Softball roundup: Pontiac getting on track after posting two victories

Elena Krause was nearly perfect as Pontiac posted its first victory on the softball diamond for 2024. The PTHS ace allowed just one hit in an 11-0 nonconference decision over Dwight Monday at The Diamond at Williamson Field.

Krause opened the game by striking out the Trojans in order in the top of the first inning. Her dominance appeared aided by a strong, southerly wind blowing in from left field. That wind allowed Krause to throw four scoreless innings before yielding to Aubrey Shepherd.

Averi Jury caught up with a Krause offering to lead off the Dwight second and drove the ball to the fence in left field. The strong wind kept the ball in play. Krause then retired the next three batters on strikes to get out of the inning.

She also fanned the next six Trojans she faced to finish her time in the circle with 12 strikeouts, allowing just one hit. Shepherd retired Dwight on three groundouts in the fifth to end the game.

Meanwhile, Pontiac's offense finally erupted. After scoring just one run through its first three games, the Tribe pushed across two runs in the first inning off DTHS starter Taylor Heath. Maddie Gourley led off with a bloop double and then scored on a single from Krause. Bailey Masching doubled to right to plate Krause for a 2-0 lead.

Krause added a two-run double in the second inning and three consecutive bases-loaded walks forced in a trio of markers for a 7-0 lead.

Pontiac pushed across four runs in the last of the fourth inning for an 11-0 lead. India Mattingly scored on a dropped third strike, Gourley drove in a run with a single and Masching plated two runs with a base knock.

Krause helped her cause with three hits, including a double, and three runs batted in. Gourley also had three hits with a two-bagger and drove in two runs in pacing the PTHS (1-3) offense. Masching had a double, single and three RBIs. Adriann Sutton also singled.

Heath took the loss for Dwight (2-1) after allowing seven runs on four hits and six walks. She struck out four in 1 1/3 innings. Madi Ely came on in relief, yielding four unearned runs, five hits and four walks while setting down five on strikes. Jury's double was the lone Dwight safety.

Pontiac 7, Limestone 0

At Bartonville, Aubrey Shepherd dominated in the circle in pitching Pontiac to it second win of the season in shutting out Limestone. Shepherd struck out five and gave up just two hits in picking up the win. Elena Krause closed out the win with four punchouts.

A four-run third lifted the Amerinds (2-3). Bailey Masching, India Mattingly and Olivia Lindsay each drove in a run. Lindsay and Kendall Pitchford drove in a run in a three-run seventh. Lindsay had two hits to lead the offense.

Dwight 12, Lowpoint-Washburn 0

Dwight 10, Lowpoint-Washburn 0

Averi Jury had a big day in leading Dwight to a doubleheader sweep of Lowpoint-Washburn in a Tri-County Conference softball doubleheader Thursday.

Jury collected six base hits and five runs batted on the day as DTHS improved to 4-1 on the season.

Njomza Asllani collected three extra-base hits as the Trojans claimed the opener 12-0. Asllani homered and slapped two doubles out of the nine-spot. She drove in three runs and scored twice.

Jury also had three hits, including a homer and a triple, and drove in two runs. Sarah Parker homered and singled and Taylor Heath chalked up a double and single. Both also had two RBIs.

Madi Ely struck out eight and scattered four hits in picking up the win in the circle.

Heath registered 13 strikeouts and yielded just three hits for the win as Dwight (4-1) cruised to a 10-0 victory in the second game.

Jury had three hits and drove in three runs and Parker tripled and singled while plating three markers. Ely tripled and Avery Scheuer had a hit and two RBIs.

Prairie Central 17, Iroquois West 1

At Onarga, a nine-run inning brought an early end to Prairie Central's nonconference win over host Iroquois West on March 25.

Sam Slagel doubled in a run and tripled home two runs in the nine-run fourth for PC. Slagel also homered in the game and collected six RBIs to pace the Hawks. Kyrsten Atkins and Miranda Hari had two hits apiece.

Faith Fields got the win in the circle tossing three shutout innings. She struck out three. Hari finished up, giving up a run and striking out two.

Prairie Central 4, Monticello 2

At Monticello, Prairie Central notched an Illini Prairie Conference win with a two-run decision over Monticello on Thursday. Dixie Hogan fanned two and scattered six hits in going the distance.

The Hawks (4-4) scored single runs in three consecutive innings to take control. This included a lead-off homer from Lucy Whitfill in the fourth frame. Rylee Galloway had a double and drove in a run in the game.

Lexington-Ridgeview-Southern Warrior Classic

Lexington-Ridgeview opened its out-of-state Spring Break trip with a split decision on March 25. The Minutemen fell to Cullman (Ala.) 8-0 in the first game before rebounding against Bellbrook (Ohio) in the second game.

Belle Payne allowed just one earned run in the loss to Cullman. Eleana Atkins, Allison Epley, Emilee Bratcher and Josie Thomas each singled.

Lexington-Ridgeview rebounded in the day's second game by dropping Bellbrook 9-4. Makayla Ziegler had a double, two singles and three runs batted in to pace the Minutemen. Eva McCue had a pair of hits while Mackenzie Wesson tripled and drove in a run. Hailey Foote got the win in the circle.

The Minutemen claimed a 15-2 win on March 26 but dropped two contests on Wednesday. In the win, Payne gave up just two hits and fanned two in going the distance. She received offensive support from Grace Grimsley who had a hit and drove in four runs and Brenna Stover who had a triple and three RBIs. Epley doubled and singled.

Wesson had Lexington-Ridgeview's lone hit in a loss to Morristown-Hamblen West (Tenn.). Foote took the loss in the circle.

One big inning for Cornersville (Tenn.) did in the Minutemen in a 9-7 loss in the trip's finale. Bratcher took the loss in the circle. Foote also pitched.

Ziegler homered while Epley, Wesson and Ella Sunday each doubled. Epley had three hits and Ziegler added a single and drove in two runs.

WFC 5, Streator 2

At Streator, Ella Derossett doubled and drove in a run and Woodland-Flanagan-Cornell managed four hits in a weather-shortened contest on March 26. Shae Simons got the win in the circle.

Marquette 3, WFC 1

Weather affected the home-and-home scheduling of the Warriors' game with Ottawa (Marquette) as only one game was played. The host Crusaders claimed the Tri-County Conference decision with a two-run sixth that broke a tie.

Simons took the loss after allowing three runs on six hits and striking out 10. She had three at the plate.

Kaiden Connor had a pair of hits and drove in the lone WFC (5-2) tally. Olivia Chismarick also had two hits.

This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: Pontiac softball takes care of business against Dwight, Limestone