Ormond’s two-strike, two-out single in bottom of sixth breaks tie, helps Liberty claim regional crown

After throwing her glove in the air, Liberty pitcher Chandler John gets ready to celebrate with first baseman Claire Obert, who holds the ball in her glove after the final out of Friday night's Class 1A regional softball game at Western High School in Barry. | David Adam

BARRY, Ill. — Years from now, when people talk about Friday night’s Class 1A softball regional championship game, most will remember Camdyn Ormond’s sixth-inning single through the right side of the infield that brought home the winning runs for Liberty in a 3-1 victory on Friday night at Western High School. Pleasant Hill coach Ryan…

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West Hancock hitters unable to solve riddle of Williamsville’s Nowack in Class 2A softball regional

CARTHAGE, Ill. — The West Hancock softball team couldn’t figure out a way to generate any offense against Williamsville pitcher Izzy Nowack during Friday’s Class 2A Illini West Regional championship. Nowack struck out seven, walked one and allowed just three hits in the Bullets’ 3-0 victory. West Hancock’s Lakin Larson led off the fourth inning…

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Havana’s Howerter keeps Central from generating offensive attack in regional championship game

Emma Stephens, shown pitching earlier this week against Southeastern, had two of the Panthers’ four hits in Friday's game against Havana while also taking the loss in the circle as she allowed five runs and eight hits with five walks and three strikeouts. | MRS file photo by Mike Pritchard

CAMP POINT, Ill. — Havana pitcher Maddie Howerter made life difficult for the Camp Point Central softball team. Howerter allowed just four singles, struck out eight and shut out the Panthers as the Ducks won the Class 1A Camp Point Regional championship with a 5-0 victory Friday. Howerter impressively wriggled out of a jam in…

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Photo Gallery: Pair of homers help Raiders rack up sixth consecutive regional championship

Quincy Notre Dame first base coach Sam Vranjes, left, congratulates Sophia White after she reached first base during Friday night's Class 2A regional championship game. | Annie C. Reller

Lauren Miller and Caitlin Bunte both homered for the Quincy Notre Dame softball team in Friday night’s 5-1 victory over Buffalo Tri-City in the Class 2A regional championship game at The Backyard. The regional title is Notre Dame’s sixth straight, and Tri-City was denied its first title since 2022. QND has won 11 straight games…

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Photo Gallery: Liberty’s John comes out ahead in pitcher’s duel with Pleasant Hill’s Wombles

Liberty shortstop Ava Heming tags out Pleasant Hill's Ava Wombles as she tries to steal second base during Friday night's Class 1A regional championship game at Western High School in Barry. | David Adam

Liberty’s Chandler John allowed just three hits and one walk in a complete game effort in a 3-1 victory over Pleasant Hill in the Class 1A softball regional on Friday night at Western High School in Barry. Pleasant Hill’s Ava Wombles also turned in a solid game in the circle, allowing five hits and walking…

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Central softball team cruises in semifinals victory, sets up Friday regional showdown with Havana

Central's Emma Stephens faced just 13 batters against Southeastern, allowing no hits and one walk. | Photo courtesy of Mike Pritchard

CAMP POINT, Ill. — Realistically, Brey Genenbacher said her Camp Point Central softball team was approaching Wednesday’s game as more of a workshop. The Panthers were an overwhelming favorite in their Class 1A regional semifinal matchup with Augusta Southeastern and proved why in a 15-0 victory, a game shortened to 3 1/2 innings by the…

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Photo Gallery: Panthers turn 11 walks, six walks into 15 runs in first two innings of rout

Central second baseman Karly Peters fields a ground ball during Wednesday's game in the Class 2A regional semifinals in Camp Point. | Mike Pritchard

Central sent 25 batters to the plate in the first two innings, receiving 11 walks and six hit batters to score 15 times to win 15-0 over Augusta Southeastern in the Class 1A regional softball semifinals on Wednesday afternoon in Camp Point. Havana (22-3-1), which routed Mendon Unity 13-0 in the other regional semifinal earlier this…

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Photo Gallery: Dominant Bunte allows two hits, one walk to help Raiders reach regional title game

Quincy Notre Dame's Caitlin Bunte fires a pitch during Wednesday afternoon's Class 2A softball regional semifinal game at the Backyard. | David Adam

Quincy Notre Dame’s Caitlin Bunte was dominant in the circle on Wednesday afternoon, allowing just two hits and walking one to collect a 2-1 victory over Pittsfield in the Class 2A regional semifinals at the Backyard. She gave up one unearned run to a team that had scored 299 runs in 30 games before Wednesday.…

