Bulldogs, Shoes, Hearts See Softball Seasons End

The St. Anthony Bulldogs and the Teutopolis Shoes saw their softball seasons come to an end Tuesday in sectional semifinal games.

St. Anthony lost to Cumberland, 10-8 in the St. Anthony 1A Sectional at Bulldog Field, while Teutopolis lost to Fairfield, 4-3, in the Teutopolis 2A Sectional at Teutopolis Village Park. The Bulldogs game was heard on 979XFM and www.979xfm.com, while the Shoes game was heard on KJ Country 102.3 and www.kjcountry.com.  

The Bulldogs scored in the first inning, but gave up four Cumberland runs to fall behind early. The Pirates extended the lead to 5-1 in the second, and made it 8-1 in the fourth before the Bulldogs mounted a comeback. St. Anthony scored three times in the third and added four runs in the fourth to make it 8-8 after four.

Cumberland, though, scored a run in the fifth and another tally in the sixth to post the win.

Hitting highlights included Megan Nuxoll's two-run single in the third and three-run double in the fourth to get the Bulldogs back in the game. Marci Mills drove in a run with a single in the fourth, and Hunter Niebrugge drove in a run with a single in the first.

For Cumberland, Lainey Jackson drove in three runs with a single and double, Kaylee Carlen blasted a three-run homer in the fourth, and Kyla Thornton and Audrey Casey each drove in a run.

Here's the rundown:

For St. Anthony -- Paige Koester--two singles, a hit by pitch and three runs scored; Morgan Gardewine--two singles and two runs scored; Jenna Woltman--hit by a pitch, walk, two runs scored; Hunter Niebrugge--single and walk, RBI; Megan Nuxoll--double and single, 5 RBI; Maddie Schuette--two singles; Marci Mills--single, RBI; Abbie Schmidt--single and walk

For Cumberland -- Kyla Thornton--double, single, walk, run scored; Audry Casey--single, RBI, run scored; Katie Poe--single, two walks, two runs scored; Kaylee Campbell--three-run homer, double and single, three runs scored, 3 RBI; Taylor Layton--double and single, run scored; Jade McMechan--single; Lainey Jackson--double and single, 3 RBI; Jenna McMechan--two singles, run scored; Mariah Huddlestun--walk, run scored

Kaylee Carlen got the win for Cumberland, while Jenna Woltman took the loss. St. Anthony ends their season with a 17-17 record, while Cumberland improves to 27-9.

At Teutopolis

It was a case of missed opportunities and being kept off-base by Fairfield's Sabrina Seitzinger.

The Shoes got the bases loaded in the first inning on a one-out walk to Anni Borries and a single by Kadi Borries followed by a walk to Allison Apke and the Shoes appeared poised for a big inning. Seitzinger, though, induced a pop up back to her and a fly ball to end the threat.

Fairfield scored a run in the second inning on a double and an error to make it 1-0. They added two more runs in the fourth inning on a leadoff walk, an error, a sacrifice and then back to back singles to make it 3-0. The Lady Mules got their final run in the fifth ininng on a double and a wild pitch to pull ahead 4-0. The inning could have been worse, but for a spectacular diving catch by Raegan Drees to end the inning.

After having runners in scoring position every inning, the Lady Shoes finally broke through in the seventh. Back to back one-out walks to Madison Cowman and Anni Borries was followed by a double by Kadi Borries to make it 4-1 and then a screaming line drive to left fell to allow Anni and Kadi Borries to score and make it 4-3. However, Seitzinger bore down and got a fly ball and a ground ball to end the threat, the game, and the Lady Shoes season.

Here's the offensive breakdown for Teutopolis: Madison Cowman--walk, run scored; Anni Borries--single, two walks, run scored; Kadi Borries--double and single, RBI, run scored; Allison Apke--walk; Danielle Repking--single; Patricia Campbell--single; Julie Wente--triple; Amanda Waldhoff--walk; Raegan Drees--single

As far as the pitching line for Teutopolis: Kadi Borries--six innings, four runs, two earned, five hits, four walks, three strikeouts, wild pitch; Madison Cowman--one inning, one strikeout.

Seitzinger went the distance, allowing three runs, one earned, on seven hits, while walking five and striking out five. She threw 161 pitches.

Teutopolis sees its season come to an end with a 22-3 mark, while Fairfield is now 21-10.

At Mattoon

Effingham and Mattoon went scoreless through four innings before the Green Wave broke loose with four runs in the fifth and ended up winning by that exact score, 4-0 in the Class 3A Mattoon Regional.

It was a pitcher's duel throughout the contest. Effingham's Aly Armstrong battled Mattoon's Katelyn Fisher head to head.

The Hearts had a single from the bat of Hope Collier in the first inning but then Fisher got tough and knocked down the next 13 batters for the Hearts. The Hearts second hit didn't come until Alissa Kersey led off the sixth with a single.

In the fifth, Fisher singled and Ivy Nichols had a bunt single. Avery Jackson sacrificed the runners over and Kyliegh Basham hit a double bringing home both for 2-0 lead. Kasey Considine singled home Basham and Abe Lee got a single and a bad throw scored Considine.

Fisher finished allowing two hits, no walks and striking out eight. Armstrong pitched an eight-hitter with two walks and three strikeouts.

The Hearts end the season with an 18-13 record.

In the second contest of the day, Mount Zion trounced Charleston 19-0. That sets up a meeting with top-seeded Mount Zion and Mattoon at noon Saturday for the regional championship.

Mattoon Regional

Effingham          000    000    0    --    0-2-1

Mattoon             000    040    x    --    4-8-0

Fisher and Farmer; Armstrong and Tonn

Effingham -- Kersey, single; Collier, single

Mattoon -- Fisher, single; Nichols 2 singles; Basham, double, 2 RBI; Considine, single, 1 RBI; Lee, 3 singles