South Central Reaches State Tourney

The Cougars opened the second inning with six runs and moved that to 7-0 in the third and 9-0 in the fourth. With that big lead, Goreville should have rolled over but the Blackcats started a comeback. Goreville tallied four in the fifrh and moved within 9-8 in the top of the sixth. However, South Central pushed its lead back up with three runs in the bottom of the sixth to lead 12-8.

Here came the Blackcats. The squad scored six runs to move ahead 14-12 and looked headed for the victory. But, Coach Kurt Jones' squad said, 'no way' and tallied two runs in the bottom of the seventh to send the game into extra innings.

In the bottom of the ninth, Chase Dodson drew a walk with one out. Aiden Dodson then followed with a fly ball that looked like the second out but it bounced out of the shortstop's glove. Sebastian Cowger followed with a ground out that put C. Dodson at third. Beau Jolliff was intentionally walked to load the bases after leading the Cougars with a double, home run and four RBI.

Sam Rubin came to the plate. Goreville pitcher Drake Moss moved ahead in the count but ended up walking Rubin and the game-winning run came home for a 15-14 victory.

The Cougars banged out 13 hits in the contest led by Jolliff with the double, home run and four RBI and C. Dodson with a single, two doubles and an RBI. Cowger finished with two singles and an RBI and Andrew Magnus with two singles. Everyone contributed as Chase Thompson, Aiden Dodson, Rubin and Spencer Johannes had a single each. Thompson, A. Dodson and Rubin each drove in a run while Brandt Hiestand had two RBI.

Hiestand ended up the winning pitcher going the last three innings, allowing five runs on five hits, one walk while striking out four.

The Cougars head to State with a 23-3 record and will square off against Mount Pulaski at 1 p.m. Mount Pulaski defeated Kewanee Wethersfield Co-op 11-1 to win the supersectional at Illinois State University in Normal. Other members of the tournament field include  Newark, a 5-3 winner over Sterling Newman Central Catholic and Glen Carbon Father McGivney, a 4-0 winner over Camp Point Central. Newark and Glen Carbon Father McGivney will play at 10 a.m. Thursday.

The winners Thursday will meet for the State championship at 7 p.m. while the losers will play for third place at 4 p.m.

Class 1A Carbondale SIU Super-Sectional

Goreville                   000    044    600    --    14-12-3

South Central           061    203    201    --    15-13-2

WP -- Hiestand. LP -- Moss.

Goreville -- Dunn, single; Gren, 1 RBI; Johnson, single, double, triple, 7 RBI; Compton, 3 singles, 1 RBI; Schuetz, double, 2 RBI; Moss, single; Lemon, 3 singles

South Central -- Thompson, single, 1 RBI; C. Dodson, single, 2 doubles, 1 RBI; A. Dodson, single, 1 RBI; Cowger, 2 singles, 1 RBI; Jolliff, double, home run, 4 RBI; Rubin, single, 1 RBI; Magnus, 2 singles; Johannes, single; Hiestand, 2 RBI