Steeleville powers past Cobden into sectional final

Posted May 28, 2016 11:00 pm

By Pete Spitler Staff Writer

DU QUOIN -- Steeleville came to hit, Cobden did not seem to have much of a chance.

Mackenzie Pim hit a home run, double and drove in five RBIs as part of a 10-run first inning, and Steeleville routed Cobden, 17-2, on Saturday in the semifinals of the Class 1A Cobden Sectional.

With the sectional moved to Du Quoin because of heavy rain, Steeleville didn't show any rust after two days of cancellations.

The start of Saturday's contest was moved back three hours because of rain overnight.

"I think it was really big for us starting off early," said Pim, who finished a triple short of the cycle on a 3-for-4 performance. "If somebody gets a good hit, everybody else follows up.

"We're pretty good at staying up after that."

The Lady Warriors (23-7) added another run in the third on a solo homer by pitcher Sydney Hood, who also picked up the win in the circle.

Steeleville plated another run in the third and chalked up five more in the fifth before Cobden scratched across two runs in the bottom of the inning.

"Once somebody gets a hit, it seems like hitting is contagious," said Steeleville coach Andy Gerlach. "We get on a roll like that, we can score some runs."

Four players - Pim, Hood, Lexi Middendorf and Sydnie Furman - finished with three or more hits for Steeleville, which chased Cobden starter Meredith Flamm (8-4) from the circle after only a third of an inning.

In total, Steeleville sent 14 batters to the plate in its 20-minute first inning. Pim's homer was her sixth of the season, second only to Middendorf's 10 on the team.

"We wanted to start off that game with a lot of energy," Gerlach said. "It's fun to watch when they are hitting well like that."

Despite the score, Cobden (14-12) did have its chances. Hood pitched out of a one-out, bases-loaded jam in the fourth by getting Sara Millis to strike out looking and Flamm to hit into a 1-3 putout.

Hood allowed six hits and struck out five to improve to 23-7 in the circle.

Steeleville moves on to face Trico (29-2) tomorrow in the sectional championship, also at Du Quoin. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.

Both teams were ranked in the Illinois Coaches Association's final Class 1A poll of the season. Trico was ranked seventh, while Steeleville was 17th.

"We respect Trico a lot," Pim said. "We know they're a good team and we're going to do what we have to do."

As for Cobden, the Appleknockers - a softball power in the mid-to-late 2000s - was making its first sectional appearance since 2010. Steeleville was making its first ever.

"I've never seen an inning like that all season long, but I'm proud of the girls for having a great season because we haven't been this far in the playoffs in seven years," said Cobden coach Michele Burris.

The winner of Monday's contest will get New Athens on Tuesday in the Du Quoin Super-sectional.

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