The North Clay Cardinals improved to 33-4 on the season as they opened the Altamont 1a Sectional with a 3-1 win over the Okaw Valley Timberwolves. The Cardinals got on the board early after Carder Walden, Cody Zimdars and Trenton Ingram drove in runs to make it 3-0. Wyatt Hildebrandt drove in the Okaw Valley run. Ian Jones was the winning pitcher for North Clay striking out 6 and walking none over 6 3-hit innings. The Cardinals advance to Saturday’s Sweet 16 Sectional Finals where they will play Cumberland after they upset the other top-seed Arthur 5-4 to advance.
At Goreville, Garrett Church struck out 10 and allowed just 1 hit in the Blackcats 5-1 home win over Sparta. Church also hit a home run along with Nich King. Goreville improves to 26-5 while Sparta’s season ends at 19-11. Goreville will take on Edwards County in the finals after they eliminated NCOE 13-0. Cash Conner was the winning pitcher and went 2-3 with a home run at the plate, Jax Duncan homered and Drew Roosevelt hit a grand slam for the Lions.
At Greenville, Nokomis edged Gibault 3-1 and Pawnee over New Athens 9-8.
