SOFTBALL: DHS clinches share of Mississippi with win at Nashville
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[WOW! Fantastic! Superb! Great! Those are just a few adjectives to describe the softball game between the DuQuoin Indians and Nashville Hornettes on Monday evening. The Indians got a big win over the Hornettes 3-2 in seven innings. This win puts DuQuoin in the lead for the Conference championship, and assures them of at least a tie.
The Anna-Jonesboro game on Friday is the clincher. If DuQuoin wins over A-J, they will win the Conference outright. Nashville has Sparta left to play this week.
Nashville had defeated DuQuoin 5-0 when the Hornettes played in DuQuoin, but this time the Indians came out on the winning end of a very tight game. For the first four innings, the game was tied 0-0. DuQuoin took the lead in the top of the fifth inning. With two outs, Jessica Hirsch singled. Aubrey Davis followed with another single. Kelsey Robinson smashed one down the left field line for a double, scoring both Hirsch and Davis. Robinson's two RBI put DuQuoin ahead.
Nashville answered with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Hannah Yung singled, and Briah Winchester hit a home run to tie the game. In the top of the seventh, DuQuoin's Katrina Whitley hit a double. Aubrey Davis singled her in to score the winning run.
Nashville threatened to score in the bottom of the seventh. Nashville's Shaye Harre hit a ball to left field that looked like a hit, until DuQuoin's Magen Edwards chased it down. That catch was a game saver, as the next hitter for Nashville got a single. The next Nashville hitter struck out to end the game.
DuQuoin's Alexis Kohrs pitched an outstanding game. She allowed 2 runs (earned), 6 hits, had 2 walks, and 8 strikeouts. Her record is 14-1. Her only loss was the first game with Nashville. This was her redemption game.
DuQuoin Coach Jason James commented about Kohrs, "Kohrs was lights out today. She threw very well. We changed our philosophy a little from the last time we played Nashville. We pitched to everyone, and it worked out well for us."
The losing pitcher for Nashville was Maci Ingram. Her stats were very close to Kohrs' stats. Ingram allowed 3 runs (earned), 5 hits, had two walks, and 8 strikeouts.
DuQuoin's record is now 26-2 and 8-1 in the Conference. Nashville is now 18-2 and 7-2 in the Conference.
DuQuoin had 3 errors in the game, while Nashville committed two errors.
DuQuoin had five hits in the contest. Jessica Hirsch was 1-4. Aubrey Davis was 2-4 with an RBI. Davis knocked in the winning run in the seventh inning. Kelsey Robinson was 1-4 with a double, and two RBI. Robinson's hit put DuQuoin ahead 2-0. Katrina Whitley was 1-2 with a double. Other Indians in the game were: Cassidy Rice, Alexis Kohrs, Hadley Marek, Magen Edwards, Amanda Williams, Abby Myers, and Kate Toler was the flex on defense.
Coach Jason James continued, "The inning where we scored two runs--Robinson got a big two-run hit for us. Katrina Whitley got a big hit in the seventh inning, and Aubrey Davis put the ball in play and made something happen. It was a heck of a ball game. I am so proud of the girls."
Coach James is assisted by Jacob Emling and Lonnie James.
There is a JV game at Herrin on Wednesday. The biggest game of the softball season is at home with Anna-Jonesboro on Friday. This game is huge for the Indians if they want to win the Conference on their own. Losing the game may mean sharing the title with Nashville, provided that Nashville beats Sparta this week.
DuQuoin did beat A-J earlier in the season at Anna (2-1). Either way, the 2012 Softball Indians have made history. This is the first Conference Championship (tied or outright) for any DuQuoin High School Softball Team in the 35 years of the sport. We have "come a long way baby!"
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