Around the area: Lowe tosses second perfect game in last two weeks as Wolves continue to roll

PLEASANT HILL, Ill. — Dominant. Unhittable. Perfect.

All of these adjectives describe McKinley Lowe’s performance for the Pleasant Hill softball team on Monday. Lowe tossed a perfect game and struck out 19 hitters in the Wolves’ 9-0 victory over Winchester West Central.

This is Lowe’s second perfect game in the last two weeks. She also threw a six-inning perfect game in a 10-0 victory against Griggsville-Perry on April 8. The Wolves (13-2) have five shutouts this season.

The Wolves staked Lowe to a six-run lead after the first inning as Makenna Winchell blasted a two-run home run and Lowe followed with a solo home run. Pleasant Hill’s Jade Peebles went 3 for 4 with two runs scored, while Winchell and Kaitlyn Borrowman each had two hits.

Saukees’ Gratton holds Suns hitless

AUGUSTA, Ill. — Hayden Gratton tossed five hitless innings in the Pittsfield baseball team’s 15-0 five-inning victory over Southeastern on Monday.

Gratton struck out six and did not walk a batter. Jaren Henry was the only player for the Suns (2-9) to reach base, getting to first on a Justin Pennock error leading off the bottom of the third. Carson Kerr bounced into a double play three pitches later, and Gratton retired the final seven batters he faced.

Eight of the nine Saukee starters scored a run, and five players had multiple hits. The first seven Saukees reached base in a nine-run fourth inning. Pittsfield is 16-4 overall.

Panthers walk off Beardstown

CAMP POINT, Ill.  — The Camp Point Central softball team has won its share of dramatic games this season, and Monday’s win over Beardstown was simply the latest.

Beardstown rallied from down three runs to take an 8-7 lead in the top of the seventh. However, Central’s Anna Peters singled leading off the bottom of the seventh. After an Emma Stephens groundout, Olivia Hofmann tripled to drive in Peters to tie the game. Gabby Homan flew out to left field, and Karly Peters followed with a walk-off double to right field that scored Hofmann.

This is the second walk-off victory and fourth win by one run for the Panthers (9-9) this season.

Indians extend winning streak

RUSHVILLE, Ill.  — The Payson Seymour baseball team won its fourth straight game Monday, defeating Rushville-Industry 8-6. The Indians (9-9) scored three runs in each of the first two innings and two more in the third to take an 8-1 lead. 

The Rockets scored two runs in the third and fourth innings and another in the sixth to cut the deficit to two. An error leading off the bottom of the seventh brought the tying run to the plate, but Indians pitcher Ransom Zehnle induced a ground out, a fly out, and another ground out to secure the victory.

Nolan Sparks had three hits for the Indians. Blake Schwartz and Ashton Ertz each drove in two runs. Wyatt Neisen had two hits and stole two bases.

Indians score late to beat Suns

AUGUSTA, Ill.  — The Payson Seymour softball team scored three runs in the top of the sixth inning to break the tie and defeat Southeastern 7-5.

After a strikeout, a walk, and a dropped third strike got runners to first and third with one out in the top of the sixth, Grace Klitz gave the Indians (11-12) the lead with a line drive RBI single to center field. A Bryn Buescher ground out brought in another run, and Klitz stole home with two outs to extend the Indians’ lead to three.

Mattie Branchfield singled to cut the deficit to two and bring the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh, but Abby Hagerbaumer induced a ground out from Grace Arthur to end the game.

Chargers seize lead in first and never look back

BARRY, Ill. — The Illini West softball team scored five runs in the top of the first inning and added nine runs in the fourth inning, leading to a 16-3, five-inning victory over Western on Monday. Kaelyn Ferrill went 2 for 4 with two runs scored and three RBIs for the Chargers, while five other Chargers had two hits apiece.

Madalyn Boyer struck out five and allowed two earned runs to earn the victory.

Pair of hat tricks lift Bombers

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Macomb girls soccer team picked up a 7-0 victory over Springfield Lutheran. Kylie Robinson finished with three goals and two assists, while Kate Stortzum had three goals and an assist. Mirabel Quinn-Necak had the Bombers’ other goal, while goalkeeper Jesse Trost recorded the shutout and had an assist.