Area Roundup: West Central dominates while Dwight, United and Prairie Central compete on softball diamond

By Erich Murphy

Bingo Magic Sports

West Central dominated in its game with Galesburg over the weekend. Dwight and Prairie Central each played three times and United had tough go in area softball play.

West Central 13, Galesburg 1

At Galesburg, a seven-run first inning helped West Central derail the host Silver Streaks 13-1 in a no conference softball game on March 26.

The Heat burned Galesburg for two more runs in the third and polished of the hosts with a four-spot in the fifth inning. The Streaks avoided a shut out with a run in the last of the fifth.

Becca Hinshaw had three hits, including a double, and drove in three runs for West Central (2-0). Lauren Winters had a hit and three runs batted in while Linny Corzatt, Delaney Endress and Addy Burrell each had a hit and RBI. Miley Stimpson collected two hits, drove in a run and got the win in the circle. She struck out 11.

Dwight Softball

At Dwight, the Trojans played three games over the weekend, going 1-2 in the process.

Dwight opened with a 9-1 loss to rival Gardner-South Wilmington open March 26. A five-run third inning pushed the Panthers to the win. Taylor Heath had the lone base hit for the Trojans.

Heath also took the loss in the circle, allowing eight runs (one earned) while striking out six in three innings. Madi Ely gave up a run and fanned four in three innings of relief.

On Friday at DTHS, the Trojans dropped a 17-0 decision to Wilmington. Ely took the loss despite three strikeouts. Heath fanned one in relief. Ely, Heath, McKenna Woodcock, Raegan Brown, Taylor Frobish and Dorothy Wilson each singled.

Dwight survived a late rally from El Paso-Gridley to notch an 11-9 victory on Saturday. The Trojans led 10-2 after four innings, but EPG rallied to make it a one-run game in the sixth inning.

Heath homered and drove in four runs for Dwight (3-2). Ely had a pair of triples among her three hits. Brown had three hits, including a double, and Woodcock had a triple and single. Wilson and Frobish each singled.

Heath struck out 12 in picking up the win in the circle. Ely struck out one in relief.

Adriana Vargas had a double and drove in five runs for EPG (1-3). Addison Barnard also doubled while Alexis Elliott and Jaelynn Krones each singled. Ava Pinkham had seven strikeouts in taking the loss.

United Softball

Monmouth (United) had a tough weekend, falling 15-0 to Farmington on March 26, and then 15-0 to Rockridge on March 28.

At Farmington, the Red Storm got hit with a pair of four-run innings and then a seven-run outburst. United managed four base hits as Natali Postin, Madi Edwards, Jackie Cairns and Atti Bernhardt each singled. Ella Bernhardt (2 strikeouts) and Edwards (1 strikeout) shared pitching duties.

United took another 15-0 decision on the chin against state-power Rockridge on March 28. The Rockets shot out to a 9-0 lead before the Red Storm came up to bat. Bernhardt, Ava Westart, Lilly Neve and Atti Bernhardt each singled. Edwards started and Ella Bernhardt finished up for the Red Storm (2-5).

Prairie Central Softball

At Jacksonville, Prairie Central posted a 2-1 mark in its three games at Jacksonville over the weekend. The Hawks opened with a 10-8 win over Genoa-Kingston on March 27.

The lead switched hands three times in the fifth and sixth innings. Trailing 6-5, the Hawks put up two runs in the fifth frame for a short-lived 7-6 lead. The Cogs answered with two runs for an 8-7 advantage in the bottom of the inning. Sam Slagel ripped a two-run double in the sixth to give PC the lead for good.

Slagel had a home run and two doubles while driving in five runs for Prairie Central. Kyah Creek and two hits and Jules Woodrey had a two-base hit. Riley Wenger singled.

Faith Fields struck out seven and was relieved by Woodrey, who fanned one in picking up the win.

Fields and Woodrey combined for a one-hit shutout in the Hawks’ 11-0 win over the host Crimsons in the first game on March 28. Fields fanned seven and Woodrey had two punch outs.

Creek homered, singled and drove in three runs for the Hawks. Woodrey had a double and single while Lydia Kilgus had two hits. Slagel tripled, and Addi Donley and Alaina Ricketts each doubled. Tenly Kurtenbach had a hit and drove in two runs while Fields and Kate Slagel each singled.

Prairie Central’s second game of the day ended in a 9-7 loss to Newark. Sam Slagel homered, doubled, singled and drove in three runs for the Hawks (4-2). Creek and Donley also had three hits apiece while Woodrey had a hit and two RBIs. Kate Slagel doubled while Kilgus and Wenger each singled.

Woodrey took the loss despite three strikeouts. Fields finished up, fanning five.

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