by Steve Dunford

WEST FRANKFORT, IL – The Nashville Hornettes advance to face the Harrisburg Lady Bulldogs tomorrow afternoon in the Championship game of the West Frankfort Class 2A regional by downing the hosts 9-4.

The Hornettes hung a three spot on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first.  The big blow was a one out 2RBI double for Sophie Heck  The bleeding could have been much worse, as Redbird SS Allie Herron gunned down two Nashville runners at third.

The Redbirds put up two runs in the top of the third as Herron drives in 3B Maddy Britton, and P Stephanie Tucker with a two out two RBI triple.  Herron’s glove then robs heck of a base hit up the middle and ends up turning a 6-3 double play after three innings it was 3-2 Nashville.

The Redbirds tie it up in the top of the fifth.  Cather Kylie Prather leads off with a lead off double.  She then swipes two bags, and Maddy Britton drives her in with a sac fly to center.  After 4 1/2 it was a tie ball game.

The wheels fall off for WF in the bottom of the inning as Karly Stanowski hits a deep HR at least 30 feet over the fence in the left center field power alley.  Left fielder Jordan Stegiman picks up a base hit.  Right fielder Brooke Burchman then reaches on a three base error scoring Stegman, then 1B Allie Lisk picks up an RBI single, follwed by Jenna Harris with an RBI double.  After five innings the score was Nashville 7 West Frankfort 3

Nashville added on two more runs in the sixth as Stanowski singles and Stedman hits a 2 run shot over the left field fence.

West Frankfort added a run on in the top of the seventh as 2B Mccayla Bowers had a leadoff single and Stephanie Tucker drove her in with a one out single.  Pitcher Kieley Gunzy worked out of the jam and picked up the complete game.

Talking with West Frankfort coach Jim Piersol about the season, he said it was an up and down one.  The team is still young, and he looks forward to the future.

 

 

by Steve Dunford 

In the last two outings, the West Frankfort Redbirds were only able to push one run across the plate, as the Salem Wildcats defeated them 2-0 in High school baseball action this afternoon.

Wildcat pitcher Max Phillips hurled a complete game, only allowing four Redbird hits, striking out three, with one walk.

Redbird starter Noah Vance was outstanding on the hill today as well.  He pitches 6 1/3 innings, only allowing two earned runs on seven base hits, striking out three and did not walk a batter.

After the Wildcats go down in order in the top of the first, the Redbirds make some noise.  Vance hits a one out double.  Catcher Peyton Overturf reaches on an error.  Archione comes into pinch run and he is gunned down trying to steal by Salem catcher Nathan Roth, who possesses a cannon. Third Baseman Jared Clark draws a walk, and WF strands two.

Salem makes some noise in the top of the second.  Centerfielder Levi Davis is hit by a pitch, Roth singles up the middle, and 3B Cole Steward hits an RBI double up against the LF field fence that was inches from being a three run homer.

Vance works his way out of the second and third, nobody out jam by fanning the next two and a pop up.

In the third Vance works his way out of trouble again.  He is facing second and third with one out after base hits from Phillips and SS Zach Consolino, and a double steal. Clark guns down Phillips on a 5-2 ground out play at the plate.  Vance gets a fly out to center on the next pitch to make the score 1-0 Salem in the middle of the third.

The middle innings both Vance and Phillps are making quick work of the opposition.  In the top of the fourth was a highlight reel play by CF Brandon Glass.  He makes a shoe string catch, that looked like a sure base hit, and fires a perfect strike into Logan Elko, doubling off the Salem runner for an 8-3 double play.

Salem puts their second run on the board as Steward doubles into the gap, RF Dylan Owens drives him in with an RBI single.  Redbird coach Michael Warren goes to his bullpen to bring in the fireballer, Brendan Johnson.  He picks up the final two outs of the inning on just four pitches.

West Frankfort makes some noise in the bottom of the seventh as RF Bruno Herrell reaches on an error.  Second basemen Bryson Dorris gets a base hit.  DH Brendan Russell grounds into a fielders choice.  Glass then grounds out, for a 2-0 Salem Final.

The Redbirds end the regular season with a 10-12 record.  They open post season play on Thursday, in the Harrisburg Class 2A regional, playing the hosts at 4:00 p.m.

Salem improves to 16-13 on the season.  They Apollo Conference school will head south again tomorrow, playing another SIRR-Ohio school, the Herrin Tigers.

BOX SCORE

SALEM	AB	R	H	RBI
Boles LF	4	0	0	0
Phillips P	3	0	1	0
Consolino SS	3	0	1	0
Davis CF	2	1	0	0
Roth C	3	0	1	0
Morris CR	0	0	0	0
Steward 3B	3	0	2	1
Schoonover CR	0	1	0	0
Courtright DH	3	0	1	0
Owens RF	3	0	1	1
Schuette 2B	2	0	0	0
Banning 1B	0	0	0	0
TOTALS	26	2	7	2

2B:  Steward (2), SB:  Phillips, Consonlino, SAC:  Schuette

Pitching	IP	R	ER	H	K	BB
Phillips – W	7	0	0	4	3	1

WEST FRANKFORT	AB	R	H	RBI
Wolfe LF	3	0	0	0
Vance P-SS	3	0	1	0
Overturf C	2	0	1	0
Archione PR	0	0	0	0
Clark 3B	2	0	0	0
Elko 1B	3	0	0	0
Herrell SS-RF	3	0	0	0
Dorris 2B	3	0	1	0
Russell DH	3	0	1	0
Glass CF	3	0	0	0
Sturgill RF	3	0	0	0
Johnson P	0	0	0	0
TOTALS	28	0	4	0

2B:  Vance, SB Russell

Pitching	IP	R	ER	H	K	BB
Vance – L	6 1/3	2	2	7	3	0
Johnson	2/3	0	0	0	0	0

 

LINE SCORE

TEAM	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
SALEM	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	2	7	2
WEST FRANKFORT	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0