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Survive and Advance: Liberty softball coach not thrilled with level of play but accepts regional semifinal victory

Liberty junior second baseman Anna Dietrich watches the flight of a ball she hit during a 14-7 victory over Griggsville-Perry in the Class 1A Barry Western Regional semifinals Tuesday at Western High School. | Shane Hulsey

BARRY, Ill. — Liberty softball coach BJ Fessler remained optimistic while also addressing the elephant in the room in the postgame huddle following a 14-7 victory over Griggsville-Perry in Tuesday’s Class 1A Barry Western Regional semifinal game. The No. 2 seed Eagles did not perform up to their standard. “I wasn’t hard on the girls,”…

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Photo Gallery: Liberty scores four times in bottom of fifth to pull away from Griggsville-Perry

Liberty right fielder Shea Ionson, left, congratulates Eagles first baseman Claire Obert after Obert scored a run during Tuesday's Class 1A Barry Western Reegional semifinal game at Western High School. | Shane Hulsey

BARRY, Ill. — The Liberty softball team scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to pull away from Griggsville-Perry to win Tuesday’s Class 1A Barry Western Regional semifinal game 14-7. The Eagles (22-5) will play for the regional championship on Friday against the winner between No. 3 seed Pleasant Hill and fifth-seeded…

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Liberty’s Lefringhouse enhancing all-state resume by adding power surge this season

Liberty's Ally Lefringhouse, shown batting against Pittsfield on May 15, is a two-time all-state selection and has played more than 100 games in her Liberty career. | Shane Hulsey

LIBERTY, Ill. — Ally Lefringhouse would rather stay out of the spotlight, but her softball talents make it difficult for her to avoid it. Lefringhouse, a senior catcher for Liberty, has been a consistent force over the last four seasons. She has played at least 25 games each season, made just five errors behind the…

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QHS softball team brings out bats while picking up victory over Sacred Heart-Griffin

Quincy High School freshman Maggie Neally is greeted by her teammates at home plate after hitting a home run in the first inning of Friday's game against Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin in Quincy. | Shane Hulsey

QUINCY — The Quincy High School softball team showed up ready to swing. Five of the first six Blue Devils to bat in the first inning Friday collected hits, including four extra-base knocks, as a four-run frame set the stage for an 8-4 victory over Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin at the QHS field. Quincy collected 15…

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Liberty softball team ‘smacks the ball pretty good,’ uses three home runs to overtake Pittsfield

Liberty sophomore first baseman Claire Obert approaches her teammates at home plate after her grand slam in the sixth inning of Thursday's game against Pittsfield in Liberty, Ill. | Shane Hulsey

LIBERTY, Ill. — Ally Lefringhouse’s home run sparked the Liberty softball team’s comeback, Chandler John’s homer completed it, and Claire Obert’s slam put an exclamation point on it. Lefringhouse got the Eagles within a run with a solo blast in the bottom of the third inning, John gave the Eagles a one-run lead with her…

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Photo Gallery: Plenty to cheer about for Liberty softball team in home victory over Pittsfield

Liberty sophomore pitcher Chandler John and her teammates celebrate Eagles senior catcher Ally Lefringhouse's home run in the third inning of Thursday's game against Pittsfield in Liberty, Ill. | Shane Hulsey

LIBERTY, Ill. — The Liberty softball team belted three home runs, including a grand slam by sophomore first baseman Claire Obert in the sixth inning, in a 12-7 victory over Pittsfield on Thursday. Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey captured these images from the Liberty softball field.

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Area scoreboard for Wednesday, May 14

Here is the area scoreboard for Wednesday, May 14: Prep baseball Illini West 8, Orion 7 Liberty 15, Pleasant Hill/Western 0 Macomb 5, Beardstown 3 Winchester West Central 1, Mendon Unity 0 Kirksville 10, Palmyra 0 Rock Island Alleman 4, Quincy High School 2 Prep softball Quincy Notre Dame 10, Camp Point Central 8 Quincy…

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Quincy Notre Dame finishes unbeaten in WCC after outlasting Central in eventful nine-inning softball game

Quincy Notre Dame teammates gather around home plate after a three-run home run by Joselyn Boyer in the five-run top of the ninth inning during Wednesdays game at Camp Point. | Photo courtesy of Mike Pritchard

CAMP POINT, Ill. — Whew! That major exhale heard shortly before dusk Wednesday four miles northeast of Camp Point was compliments of Quincy Notre Dame softball coach Eric Orne. QND extended its win streak to 10 games but not before dodging several sizable upset-minded bullets from longtime rival Central on a breezy, 83-degree sun-swept afternoon…

