PCHS SOFTBALL: Lady Panthers Win Invitational Title

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Pinckneyville Community High School's Girls Softball team kept the championship trophy of the Lady Panther Invitational in Perry County for another year Saturday night, sweeping to a 3-0 record and first place finish in the 10-team affair.

The Lady Panthers, 8-0, defeated Vienna (14-0) and Z-R-C (9-0) in five-inning games before topping defending Class 1A State Champion Cobden 6-3 in the final game.

Emily Chapman (7-0) was the winning hurler in all three contests.

"What a great two days of softball for Pinckneyville," coach Greg Hale said. "I am proud of the way our whole team played offensively and defensively. I think our younger players really came around this weekend. We hit the ball well against all types of pitching."

In Friday night's romp over Vienna, Chapman teamed with Sarah Malanowski and Taylor Cicardi combined on a two-hitter.

At the plate, Emily Miller went 3-for-3 with three RBI. Nicole Cheek also had three hits. Kortney Crawford, Maddy Keith and Mandi Kellerman all stroked two hits.

In the Z-R-C victory, Chapman and Cicardi surrendered only one hit as PCHS romped.

Crawford was 4-for-4 with Kellerman adding two hits-including a home run-and knocked in five runs.

Mo Ramsey enjoyed a two-hit game.

Against Cobden, Kellerman and Ramsey each stroked key two-run doubles. Ramsey finished 3-for-4.

"A number of people had just monster tournaments for us," Hale said. "This is a good tournament that has gotten us ready for the conference season."

Kellerman and Ramsey each finished the weekend 6-for-9 with Crawford notching seven hits in 11 plate appearances.

Kellerman had nine RBI.

Also Saturday, Z-R-C won third place over Johnston City, 3-2 and Wauconda's 7-4 win over West Frankfort claimed the consolation crown.

Pinckneyville's baseball and softball games with Nashville Monday have been cancelled by the inclement weather.

They'll be played April 28.

Friday's Results

Wauconda 10 Du Quoin 7 (non-tourney game)

Wauconda 6 Lebanon 4

Pinckneyville 14 Vienna 0 (5 inn)

Johnston City 4 Columbia 1

Cobden 7 Fairfield 0 (6 inn)

Saturday's Games

ZRC 3 Wauconda 2

Cobden 2 West Frankfort 1

Vienna 5 Lebanon 4 (9 inn)

Fairfield 5 Columbia 4 (8 inn)

Pinckneyville 9 ZRC 0 (5 inn)

Cobden 9 Johnston City 0 (5 inn)

West Frankfort 5 Vienna 2

Wauconda 7 Fairfield 2

Wauconda 7 West Frankfort 4 (Consolation)

ZRC 3 Johnston City 2 (3rd)

Pinckneyville 6 Cobden 3 (Championship)