WSS Softball Season Comes To End at S-S

SPRINGFIELD -- Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg High School's softball season came to an end in the Class 1A Springfield Super-Sectional Monday, falling 1-0 to Calhoun.

The lone run of the contest came in the first inning as Calhoun's Lucy Kallal singled with one out for the only hit the Warriors had in the contest. She took second and third on wild pitches and came home when Sydney Ballman ground out.

Baalman then took the mound and stymied the Hatchets' big hitting team. The lone hit was a single by Ava Bennett in the seventh with two outs.

It wasn't that the Hatchets didn't have opportunities though. WSS had a runner reach third base in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh innings but couldn't get them home as Baalman stiffened each time to get the final out. She finished allowing three walks but striking out 14.

She was also aided by some big defensive plays in the contest. Twice, Calla Roney was robbed of a hit when Lucy Kallai made a catch on a fly ball in the fifth. Then Roney was again robbed of a hit when Elly Pohlman made a catch over her head.

The Hatchets' Megan Schlechte started the contest and went 3.2 innings, allowing one run on one hit, two walks and stiking out three. She picked up the loss. Roney came on to go 2.1 innings allowing no hits, no walks and striking out six.

Windsor/Stew-Stras had nine steals in the contest. The Hatchets end the season with a 35-2-1 record.

These two teams met last year with the Hatchets taking the win, advancing to state and claiming the Class 1A state championship.

This time around, it was Calhoun's turn as the squad advances with a 30-4 record. This is the fourth time the squad has been to the state finals in the last five seasons. Calhoun will take on Goreville Friday at 12:30 p.m. at Eastside Centre in East Peoria. In the 10 a.m. contest, Peru St. Bede will meet either Orangeville or Glasford Illini Bluffs. Those two teams will meet today for the Sterling Super-Sectional championship.

Class 1A Springfield Super-Sectional

WSS                      000    000    0    --    0-1-0

Calhoun                100    000    x    --    1-1-0

WP -- Baalman. LP -- Schlechte.

Windsor/Stewardson-Strasburg -- Bennett, single

Calhoun -- Kallai, single; Baalman, 1 RBI