Elena Krause, Pontiac claim rivalry victory over Prairie Central
Elena Krause didn’t allow a run and yielded as many hits as she collected in leading Pontiac to a 5-1 victory over Prairie Central in an Illini Prairie Conference softball contest Thursday at The Diamond at Williamson Field. It was the eighth straight win for PTHS.
Krause gave up two hits while striking out 11 in 5 1/3 innings in the circle. She didn’t give up a walk before giving way to Aubrey Shepherd in the sixth inning. Shepherd allowed a run and three hits while striking out one.
Despite taking the loss, Prairie Central received a solid effort from Dixie Hogan, who scattered eight hits, walked three and fanned two in going the distance.
PTHS got on the board with two runs in the first inning. Maddie Gourley and Krause singled to get things rolling. Gourley scored on a groundout and Krause crossed the plate on an error. Krause singled to lead off the third frame and scored on a Cadence Helms groundout. Gourley singled and scored in the fifth inning, and Krause reached on an error and then scored on a Helms double.
The Hawks put together three straight singles in the sixth to get on the board. Kyah Creek and Rylee Galloway each singled with one out. Creek scored on a passed ball with Jules Woodrey at the plate. Woodrey singled but Galloway was thrown out trying to score.
Gourley had three hits and scored twice while Krause singled twice and scored thrice for the Amerinds (16-5). Helms had a double and two runs batted in and Kendall Pitchford and Adrian Sutton each singled. Bailey Masching drove in two runs.
Galloway had two hits to pace Prairie Central (11-12). Creek and Kate Slagel each singled.
Pontiac 4, Monticello 3 – At Monticello, a run in the third inning proved to be the difference as Pontiac edged host Monticello in an Illini Prairie Conference contest April 22. Pontiac scored three runs in the top of the seventh inning, but Krause gave up a two-out, bases-loaded triple in the bottom of the frame that brought the Sages to within one. Krause recorded her 18th strikeout to end the game with the tying run stranded on third.
Olivia Lindsay belted a two-run homer in the seventh for PTHS. She also singled in the game. Adriann Sutton had a two-base hit while Krause, Masching, Pitchford and Tessa Collins each singled.
Pontiac-Washington Tourney – At Washington, Pontiac claimed the tournament championship after scoring wins over East Moline and Geneseo on April 20. PTHS won four games over the weekend. Krause struck out 12 and allowed one hit as the Amerinds topped East Moline 2-0 to complete pool play. She had a hit and run batted in to help her cause. Masching had two hits and drove in a run and Zimmerman had a hit.
Shepherd got the win in the title game. She fanned one in the 11-9 win. Krause struck out the only batter she faced for the save. Krause (RBI) had three hits and Gourley collected two safeties and two RBIs. Sutton (3 RBIs) and Masching (RBI) each had a double and single while Pitchford (2 RBIs), Helms (RBI) and Natalie Zimmerman each singled.
Prairie Central 17, PBL 1 – At Fairbury, Faith Fields fanned seven and Miranda Hari closed it out as Prairie Central overwhelmed Paxton-Buckley-Loda in an IPC game on April 22. The duo held the Panthers to one hit.
The Hawks scored eight runs in the first inning and added nine in the second frame. Sam Slagel drove in two runs with a homer and single to help pace PC. Jules Woodrey had two hits and three RBIs while Lucy Whitfill (2 RBIs) and Kate Slagel (RBI) each had a double and single. Galloway and Creek each had two hits and a run batted in. Kyrsten Atkins had a hit and drove in three while Hogan singled.
WFC 8, Prairie Central 2 – At Woodland, Shae Simons struck out 12 in the circle and had two hits in the box to lead Woodland-Flanagan-Cornell past Prairie Central in a nonconference game on April 20. Hogan took the loss for the Hawks despite fanning eight. Prairie Central led by a run before the Warriors scored seven in the bottom of the sixth.
Olivia Chismarick tripled and singled while driving in a run for WFC. Simons had a double, single and RBI while Ella Derossett doubled. Kaiden Connor, Tiffany Rustman and Jaylei Leininger each singled.
Sam Slagel hit a homer and singled while driving in two runs for the Hawks. Kate Slagel singled twice and Hogan had a hit.
