an infield single to score Toler. With Hirsch on base, Kelsey Robinson hit a home run to center field. Then in the sixth inning DuQuoin scored again. Hailey Stewart reached on an error. Ashley Ward singled to center field. Jessy Wallace reached on a bunt to load the bases. Kelsey Toler walked to score Stewart. Harrisburg's lone run was scored in the fourth inning on a pass ball.
Cassidy Rice (16-8) was the winning pitcher. She went all seven innings allowing only one hit, one run (unearned), had 3 walks, and 10 strikeouts. Harrisburg's only hit was a lead off double in the first inning.
Coach Jason James thought, "Rice threw very well today, and again we came up with some timely hits."
DuQuoin had ten hits in the game. Kelsey Toler was 1-3, a triple with 1 RBI. Jessica Hirsch was 2-4 with an RBI. Kelsey Robinson was 1-4, a home run with 2 RBI. Hadley Marek was 2-4. Magen Edwards was 1-3. Hailey Stewart scored a run. Ashley Ward was 1-3, and Jessy Wallace was 1-3.
Coach James commented on DuQuoin's hitting: "I really thought we took better swings today, and we will have to keep it up come regional time. We will have to continue to come out focused and ready to go from the very start. We really have to back and support each other the rest of the way. We have to play all the way until that final out."
DuQuoin plays at Highland on Monday, and begins regional play on Wednesday at Waltonville. DuQuoin plays Pinckneyville at 4:30.