DU QUOIN SOFTBALL: 16th Win for Lady Indians

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Du Quoin High School's Girls Softball team ended a solid River-to-River Conference campaign with a 6-4 Mississippi Division record Wednesday, holding back host Chester.

The final score was 7-4.

Du Quoin finished third in the SIRR race behind champion Anna-Jonesboro and runner-up Pinckneyville. Sparta and Nashville will share fourth place.

Thursday at 4 o'clock-and weather allowing-Du Quoin (16-11) was slated to play a doubleheader at Mulberry Grove.

"We hit the ball a little better," Lady Indians coach Jason James said. "Still we are not hitting like we should be, but it was better today. Our defense and pitching were good again, too."

Junior Chelsea Hill (14-9) tossed six shutout innings before Chester scored four times in the seventh. Hill gave only four hits and struck out nine.

Kelsey Toler, Heather Cavins, Hill and Ashley Hess all recorded two-hit games with Cavins and Hess each knocking in four runs.

Jessica Hirsch added the other Du Quoin safety.

"We were able to get everyone in for a little playing time, whether it was hitting or fielding," James added.

Du Quoin will play Mascoutah and Marissa-Coulterville Saturday as part of the rescheduled Marissa Invitational Tournament. A third game will also be guaranteed.

Du Quoin 7, Chester 4

DHS 002 003 2-7 9 0

CHS 000 000 4-4 4 0

Hill and Cavins. WP-Hill, 14-9. TOP HITTERS-Du Quoin: Toler 1-2 (2B), Cavins 2-5 (2-2B, 2 RBI), Hill 2-4 (2B, RBI), Camden (RBI), Hess 2-2 (2 RBI), Hirsch 1-4.