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Blue Devils explode offensively, pile up 29 runs in just three innings of victory over Suns

Quincy High School's Ivy Winter drove in six runs in Wednesday's 29-4 victory over Southeastern at the QHS field. | MRS file photo

QUINCY — A 16-run inning featured every player in the Quincy High School softball team’s lineup scoring at least once as the Blue Devils beat Southeastern 29-4 in four innings Wednesday. The Blue Devils had just 11 hits, but they took advantage of 11 walks and one hit batter in their highest scoring game of…

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Photo Gallery: Orne picks up 650th victory on softball diamond in 27th season at Notre Dame

Central's Adisen Mace dives into home plate to score during the fifth inning of Wednesday night's game against Quincy Notre Dame. Mace's run tied the score at 1-1. | Photo courtesy of Mike Pritchard

CAMP POINT, Ill. — Quincy Notre Dame’s 10-8, nine-inning victory on Wednesday over Central featured the two schools combining for eight runs in the ninth inning. The teams combined for 18 runs, 22 hits, eight walks and numerous wild pitches and passed balls. Fifteen players were credited with hits. QND’s victory was the 650th in…

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Rock Island uses 10-run second inning to wrap up WB6 softball crown at Quincy’s expense

Quincy High School sophomore Izzy Weppler winds up to throw a pitch during Tuesday afternoon's softball game against Rock Island. | David Adam

QUINCY — Quincy High School’s softball team was coming off its best performance of the season, but there was no carryover on Tuesday from a Saturday afternoon doubleheader sweep of Granite City. Rock Island (19-9) all but wrapped up the contest with a 10-run second inning on its way to a 14-7 triumph that clinched…

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QND softball team stays unbeaten in WCC play, extends winning streak to nine games

Notre Dame's Madalyn Boyer, shown pitching on April 22 against Western, struck out six, walked three and gave up one earned run — Jadyn Climer's home run in the fifth inning. | MRS file photo by David Adam

HAMILTON, Ill. — Caitlin Bunte came within a home run of the cycle, five players had multiple hits and Madalyn Boyer tossed a five-hit complete game as the Quincy Notre Dame softball team handled West Hancock 9-2 in Tuesday’s West Central Conference game. QND center fielder Morgan Winking helped get the Raiders on the board…

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Hlubek sisters combine for four HRs as QHS softball team takes both ends of twibill from Granite City

Quincy High School freshman outfielder Kamryn Hlubek is greeted by her teammates at home plate after hitting her first career home run in the third inning of the Blue Devils' 13-3 victory in game one of a doubleheader versus Granite City on Saturday at Quincy High School. | Shane Hulsey

QUINCY — Kamryn Hlubek loves her mother dearly, but she may have to tell her mom to watch the Quincy softball team’s games from somewhere besides the ballpark. Kamryn, a freshman outfielder for the Blue Devils, hit her first career home run — a solo blast in the third inning of a 13-3 mercy rule…

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Back-and-forth game ends with Pittsfield softball team breaking 20-victory mark

Pittsfield pitcher Emma Wombles, shown pitching March 25 against Quincy High School, struck out the last two batters to wrap up the game. | MRN file photo by Shane Hulsey

QUINCY — In a game that featured four lead changes and 29 combined hits, the Pittsfield softball team scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead for good and held off a West Hancock seventh inning rally to win 13-11 in the first game of QND Slam on Saturday at…

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Bunte hits homer, hurls one-hit shutout as QND softball team runs winning streak to eight games

Caitlin Bunte, shown pitching on May 9 against Beardstown, did not allow a baserunner after Kaitlyn Borrowman's single with two outs in the first inning. | MRN file photo by shane Hulsey

QUINCY — Caitlin Bunte tossed a one-hit shutout and hit a two-run home run as the Quincy Notre Dame softball team won its eighth game in a row, dispatching Pleasant Hill 8-0. Bunte’s two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth inning gave the Raiders a 5-0 lead, Lauren Miller extended that lead to six…

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Photo Gallery: Blue Devils all smiles as baseball, softball teams sweep three games at home

Quincy High School third baseman Ivy Winter smiles toward the Blue Devils dugout after reaching base during game two of Saturday's doubleheader with Granite City. | Shane Hulsey

QUINCY — The Quincy High School baseball team defeated Payson Seymour 10-0, and the softball team won both games of a doubleheader with Granite City by scores of 13-3 and 17-7 on Saturday. Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey captured these images from the baseball and softball diamonds.

