SOFTBALL: Falcons handle Relics
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The Pinckneyville Falcons mens' fastpitch softball team improved to 20-8 overall for their 2011 season with a two-game sweep of the Pinckneyville Relics on Wednesday night at Greg Hale Field.
Bryant Hale shut down the Relics to pick up the pitching victory in game one, an 8-1 triumph for the Falcons. Catcher Adam Barczewski homered in the game in his first at-bat playing fastpitch softball.
Barczewski (1-3, HR), Hale (1-1, HR), and Brandon Hardin (2-3) led the Falcons on offense. Brian Kellerman took the loss for the Relics.
In game two, Lyle Winter took the circle and shut out the Relics 9-0 as Hardin, Jay McCrary, Derek Beninati and Haven Hicks all finished with two hits for the Falcons.
Mike O'Rear was the losing pitcher.
The Falcons improved to 8-0 in the Southern Illinois Fastpitch League and will take on winless Makanda (0-6) in their next league matchup on June 15.
In other SIFL action, Pete's Blues split two games with the Scheller Dirtbags with Pete's taking game one 7-1, Scheller claiming the second 14-7.
Next up for the Pinckneyville Falcons is the 2011 Kelso Klassic beginning this Friday in Kelso, MO. The Falcons meet St. Louis at 8:00 p.m. in opening round action.