Hatchets Advance to Class 1A State Softball Tournament

Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg is headed to the Class 1A State Softball Tournament for the first time ever.

SPRINGFIELD -- Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg High School trailed Calhoun 2-0 until the fourth inning of the Class 1A Springfield Softball Super-Sectional Monday.

But the Hatchets got warmed up, tying the game in the fourth, scoring a single run in the fifth and four in the sixth to win 7-2 and advance to the Class 1A State Tournament Friday and Saturday.

Calla Roney, the Hatchets ace on the hill, struggled early in the contest, walking three batters in the first three innings as Calhoun moved ahead 2-0. Megan Schlechte came on in relief and handled the game the rest of the way from the mound, allowing no more runs.

Roney led off the fourth by getting on base on an error. She ended up scoring the first run for WSS and the Hatchets tied the score at 2-2. WSS moved ahead on an RBI double by Roney in the fifth. The Hatchets then tallied four runs in the sixth.

Mackenzie Reynolds finished with a single, double and two RBI.

The Hatchets are making their first-ever trip to state in softball at a co-op and also as Stewardson-Strasburg and Windsor. WSS improves to 26-4 and will now meet Argenta-Oreana at 12:30 p.m. at Peoria's Eastside Centre Friday. Argenta-Oreana defeated Somonauk, 4-2.

In the other contest Friday, London MIlls Spoon River Valley Co-op will take on Goreville at 10 a.m., London Mills beat Orangeville, 6-2 while Goreville won over  New Athens 4-1.

The losers face each other Saturday for third place at 10 a.m. while the winners meet for the state championship at 12:30 p.m.

Class 1A Springfield Super-Sectional

Calhoun                020    000    0    --    2-7-3

WSS                      000    214    x    --    7-7-1

WP -- Schlechte. LP -- none listed

Calhoun -- no hits listed

Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg -- Cole, single; Schlechte, single, 1 RBI; Hayes, single; Roney, single, double; Reynolds, single, double, 2 RBI