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Photo Gallery: Boyer scores on Winking infield single as Raiders outlast Tigers

Quincy Notre Dame senior Madalyn Boyer heads to the Raiders dugout after scoring the go-ahead run in the sixth inning of QND's 3-2 win over Beardstown Friday at The Backyard. | Shane Hulsey photo

QUINCY — Quincy Notre Dame senior Madalyn Boyer scored the winning run from second base as Morgan Winking legged out an infield single to with two outs in the sixth inning to help QND beat Beardstown 3-2 on Friday. Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey captured these images at The Backyard.

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Area scoreboard for Friday, May 9

Here is the area scoreboard for Friday, May 9: Prep baseball Payson Seymour 2, Mendon Unity 1 Greenfield/Northwestern 9, Camp Point Central 7 Highland 4, Marceline 4 Palmyra 21, Highland 6 Liberty 13, Lutheran 3 Macomb 8, West Hancock 0 Monroe City 14, Van-Far 8 Petersburg PORTA 9, Pittsfield 7 Prep softball Quincy Notre Dame…

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Wink and a knock: Raiders slap hitter drives in winning run in WCC showdown with Tigers

Quincy Notre Dame's Morgan Winking drove in the winning run with an infield single in the sixth inning of Friday's 3-2 victory over Beardstown at The Backyard. | Shane Hulsey photo

QUINCY -— By trade, Morgan Winking is described as a softball slapper. The left-hander uses extraordinary bat control, and when coupled with her above-average speed, she provides the Quincy Notre Dame softball team with an effective weapon at the bottom of its order. Winking’s talent was on display late Friday afternoon at The Backyard, where…

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QND softball team eclipses 20-victory mark for sixth consrcutive year with 16-1 decision over Southeastern

Eric Orne's softball teams at Quincy Notre Dame have won at least 20 games for six consecutive seasons. | MRN file photo by David Adam

QUINCY — Caitlin Bunte homered to center field to lead off the bottom of the first inning for the Quincy Notre Dame softball team, which went on to post a 16-1 victory over Southeastern on Tuesday afternoon at the Backyard. The victory enables the Raiders (20-4) to reach the 20-victory plateau for the sixth consecutive…

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Raiders pound out 36 hits, 32 runs and six home runs in doubleheader sweep of Alton Marquette

Caitlin Bunte, shown batting against Quincy High School on April 16, had seven hits, including three home runs, and drove in 10 runs during Quincy Notre Dame's doubleheader sweep of Alton Marquette on Saturday at the Backyard. | MRN file photo by David Adam

QUINCY — Caitlin Bunte had seven hits in eight at-bats, including three home runs, and drove in 10 runs during the Quincy Notre Dame softball team’s 17-2 and 15-4 victories over Alton Marquette on Saturday at the Backyard. Bunte went 4 for 4 with two home runs, four runs scored and five RBIs in the…

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Stroke of Luck: Lefringhouse’s drive bounces right way for Liberty softball team in extra-inning victory

Liberty senior catcher Ally Lefringhouse, center, is greeted by her teammates at home plate after hitting a go-ahead two-run home run in the top of the eighth inning Tuesday against Pittsfield at Vic Callender Field. | Shane Hulsey

PITTSFIELD, Ill. — Lady Luck was on the Liberty softball team’s side on Tuesday. With Liberty and Pittsfield tied at 2, Anna Dietrich at first and one out in the top of the eighth, Liberty semior catcher Ally Lefringhouse launched an 0-1 pitch from Emma Henry high in the air to deep center field. The…

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Blue Devils erupt for 10 runs in first inning, hand Galesburg softball team 27th consecutive defeat

Quincy High School catcher Maggie Neally, left, and pitcher Carlee Gilker celebrate after the third inning of Tuesday afternoon's softball game. The Blue Devils scored 10 first-inning runs and won 13-3. | David Adam

QUINCY — What a difference a day makes. To fully appreciate Quincy High School’s 13-3 Western Big 6 softball victory over Galesburg on Tuesday, just consider what the Blue Devils had experienced the day before — an identical 13-3 pounding at the hands of arch rival Quincy Notre Dame. QHS coach Anjay Heinecke said her…

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Photo Gallery: Freshman catcher developing into top hitter for QHS softball team

Quincy High School right fielder Kamryn Hlubek corrals a fly ball during Tuesday's softball game against Galesburg. | David Adam

