Alton Marquette Ends Mattoon's State Tournament Hopes

CHATHAM -- Alton Marquette pulled out a 2-1 victory over Mattoon to win the Class 3A Chatham Glenwood Softball Super-Sectional Tuesday and advance to the state tournament.

The Green Wave took a 1-0 lead in the third inning as Shelby Tate drew a walk and went to second on Kacey Starwalt's sacrifice and came home on a double by Considine.

Alton Marquette came back to knot the score when Alexis Silkwood doubled. Sam Harshbager took third on a wild pitch and scored when Morgan Wiedman hit a sacrifice fly.

Mattoon had its opportunities. In the top of the seventh, the Green Wave's Hannah Pruden hit a single and Jamie Packer drew a walk. The runners were sacrificed over to second and third but the third out came on a fly ball.

In the bottom of the frame, Alton Marquette's Rebecca Griffon led off with a double. With one out, Kalie Buecker hit a single and pinch-runner Sarah Marshall came home to score. Marshall was caught in a rundown but headed for home and the throw bounced away as Alton Marquette claimed the victory.

Alton Marquette (30-6) will now face Sterling at 12:30 p.m. Friday in semifinal round play at the Class 3A State Tournament in East Peoria. The Green Wave, who finished fourth at state last season, saw their season come to an end with a 30-5 record.

Chatham Super-Sectional

Mattoon                        001    000    0    --    1-4-1

Alton Marquette          000    100    1    --    2-4-0

WP -- Silkwood. LP -- Starwalt.

Mattoon -- Considine, double, 1 RBI; Phipps, double; Bath, single; Pruden, single

Alton Marquette -- Silkwood, double; Griffon, double, 1 RBI; Buecker, single; Wittich, single