Logan softball season comes to end

CENTRALIA – Sophomore righthander Sarah DaRosa pitched an outstanding game Tuesday, but it wasn’t enough as Olney Central College rallied from a 1-0 deficit in the seventh inning to defeat the John A. Logan College softball team, 2-1, thus eliminating the Volunteers from Region 24 tournament play.

DaRosa had the Knights shut out through six innings on five hits before all heck broke loose in the seventh.

After retiring the leadoff batter on a pop out to the second baseman, the Carterville native gave up a single to Megan Robinson and then walked Alexis Chapman. Pinch hitter Lindsey Fleming bounced back to DaRosa. The sophomore made an ill-advised throw to third in an attempt to force the lead runner, but the throw was late, loading the bases.

Kelsey Reker then grounded to Vols’ shortstop Jessica Hirsch, who fired home for what looked to be an unquestionable force out at the plate for the second out of the inning. The home plate umpire first ruled the lead runner out and then changed his call, saying that Logan catcher Taylor Brackett’s foot was not touching the plate. That tied the game at 1-1.

The Vols argued that the foot came off the base after receiving the throw in an attempt to avoid a collision with the runner.

The next Olney hitter, Katie Rogers, grounded to second. Infielder Jayda Rendleman fielded it and fired home high and late as the winning run scored.

Logan scored its one run in the fifth inning Ana Duda singled home Marissa Montgomery, who had singled and stolen second.

Earlier in the day, the Vols were knocked off by Wabash Valley, 8-3. Heather Johnson picked up the loss. The freshman was tagged for 14 hits.

The Vols led 1-0 in the first after Johnson’s sacrifice fly scored Jessica Hirsch. The Warriors tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the frame Sarah Burnham singled home Kelsey Maurer. They took a 3-1 lead in the fourth with runs batted in by Courtney Norris and Maurer. Wabash Vallley iced the game with four runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Logan got a solo homer from Duda in the sixth and a single run in the seventh when Montgomery doubled home Sara Kroeger.

The Vols finished 30-17 overall.