Freshman catcher Maggie Neally collected a team-high three hits and fell a home run shy of hitting for the cycle during Tuesday’s 13-3 victory for the Quincy High School girls softball team over winless Galesburg. Neally is hitting .460 with three homers in her rookie season. Muddy River News Editor David Adam captured some of the…

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Dirty Dozen: QND softball maintains mastery over arch rival QHS, wins 13-3 at home

Notre Dame's Caitlin Bunte socked her seventh home run of the season and 20th of her career, a line shot over the right-center field fence, during Monday's game. | Shane Hulsey

QUINCY — To her credit, Anjay Heinecke did not try to sidestep the question. The Quincy High School softball coach fully admitted the frustration of the ongoing losing streak to arch rival Quincy Notre Dame, the latest loss coming in 13-3 fashion on a balmy Monday evening inside the friendly confines of The Backyard at 10th and…

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Photo Gallery: Raiders all smiles in victory over Blue Devils in crosstown showdown

From left, Quincy Notre Dame softball players Josie Boyer, Morgan Winking, Ellie Miller and Sophia White pose for a photo before taking the field during Monday's game against Quincy High School at The Backyard. | Shane Hulsey

QUINCY —The Quincy Notre Dame softball team jumped on Quincy High School with four runs in the first inning on Monday and never looked back in a 13-3 victory at The Backyard. Muddy River Sports Writer Shane Hulsey captured some of the action from 10th and Jackson.

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Wombles cousins share sister-like bond that transforms into fiery competitiveness on softball diamond

Emma Wombles, left, is a sophomore pitcher and infielder for the Pittsfield softball team. Ava Wombles is a senior pitcher and outfielder for the Pleasant hill softball team. Their great-great-grandfathers were twins. | Shane Hulsey photos

PLEASANT HILL, Ill.  — Ava Wombles is like the older sister Emma Wombles never had. “Ava is probably my biggest role model,” Emma Wombles said. Ava could not be more proud to hold that distinction. “It literally means the world to me that she said that,” Ava Wombles said. “One of my goals in life…

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Winking’s walk sets up red-hot Bunte to clear bases with triple, setting tone early for QND softball team

Quincy Notre Dame's Josie Boyer slides across home plate and umpire John Shepard gives the safe call while Western catcher Rachel McMullen looks to throw the ball during Wednesday afternoon's softball game at the Backyard in Quincy. Josie Boyer scored on Madalyn Boyer's single in the fourth inning. | David Adam

QUINCY — The most important at-bat in Wednesday afternoon’s 12-2 victory by the Quincy Notre Dame softball team over Western at the Backyard came in the second inning when it took the lead. No, it wasn’t Caitlin Bunte’s bases-clearing triple, breaking a scoreless tie. Instead, it was Morgan Winking’s two-out walk to load the bases,…

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Losing no-hitter in seventh doesn’t bother John as Liberty softball team holds on to defeat Blue Devils

Pitcher Chandler John walks off the field with a smile after Liberty's 5-2 victory over Quincy High School on Wednesday afternoon. | Shane Hulsey

QUINCY — Chandler John was oh-so-close to a no-hitter, but the run differential after the final out was all she was concerned about. The Liberty sophomore right-hander was two outs from a no-hitter against Quincy High School on Wednesday before Avary Hlubek thwarted John’s chances at a no-no with a single through the left side,…

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Photo Gallery: Tough day for Blue Devils on softball, baseball fields

Quincy High School's Cameron Lawson throws a pitch during Wednesday afternoon's baseball game against Moline. | Shane Hulsey

The Quincy High School baseball team lost 3-0 at home on Wednesday to Western Big 6 Conference rival Moline, while the Quincy High School softball team lost 5-2 at home to Liberty. Sports Writer Shane Hulsey captured some of the action at both games.

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Simon delivers clutch homer to put Pittsfield on top, snags line drive in seventh to seal victory

Pittsfield second baseman Lila Simon, right, celebrates with Emma Henry after recording the last out of Tuesday's softball game against Pleasant Hill. | Shane Hulsey

PLEASANT HILL, Ill. — It was only fitting that the Pittsfield softball team’s victory over Pleasant Hill on Tuesday ended with the ball in Lila Simon’s glove. Simon’s bat put the Saukees in position to win the game in the first place. After blasting a two-out, three-run home run off of Saint Louis University commit…

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Photo Gallery: Emma outduels Ava in battle of Wombles cousins in Saukees’ road victory

Members of the Pittsfield softball team wait for Lila Simon to cross home plate after hitting a tie-breaking three-run home run in the sixth inning of Tuesday's softball game against Pleasant Hill. | Shane Hulsey