Dwight-Midland – At Dwight, the Trojans waited until the last of the sixth to erupt in a 10-0 thumping of Midland in the second game of their home-and-home series on Thursday. Averi Jury tossed a four-hitter and set down seven Timberwolves for the win. Jury also had a double, single, drove in two runs and scored twice.
Avery Scheuer collected three hits, two RBIs and scored twice to help pace the Dwight (11-7) offense. Madi Ely had two hits and drove in a run and Njomza Asllani (RBI) and Taylor Frobish each singled. Miranda Bovelle drove in two runs.
On April 23, Madi Ely tossed a one-hitter as Dwight rolled to a 12-0 victory in the first game of the TCC home and home set. She set down nine on strikes.
Scheuer had a triple, double and four runs batted in while Jury homered, singled and drove in three. Megan Livingston had a double, single and two RBIs while Sarah Parker and Frobish each doubled.
Seneca 10, Dwight 0 – At Seneca, Dwight was unable to mount an offense as the Trojans lost a Tri-County Conference matchup with Seneca on April 22. Madi Ely (5 Ks) took the loss in the circle. Parker doubled and Livingston and Frobish each singled.
On April 20, Madi Ely struck out 11 but LeRoy was too much in a DTHS 7-1 loss. Jury fanned two in relief. Jury, Parker, Bovelle, Madi Ely and Mikayla Ely each singled.
LeRoy 10, Lexington-Ridgeview 6 – At LeRoy, Lexington’s offense was held in check in falling to LeRoy in HOIC play on Wednesday. Belle Payne took the loss.
Grace Grimsley provided the highlight for the Minutemen (12-12) with a grand slam in the sixth inning. Allison Epley had two hits, including a double, and Hailey Foote and Emilee Bratcher each singled.
Lexington-Ridgeview 22, Fieldcrest 2 – At Lexington, 14 runs in the second inning helped bring a fast end to Lexington’s HOIC victory over Fieldcrest on April 22. Payne fanned five in notching the victory.
Foote had a double, two singles and three RBIs to help pace the Lexington offense. Eva McCue (3 RBIs) and Ella Sunday (2 RBIs) each had two doubles. Eleana Atkins (2 RBIs) also had two hits and drove in three runs. Mackenzie Wesson and Mikayla Ziegler each had a hit and RBI.
On April 20, Foote collected five hits and drove in three runs and Wesson belted two home runs in an 11-7 win over Putnam County. Ziegler also homered and Cori Pearce had two doubles. Ellie Doll also had two hits. Payne claimed the win in the circle.
EPG 12, Fieldcrest 7 – At Minonk, El Paso-Gridley (3-12) put up seven runs over the final two innings to nab an HOIC victory on Wednesday. Sieger got the win in the circle.
Sieger had a double among her two hits to help her cause. Sloan Gentes had three hits (RBI) while Isabel Vargas (RBI) and Tori Seggerman (2 RBIs) each doubled.
Tri-Valley 21, EPG 11 – At El Paso, Tri-Valley won this HOIC slugfest after breaking open a close game with 12 runs in the final two frames on April 22. Sieger took the loss in going the distance.
Morgan Seggerman (2 doubles, RBI), Tori Seggerman (2 doubles, RBI) and Vargas (double, 2 RBI) had three hits apiece. Nickelle Cummings homered.
WFC 2, Grant Park 0 – At Woodland, Shae Simons won a pitcher’s duel with Cheyenne Hayes as Woodland-Flanagan-Cornell topped Grant Park Thursday. Simons gave up one hit and recorded 11 punchouts as the Warriors moved to 10-7. Hayes also struck out 11 for the Dragons.
Simons had a hit and drove in a run to help the cause. Jaylei Leininger tripled and scored the first run of the game. While Olivia Chismarick had two hits and drove in a run.
WFC 16, Midland 3 – At Varna, WFC scored six runs in the first inning and cruised from there in their TCC contest on April 22. Simons fanned 18 in tossing a five-hitter.
Simons helped her cause with a hit and four runs batted in, but it was Chismarick who supplied a trio of triples and two RBIs. Leininger collected four hits and two RBIs, Emma Palaschack had two doubles, a single and two RBIs and Ella Derossett chalked up a triple and double. Kaiden Connor had a double and Tiffany Rustman doubled and for two RBIs.
This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: Pontiac wins eighth straight behind Elena Krause, Maddie Gourley
