WSS Captures Class 1A State Softball Crown

Team members of the first place Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg softball team celebrate their Class 1A State championship Saturday.

 

EAST PEORIA -- Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg High School struck early and struck hard to claim the Class 1A State Softball Tournament crown Saturday at EastSide Centre by beating Goreville, 8-5.

The Hatchets ran off to a 3-0 first inning lead and used the long ball several times throughout the game. Carson Cole bunt singled to start the top of the first. Megan Schlechte sacrified Cole to second. Calla Roney then followed with a home run to right center and the Hatchets were up 2-0. Mackenzi Tabbert singled and stole second and then stole third and scored on an error by the third baseman.

The lead went to 5-0 in the second inning. With two outs, Katrina Davis drew a walk and Cole followed with a single. Schlechte reached base on an error and advanced to second on the throw and Cole scored. Davis took third and scored on another error.

The lead went to 6-0 in the top of the third when Tabbert hit a home run to left field.

Then it was Goreville's turn in the bottom of the inning. The Blackcats tallied four runs to pull within 6-4. Goreville finished with four hits in the frame, three singles and a double, drew one walk and WSS committed an error.

But the Hatchets came back with a run in the top of the fourth when Cole doubled down the left field line, advanced to third on an error and came home on a fielder's choice by Schlechte that was scored as an error.

Goreville scored again in the bottom of the fourth and stood within 7-5 but Windsor/Stew-Stras brought home an insurance run in the top of the seventh. Schlechte drew a base on balls and on a ground out, she took second. Tabbert followed with a single up the middle and took second on the throw as Schlechte scored.

Schlechte started the game on the mound and went 2.1 innings, allowing five hits, four runs, one walk and struck out two.

Roney came on to pick up the win and end her record at 16-2. Roney allowed one hit, one run, no walks and struck out five. She finished the game as Goreville went up and down in a row in the bottom of the seventh.

The Hatchets had eight hits in the contest as Tabbert finished with two singles, a home run and two RBI, Cole had two singles and a double and Roney a home run and two RBI.

WSS ended with a 28-4 record while Goreville finshed second at 24-11.

Class 1A State Tournament

Championship Game

Windsor/Stew-Stras              321    100    1    --    8-8-3

Goreville                                004    100    0    --    5-6-5

WP -- Roney. LP -- King.

Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg -- Cole, 2 singles, double; Schlechte, 1 RBI; Roney, home run, 2 RBI; Tababert, 2 singles, home run, 2 RBI; Everett, single

Goreville -- Schuetz, single; King, 2 singles, 2 RBI; Licka, double,1 RBI; Sopczak, single, 1 RBI; Walker, single