Advertisement

These Mid-Illini Conference softball teams are headed to the 2024 Class 3A sectional

adam duvall, peoria journal star
·3 min read

Here are the Peoria-area Class 3A softball teams that advanced from the Illinois High School Association regional title games on Friday and Saturday.

Peoria softball: 2024 IHSA softball state tournament bracket, schedule, scores, pairings

Washington

  • How they won: The Panthers used three runs in the bottom of the sixth to escape Lincoln, 8-7, in the Bloomington Regional title game on Friday. Washington (17-13) heads to the sectional in back-to-back seasons for the first time since playing in the 3A state championship games in 2015 and 2016. Down a run in the sixth, Ellie Redlingshafer started the rally with her infield hit. Her pinch runner, Elaina Gray, came around to score thanks to Laila Harris' single to center. Washington went ahead for good thanks to Kami Barth (2-for-3) crossing the plate on a wild pitch, then a run-scoring single by Payton Swanson (3-for-4). Bailey Herrick (three strikeouts; home run, two RBIs) and Jenna Flessner (four strikeouts) combined on the six-hitter.

  • What's next: Washington faces Metamora (29-6) at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Washington Sectional semifinal.

East Peoria

  • How they won: East Peoria held off a late rally from Limestone to claim a 5-3 victory on Saturday at EastSide Centre. The Raiders (24-8), who are back in the sectional for the first time since 2022, struck for two runs in the bottom of the fourth, using back-to-back run-scoring hits from Sophia Revallo (triple) and Mersadees Sassman (single). EP picked up three more insurance runs over the next innings thanks to a sacrifice fly by Annika Rosecrans, then an error mixed with another run-scoring base hit by Sassman (2-for-3). Limestone, though, made things interesting in the seventh. Liz Grube's two-run double, then a Allison Mehn RBI single brought Limestone within two and no outs. However, Meadow Terry (nine strikeouts, no walks) induced a pop out, then a pair of strikeouts to end the threat.

  • What's next: East Peoria faces Pontiac (26-7) at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Washington Sectional semifinal.

Metamora

  • How they won: Host Metamora got a go-ahead home run in the fourth to hold off LaSalle-Peru, 9-7. The Redbirds (29-6) look to make it three successive sectional titles, making back-to-back Elite Eight appearances in 2022 and 2023. Nora Johnson set the final score by hitting two-out, full count home run over the left field wall. She then completed the complete game by striking out seven and walking one. Addison Pacha (2-for-3) and Bailee Bender each drove in a pair, while Kaidance Till reached base four times including three walks. LaSalle-Peru took a 7-5 lead thanks to a six-run fourth inning that included six hits and a three-run home run.

  • What's next: Metamora faces Washington (17-13) at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Washington Sectional semifinal.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: IHSA softball: Peoria regional championship roundup, sectional advancers