Published on April 1, 2026 8:20 am
Last Updated on April 1, 2026 3:02 pm
BY MILLIE LANGE
South Central struck early, moving into a 2-0 opening inning lead and went on for a 6-1 victory over Effingham St. Anthony in softball action Tuesday in a game heard on KJ Country 102.3.
The Cougars’ starting batter, Maddie Peddicord singled. Amelia Montes followed with a double. Kinlee Thompson hit a ball that the Bulldogs third baseman Emeline Wines handled to get the first out on a fielder’s choice. Lauren Johnson drew a walk and the bases were loaded. Emmie Ruholl followed with a single, scoring two runs. Zoey Feldhake walked and the bases were once again loaded.
But Nancy Ruholl got tough on the mound, striking out the next two batters to end the threat of more runs.
The Bulldogs got their first hit in the second inning by Ruholl with a single but she was left stranded.
In the top of the fourth, Annie Ruholl drew a walk with one out. A fly ball put the second out up on the board. But the Cougars then got back on track as Montes had her third hit of the game, a single. Thompson then followed with a home run and the Cougars moved into a 5-1 lead. Lauren Johnson drew a walk and Zoey Feldhake had an RBI single for a 6-0 lead.
St. Anthony then scored its only run in the bottom of the inning. Jackie Vonderheide doubled and came home on a single by Ruholl.
From that point on, both teams were quiet. South Central went up in down in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings.
St. Anthony rumbled several times. In the fifth, Lilly Gannaway got a single after Lily Hardiek was hit by a pitch but both runners were left stranded.
Vonderheide got her second double of the game in the sixth but she was left on base. Sadie Vineyard drew a walk in the seventh but was also left on base.
South Central finished with eight hits in the contest while Peddicord gave up only one walk and struck out 12.
At St. Anthony
South Central 200 400 0 — 6-8-0
St. Anthony 000 100 0 — 1-5-0
WP — Peddicord. LP — Ruholl.
South Central — Peddicord, single; Montes, 2 singles, double; Thompson, single, home run, 3 RBI; Ruholl, single; Feldhake, single
St. Anthony — Gannaway, single; Vonderheide, 2 doubles; Ruholl, 2 singles