Lady Indians slug past Johnston City

JOHNSTON CITY - Katie Smith hit a three-run homer to cap off a three-hit day as the Du Quoin High School softball team slugged past Johnston City, 16-6 in six innings, Wednesday in a non-conference clash of Indians.

"Smith had a big day for us at the plate and several kids came up with big hits," said Du Quoin coach Jason James, whose team is now 8-2.

Du Quoin plated four runs in the first inning, then put up five more in the second with a rally that included a two-run single by Avery Waller and a bases-loaded walk drawn by Olivia Whitley.

Johnston City scored a run in the first and three in the third to pull within 9-4, then Du Quoin broke it open with six in the top of the sixth.

That outburst included a two-run single by Whitley in addition to Smith's blast that capped her 3-for-4 performance.

Johnston City scored two in the bottom half and had runners on the corners but Chloe Hill pitched a strikeout to end the game via the mercy rule. It was Hill's fifth punchout of the game.

"Hill had a good day in the circle," James said. "She lost a little control in the middle innings but kept her composure and did a good job in the later innings."

Morgan Bullar and Grace Haney both had two hits and reached base four times, while Avery Shivley and Maci McKinnies also had two hits. Hill helped her cause with a hit and scored three runs and Chloe Hess also doubled in the win.

Du Quoin was scheduled to play at Sparta on Thursday. The coming week features a game at Anna-Jonesboro on Monday, then home games against Nashville (April 10) and Carterville (April 12) before returning to Johnston City next Saturday.