Pittsfield’s Emma Wombles and Pleasant Hill’s Ava Wombles, who are distant cousins, combined for 29 strikeouts and just five walks from the pitcher’s circle in Pittsfield’s 4-3 victory over Pleasant Hill on Tuesday afternoon in Pleasant Hill. “It was a pitcher’s duel, for sure,” Wolves coach Ryan Lowe said. “Both girls did a phenomenal job.…

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Weppler’s back problems now in rear-view mirror for Quincy High School softball squad

Izzy Weppler, left, and Avary Hluber | Photos by Steve Eighinger

PAYSON, Ill. — Slowly, but ever so surely, Izzy Weppler is carving out her softball niche as a member of the Quincy High School pitching staff. The left-handed sophomore made just her second start of the season Monday afternoon, pitching the Blue Devils past Payson Seymour 7-3. Weppler has worked to overcome a series of…

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Liberty softball team backs John’s pitching with nine unanswered runs in victory over Payson Seymour

LIBERTY, Ill. — The Liberty softball team trailed 3-2 after 2½ innings, then scored nine unanswered runs to post an 11-3 victory over Payson Seymour on Thursday afternoon. Chandler John earned the victory, striking out eight, allowing five hits, three walks and one unearned run.  Payson Seymour scored twice in the second inning, then Abby…

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One strike from victory, Raiders give up tying and winning runs in bottom of seventh at Piasa

Morgan Zanger, shown taking a swing during an. April 14 game against Pittsfield, had two hits against Piasa Southwestern on Thursday. | MRN file photo by Shane Hulsey

PIASA, Ill. — The Quincy Notre Dame girls softball team was one strike from victory, but a two-out two-strike RBI single tied the score and another RBI single drove home the winning run for Piasa Southwestern in an 8-7 victory on Thursday afternoon. The Raiders led 7-5 entering the bottom of the seventh. Reliever Caitlin…

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Boyer slugs homer, earns victory in circle as QND extends softball win streak over QHS to 11 games

Quincy Notre Dame catcher Lauren Miller prepares to throw out Quincy High School runner Ariana Adorno, who laid down a sacrifice bunt in the first inning during Wednesday night's softball game at Avenue of Saints Field. Adorno's sacrifice bunt helped the Blue Devils take an early 1-0 lead, but Notre Dame rallied for a 6-2 victory. | David Adam

QUINCY — Understandably, Madalyn Boyer needed a few moments to decide what was more enjoyable. The Quincy Notre Dame right-hander was the winning pitcher — with excellent relief help from Caitlin Bunte — and also socked her first home run of the season during the Raiders’ 6-2 victory over rival Quincy High School in a Wednesday…

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‘Those are the fun games’: Henry’s hit highlights rally, Stambaugh’s glove seals victory for Saukees

Grace Henry's RBI single in the bottom of the sixth broke a 6-6 tie and put Pittsfield ahead for good in its softball game against Western on Wednesdaty night in Pittsfield. | Shane Hulsey

PITTSFIELD, Ill. — Pittsfield softball coach Ariana White could sense the strings tightening, so she did her best to loosen them. The Saukees led Western 7-6 entering the top of the seventh on Wednesday, but back-to-back errors put Wildcats runners on first and second with one out. White then made a trip to the pitcher’s…

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Photo Gallery: Raiders improve to 15-2, close in on sixth consecutive 20-victory season

Quincy Notre Dame coach Eric Orne waves home Caitlin Bunte after Joselyn Boyer's double during Wednesday night's softball game at Avenue of Lights Field. | David Adam

Wednesday’s 6-2 victory over Quincy High School moved the Quincy Notre Dame girls softball team one step closer to a sixth consecutive 20-victory season. Notre Dame has outscored Quincy 87-18 during that 11-game stretch. The last QHS victory against the Raiders came in April 2018.  Muddy River News Editor David Adam captured some of the images from…

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Photo Gallery: Bunte’s amazing offensive streak continues for Raiders

Caitlin Bunte connects for a two-run home run in the third inning of Monday night's softball game between Quincy Notre Dame and Pittsfield. | Shane Hulsey

PITTSFIELD, Ill. — Caitlin Bunte went 2 for 3 with a two-run home run in the third inning and scored three runs in Quincy Notre Dame’s 10-4 victory over Pittsfield in a prep softball game on Monday night. In the last eight games dating back to April 5, Bunte has gone 15 for 22 with…

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Area Scoreboard for Monday, April 14

