SOFTBALL: DMS beats rain, Johnston City to advance
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[DuQuoin Middle School Softball had two opponents to deal with on Thursday in the Murphysboro Regional--the weather and Johnston City. The rain came down the entire seven innings of the game--everything from drizzle to a heavier rain.
The field became very wet and sticky--the consistency of peanut butter. But the Warriors overcame the conditions and the Johnston City Indians. DMS won the game 7-5. The team's record is now 17-4, and the victory advances the Warriors into the Regional Championship on Monday.
Jordyn Bullar was the winning pitcher inflating her record to 15-2. It was difficult to pitch in the weather conditions as the ball became very wet and hard to control. Bullar pitched all seven innings allowing 5 runs (all earned), 5 hits, had 7 walks, 6 strikeouts, and one hit batter. One of those hits was a massive home run by Johnston City's Bailee Pulley with one on. The ball cleared the centerfield fence like a bullet.
The losing pitcher for Johnston City was Jazmyn Davis. Davis pitched all seven innings allowing 7 runs (5 earned), 7 hits, had two walks, two hit batters, and 6 strikeouts.
Johnston City scored one run in the first inning on a walk and a hit to go ahead. DuQuoin scored three in the top of the second to take the lead. Nikki Ridgeway walked, followed by a Harley Dearmond strike out, and Timbra Mansfield doing the same. The catcher dropped the third strike, and Mansfield make it to first base.
Alaina Caldwell drove in Ridgeway with a single. Kat Robison drove in Mansfield and Caldwell with a big double. Johnston City scored two runs in the bottom of the second without a hit. There were four walks and a hit batter.
DuQuoin took the lead in the third inning, scoring two more on hits by Hannah Marek and Jordyn Bullar. Brittany Clark hit both of them in with a single. DuQuoin scored two more runs in the fourth inning on a double by Alaina Caldwell followed by Kat Robison being hit by a pitch, and a beautiful sacrifice bunt by Sydney Lewis to move the runners. Jordyn Bullar was hit by a pitch, and Brittany Clark singled to score two runs. Johnston City scored two runs in the fifth on a home run by Pulley with a runner on.
DuQuoin was winning 7-5 going into the bottom of the seventh inning. The first batter was called out for being out of the batter's box when contact is made. The next batter walked followed by a single. Kat Robinson caught a fly ball, and Bullar struck out the final batter to win the game.
DuQuoin advances to the Regional final on Monday at 4:00. Their opponent is unknown at this time because the second game between West Frankfort (#1 seed) and Murphysboro (#4 seed) was rained out. That game was moved to Friday weather permitting.
DuQuoin had seven hits in the contest. Sydney Lewis was 0-3, but had a beautiful sacrifice bunt to advance runners into scoring position in the fourth inning. Hannah Marek was 1-4. Jordyn Bullar was 1-3 with a double and an RBI. Brittany Clark had a terrific day at the plate going 2-3 with 3 RBI. Alaina Caldwell was 2-3 with an RBI. Kat Robison was 1-2 with a double and two RBI.
Caldwell and Robison, who are in the bottom of the lineup, really helped the Warriors' cause. Other Warriors in the game were: Grace Haney, Nikki Ridgeway, Harley Dearmond, Timbra Mansfield, and Emily Born was the flex on defense.
Several Warriors made some great defensive plays in the game. In the first inning, Emily Born made a spectacular catch in right field on her shoestrings. Both Sydney Lewis (center) and Alaina Caldwell (left) made some good catches in the outfield to save runs. DuQuoin had no errors in the game, while Johnston City committed one. Playing error free ball in the rain is a great feat.
Coach Jason James was quite excited about the win. "I am very pleased, and very happy with the girls' performance today. I thought we kept our composure very well when we let them back into the game, and they tied it at three each. Two more days of practice, and we play again on Monday."
DuQuoin is scheduled (weather permitting) to play on Monday at 4:00 at Murphysboro High School.