The Road to East Peoria

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ In the sometimes topsy-turvy world of girls prep softball, getting off to a fast start is important for any team.

Tuesday afternoon in the semfinal round of its own Class 2A Regional Tournament, Du Quoin High School's Lady Indians learned that lesson the hard way.

Perry County rival-and #1 seeded Pinckneyville Community High School-scored seven times in the opening inning en route to a 10-0 victory over the Lady Indians on Lefty Pyle Field.

Du Quoin, which had broken a nearly two decade loss skid to the Lady Panthers back in early April, ended an up-and-down campaign at 17-14.

Pinckneyville (25-7) advanced to Saturday's championship game and will battle the survivor of Wednesday's Murphysboro vs. Johnston City semifinal.