Here is the area scoreboard for Monday, April 14: Prep Baseball Quincy 8, Rock Island 6 Quincy Notre Dame 19, Rushville-Industry 5 Illini West 10, Astoria/VIT 0 Pittsfield 3, Payson Seymour 0 Brown County 10, Triopia 1 Palmyra 5, Mendon Unity 0 Clark County 13, Highland 2 Silex 17, Mark Twain 5 Prep Softball Quincy…

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Bunte has five hits, seven RBIs in first game as QND softball splits with Bloomington Central Catholic

Quincy Notre Dame's Caitlin Bunte takes a swing during Friday's game against Calhoun. | MRN file photo by Shane Hulsey

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Caitlin Bunte had the game of dreams on Saturday. The Quincy Notre Dame senior and University of Indianapolis commit went 5 for 6 with seven RBIs and hit for the cycle in the Raiders’ 15-4 victory over Bloomington Central Catholic in the first game of a doubleheader. Bunte got the home run…

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Bunte atones for first-inning mistake, goes 4 for 4 in QND softball team’s home victory

Quincy Notre Dame's Caitlin Bunte celebrates after hitting a double in the sixth inning of Friday's game at The Backyard. | Shane Hulsey

QUINCY — Caitlin Bunte did not let a first-inning error deter her and instead used it as motivation. Two batters into the Quincy Notre Dame softball team’s game against Triopia on Friday, Raiders third baseman Josie Boyer fielded a ground ball off the bat of Addilynn Tracy. Bunte dropped Boyer’s throw to first, allowing Tracy…

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Photo Gallery: Raiders shut down high-scoring Triopia after allowing early run

Members of the Quincy Notre Dame infield gather around pitcher Caitlin Bunte before the top of the seventh inning of Friday night's game at The Backyard. | Shane Hulsey

Caitlin Bunte had four hits, scored two runs and fired five scoreless innings in relief as the Quincy Notre Dame girls softball team beat Triopia 4-1 at The Backyard on Friday. Bunte struck out nine and retired the final 13 batters of the game, throwing 46 of her 61 pitches for strikes. Sports Writer Shane…

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Baserunning calls cost QHS softball team critical outs in sixth, seventh innings of WB6 loss

Quincy High School freshman catcher Maggie Neally celebrates after crossing the plate for what appeared to be the tying run in the bottom of the sixth inning of Wednesday's Western Big 6 Conference game against Rock Island Alleman. Neally was called out after the field umpire deemed she left early on a fly ball to center field. | Shane Hulsey

QUINCY — Quincy High School softball coach Anjay Heinecke didn’t agree with the umpire’s calls, but there was nothing she or anyone could do to change them. Those calls came in a one-run game in the sixth and seventh innings of the Blue Devils’ 5-4 loss to Western Big 6 Conference foe Rock Island Alleman…

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Miller’s game-winning hit in bottom of eighth inning caps wild victory for Central over Western

Western's Rachel McMullen dives back to third base while Central's Gwen Huston applies the tag in top of first inning. | Photo courtesy of Mike Pritchard

CAMP POINT, Ill. — The look Lauren Miller wore on her face provided an indication to what had preceded her game-winning hit in the bottom of the eighth inning.  “This game was an emotional rollercoaster … we just tried to keep the pressure on and keep scoring,” said Miller, whose frozen-rope one-out double down the…

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Photo Gallery: Blue Devils fall just short of overcoming five-run sixth inning by Alleman

Quincy High School senior shortstop Ariana Adorno connects with a pitch during the seventh inning of Wednesday's Western Big 6 Conference game against Rock Island Alleman in Quincy. | Shane Hulsey

The Rock Island Alleman Pioneers took the lead with a five-run sixth inning, then withstood two comeback attempts by Quincy High School to win 5-4 in a Western Big 6 Conference softball game on Wednesday evening. Sports Writer Shane Hulsey captured some of the moments during the game.

