SOFTBALL: Lady Indians end Regional drought
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The DuQuoin Indians overpowered, overwhelmed, and out-pitched their opponent Johnston City for an 11-1, six-inning victory in Saturday's championship of the Herrin 2A Regional. DHS was led by junior Alexis Kohrs' one-hitter in the circle and three runs batted in at the plate.
The Regional title is just the second in DuQuoin High School softball history with the other coming in 2002-03.
Johnston City's lone run was scored in the third inning with only one hit. Destinee Lawrence and Cierra Hutchinson were both hit by pitches from Kohrs in front of an RBI single by Allison Smiley. Hutchinson was also plunked in her first plate appearance, and the second HBP resulted in warnings to both Kohrs and DuQuoin coach Jason James.
DuQuoin started out slowly with three hits in the first two innings, but finished with eighteen total. The third inning is when DuQuoin came to life scoring four times on five hits. DuQuoin added one run in the fourth, two runs in the fifth, and four runs in the sixth including Magen Edwards' three-run homer that ended the game at 11-1.
Kohrs (20-1) allowed one run on one hit, had no walks, hit three batters and struck out eight, going the distance for DHS.
The losing pitcher for Johnston City was Danielle Roach, who went three and two-thirds innings. She allowed four runs on ten hits with one strikeout. D. Roach was relieved by Kayla Roach in the bottom of the fourth inning. K. Roach allowed seven runs on eight hits, had one strikeout and no walks.
Not only did Kohrs pitch a gem, she helped her own cause with a single, a home run and three RBI at the plate. Aubrey Davis also shined on offense going 4-for-4 with four singles.
Jessica Hirsch was 2-4 including a double, Kelsey Robinson was 2-4, both doubles, and 2 RBI, Cassidy Rice was 2-4 with an RBI, Hadley Marek was 3-4, Magen Edwards was 2-3 including a home run and 4 RBI, and Katrina Whitley was 1-3, a double, and an RBI.
The Johnston City Indians played error free ball, while the DuQuoin Indians had two errors on defense.
Coach Jason James was quite excited about the winning the Regional. "Holy Cow!! I am extremely proud of the girls. We came in with a game plan, and executed it very well. We did an excellent job of swinging the bats. Kohrs hit her tenth home run, and pitched a one hitter! Two more practices, and then we move on to the sectional on Wednesday."
The Softball Indians were treated with a police escort and a parade to the high school upon returning to DuQuoin.
DuQuoin (35-2) moves on to the sectional to be held in Pinckneyville next week. DuQuoin will play on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. against another thirty-win team: Massac County. The Softball Patriots (30-5) knocked off Carterville 3-1 on Saturday in the finals of the Anna-Jonesboro Regional behind Kaylee Childers, who allowed only three hits as the winning pitcher.
<element id="paragraph-1" type="body"></element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ <element id="paragraph-1" type="body"></element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[</group>