Bailey Masching, India Mattingly, Makayla Metz lead Pontiac softball past Monticello

Bailey Masching and India Mattingly each collected three hits and Makayla Metz settled into a groove in the circle to lead Pontiac to a 12-2 Illini Prairie Conference softball victory over Monticello Monday at The Diamond at Williamson Field.

Mattingly chalked up a double, two singles and drove in two runs while Masching had a run batted in with her two-bagger and two singles in helping the Indians collect 15 base hits in the five-inning contest.

Six Pontiac batters recorded at least two base knocks as the Tribe improved to 6-1 in league play and 12-8 on the season.

Benefitting from the offensive assault was Metz in the circle. However, despite the run support later, Metz got off to a rough start in giving up a triple to Marrissa Miller to lead off the game. A two-out single gave Monticello a 1-0 lead.

It didn't take Pontiac long to pull even. Maddie Gourley walked to lead off the bottom of the first inning and Masching followed with a run-scoring double to tie the game.

The Indians erupted for eight runs in the second inning, benefitting from timely hitting and some throwing issues by the Sages. A throwing error with Tessa Collins at the plate allowed Mackenzie Coates to score the go-ahead run. Coates was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning.

Aubrey Shepherd singled with one out and Collins followed with a hit after Coates scored. Shepherd scored on a throwing error with Maddie Gourley batting, and then Gourley singled to plate Collins, making it 4-1.

Masching singled to left that was misplayed, which allowed Gourley to score and put Masching on third. Elena Krause reached on an error that allowed Masching to cross the plate for a 6-1 advantage.

Metz coaxed a free pass. Adriann Sutton came on as the courtesy runner for the PTHS hurler, and she teamed with Krause to pull off a double steal. An error on the play allowed Krause to score. Mattingly singled to put runners on the corners.

Another double steal attempt resulted in Mattingly being thrown out at second but allowed Sutton to score.

PTHS made it 9-1 when Cadence Helms doubled to drive in Coates, who had reached on an error.

Miller led off the Monticello third with a double. She scored on a sacrifice fly. An error allowed Isabel Beery to reach but Metz fanned Reese Patton to end the inning. Metz then retired the order in side in the fourth and fifth frames.

Mattingly doubled with one out in the fourth inning, driving in Sutton for a 10-2 lead. Sutton was running for Metz, who had singled. Mattingly scored three batters later when Shepherd singled to left, making it 11-2.

Mattingly ended the game one inning later with a bases-loaded base knock. Gourley, who led off the inning with a single, scored.

Helms contributed a double, single and run batted in to the Pontiac attack. Gourley and Shepherd each had two hits and a run batted in while Collins had two base knocks. Metz singled and Krause drove in a run.

Metz allowed two runs, three hits and struck out seven in picking up the complete-game victory.

Cassidee Stoffel took the loss for the Sages. She allowed 12 runs (nine earned), 15 hits and three walks while fanning two. Miller had a triple and double while Beery singled for MHS.

Prairie Central 15, PBL 1

PAXTON — Lauren Hoselton drove in six runs and Dixie Hogan had complete control in the circle as the pair guided Prairie Central to a 15-1 Illini Prairie Conference softball win over host Paxton-Buckley-Loda Monday.

Hoselton collected three base hits, including belting a home run, to pace the Hawks' offense. Alexandria Hari also collected three base knocks as Prairie Central piled up 14 safeties.

The Hawks provided Hogan with a four-run advantage before she threw her first pitch. Hari opened the game with a base hit while Kyah Creek and Rylee Galloway each reached on errors to load the bases. Hari scored when Sam Slagel reached on a fielder's choice.

Hoselton registered her first hit as her single plated Creek and Slagel for a 3-0 lead. Hoselton scored three batters later when Kyla Stephens singled.

Hogan was tagged for an unearned run in the bottom of the first inning.

Hari led off the PC second with a base hit and Slagel singled with two outs. Hoselton then turned on the second pitch and belted a three-run shot to left for a 7-1 advantage.

Paxton-Buckley-Loda threatened twice over the next two frames but failed to score each time. Hogan retired the last two batters in the third, and then the side in order in the next two frames.

The Hawks put the game away in the top of the fifth with an eight-run outburst. Kyrsten Atkins started the final rally with a one-out walk that also turned the line up over. Hari singled and Creek walked to load the bases.

Galloway, Slagel and Hoselton singled in succession as the lead grew to 11-1. Jukes Woodrey reached on an error that scored Slagel to make it 12-1. Lucy Whitfill, batting for Stephens, followed a Hogan single with a base hit that drove in two runs. Hari lofted a sacrifice fly to plate courtesy runner Lydia Kilgus with the final tally of the game.

Hoselton had a homer, two singles and six run batted in while Hari had three hits and drove in a run. Slagel collected two hits and three RBIs and Stephens had two hits and drove in a run. Hogan singled twice while Whitfill had a hit and two RBIs. Galloway had a hit and RBI.

Hogan yielded an unearned run and seven hits while striking out eight.

Lexington-Ridgeview 20, Fieldcrest 6

MINONK — Allison Epley had a big fifth inning at the plate in helping Lexington-Ridgeview overwhelm host Fieldcrest 20-6 in a Heart of Illinois Conference softball tilt Monday at Veterans Park.

Epley's big inning highlighted a 15-run outburst that turned a one-run deficit into a 14-run advantage. Her first hit of the inning was a bases-loaded double that drove in Makayla Ziegler, Mackenzie Wesson and Grace Grimsley to give the Minutemen an 8-6 lead.

The second time Epley batted in the inning resulted in a single that drove in Wesson for a 14-6 lead.

Epley wasn't the only Lexington-Ridgeview batter to register a big hit in the frame. Ziegler drove in two runs with a double and Eleana Atkins capped the scoring with a triple that cleared the loaded bases. Ziegler reached base in each of her three plate appearances in the inning.

Epley got the Minutemen on the board in the first inning when she delivered a two-base hit that drove home Ziegler, Wesson and Grimsley for a 3-0 lead.

Belle Payne had one bad inning, the second, where she gave up six runs. The big hit for the Knights was two-run homer from K Barisch.

The Minutemen got two runs back in the third. Wesson reached on error that plated Ziegler and Epley lofted a sacrifice fly that scored Wesson to cut the difference to 6-5. It stayed that way until the fifth inning.

Payne retired 10 of the final 11 batters she faced as she kept Fieldcrest in check after the second inning. Payne gave up six runs (three earned), eight hits and two walks while striking out two.

Epley had two doubles, a single and drove in eight runs to pace the Minutemen (8-8) at the plate. Ziegler had a double, two singles and two RBIs while Grimsley had two hits and drove in a run. Ellie Doll also collected two hits while Atkins had a triple and three runs batted in and Ella Sunday contributed a hit and two RBIs. Payne and Eva McCue each singled.

This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: Masching, Mattingly, Metz lead Pontiac softball past Monticello