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Area scoreboard for Saturday, April 5

QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Saturday, April 5: Prep baseball Quincy Notre Dame 3, Jacksonville 2 Prep softball Quincy Notre Dame 13, Dundee-Crown 5 Quincy Notre Dame 12, Fenton 3 Payson Seymour 11, Newark 11 Girls soccer Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin 3, Quincy Notre Dame 0 College baseball Quincy University 8, Indianapolis 6…

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Area scoreboard for Thursday, April 3

Hannibal junior left-hander Cooper Scott delivers a pitch during Thursday's game against Mexico at the Veterans Sports Complex. The Pirates won 3-1. | Mathew Kirby photo

QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Thursday, April 3: Prep baseball Geneseo 5, Quincy High School 4 Quincy Notre Dame 4, Liberty 1 Monmouth United 5, Camp Point Central 4 Pittsfield 5, Riverton 4 Calhoun 9, Brown County 5 Monmouth-Roseville 5, West Hancock 3 Hannibal 3, Mexico 1 North Shelby 8, South Shelby…

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Area scoreboard for Tuesday, April 1

QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Tuesday, April 1: Prep baseball Quincy Notre Dame 7, Palmyra 0 Quincy High School 11, Macomb 0 Liberty 13, Southeastern 3 Camp Point Central 14, Pleasant Hill 3  Beardstown 3, Mendon Unity 2 Jacksonville Routt 10, Brown County 5 Pleasant Plains 10, Pittsfield 0 Moberly 5, Hannibal…

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McMullen’s softball odyssey taking her from Pike County to state’s capitol to fulfill competitive drive

Barry Western senior catcher Rachel McMullen frames a pitch during Monday's game against Pleasant Hill in Barry, Ill. | Shane Hulsey photo

BARRY, Ill. — Rachel McMullen’s softball journey began innocently enough. A video of McMullen’s first tee ball at-bat — posted to her X account on March 3 — shows a 5-year-old McMullen hitting the tee with her first swing, but after reloading and taking another hack, making solid contact, dropping the bat and running to…

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Dixon’s double gives Wildcats spark needed to burn out victory against Wolves

Barry Western junior infielder Emma Dixon loads up for a pitch during Monday's game against Pleasant Hill in Barry, Ill. | Shane Hulsey photo

BARRY, Ill. — Intimidation turned into jubilation for Emma Dixon. And once Dixon provided the spark, Loryn White kept the fire burning. With the Barry Western softball team trailing Pleasant Hill 1-0 with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the first inning on Monday, Dixon strode to the plate for her…

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Area scoreboard for Monday, March 31

QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Monday, March 31: Prep baseball Geneseo 15, Quincy High School 0 Illini West 4, Liberty 1 West Hancock 9, South Fulton 2 Canton 11, Monroe City 1 Marion County 12, Bevier 1 Prep softball Camp Point Central 10, Quincy High School 6 Pittsfield 16, North Greene 1…

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Interference call ends pitchers’ duel as Raiders outlast Warriors at softball slam

Quincy Notre Dame senior pitcher Caitlin Bunte delivers a pitch during Saturday's game against Hardin Calhoun at The Backyard. | Shane Hulsey photo

QUINCY — Whether the play was savvy, lucky or both, Alyssa Ley’s instincts paid off. With the bases loaded, two outs and the Quincy Notre Dame softball team leading Hardin Calhoun 1-0 in the top of the seventh inning Saturday, Ley ranged to her left from her shortstop position to field a ground ball off…

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White’s speed turns tide in Raiders’ favor during one-run win over Warriors

Quincy Notre Dame softball coach Eric Orne, left, congratulates freshman outfielder Sophia White after White reached third base during Saturday's game against Hardin Calhoun at The Backyard. | Shane Hulsey photo

QUINCY — Quincy Notre Dame freshman outfielder Sophia White has earned the nickname “Flash.” On Saturday, she showed why. White led off the third inning of a scoreless game against Hardin Calhoun at The Backyard with one task — get on base. With that in mind, Raiders coach Eric Orne told White to bunt for…

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Payson Seymour splits games at softball slam, while Illini West suffers pair of setbacks

Payson Seymour softball coach Joe Fessler, left, congratulates senior catcher Ella Archer after Archer reached base during Saturday's game against Quincy Notre Dame at The Backyard. | Shane Hulsey photo

QUINCY — Four teams provided a day full of action at Saturday’s Quincy Notre Dame Softball Slam at The Backyard. The finale provided plenty of drama with QND squeaking out a 1-0 victory over Hardin Calhoun. Here is a recap of the three games preceding that showdown: Archer’s timely hits give Indians lift Corin Robinson…

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Area scoreboard for Saturday, March 29

QUINCY — Here is the area scoreboard for Saturday, March 29: Prep baseball Edwardsville 9, Illini West 0 Pittsfield 7, Lewistown 0 Pittsfield 8, Ridgewood 0 Brown County 6, Camp Point Central 4 Canton 6, Brown County 4 Canton 13, Camp Point Central 2 Hannibal 7, Wright City 1 Warrenton 14, Hannibal 1 Moberly 11,…

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