The Franklin Park Lady Bobcat softball team made history becoming the first Lady Bobcats team to win a state tournament game as they knocked off Wolf Branch in Saturday’s opener 9-6. Teagan Lobek went 3-for-4 at the top of the lineup scoring 3 times. Kenna Benjamin drove in 3 runs with a triple and Maci Susmena added 2 RBI. Salem led 4-1 after 3 innings and scored 3 times in the fourth to take a 7-1 lead. Wolf Branch came back with 4 runs in the fifth to make it 7-5, but Salem answer with 2 more in the same inning to hold off the comeback. Emily Parret struck out 8 and scattered 10 hits in her win in the circle, throwing 141 pitches in grinding out the win. Salem advances to Tuesday’s semifinal at Rotary Park in Centralia when they get Carterville after their dominant 14-4 win over Waterloo. The other semifinal will see Sparta Lincoln, who survived a 1-0 game with Hamilton County, take on Marion after they beat Carmi 16-9.
And the Bobcats baseball team made it the first year ever both teams won a game at state in the same year as they beat Belleville Whiteside 11-1. Jax Schaubert was dominant throwing the 5-inning no-hitter. He struck out 6 and walked just 2. Owen Tennyson tripled twice with 2 RBI. Ben Lux drove in a run. Bentley Bryan singled and scored along with Emit Gibson. Eli Purdy singled and scored 3 times. Salem advances to tomorrow’s state semifinal against Waterloo after their 13-3 win over Carterville. DuQuoin opened with a 14-1 win over Benton and Flora lost to Marion 5-0.
In Class S softball at Coulterville, Willow Grove/St Mary’s season ends with an 11-7 record after losing to Century 9-1. The Lady Centurians scored 5 runs in the fifth inning to pull away. Century advances to Tuesday’s semifinal against Pinckneyville who beat Waltonville in their opener 3-1. St John Red Bud beat Carrier Mills 9-1 and will get New Hope who ended Albers/Damiensville’s magical run 8-0.
In the Class S baseball tournament, Altamont Lutheran dropped their game to OLMC 10-0, Summersville beat Century 7-3, St John Red Bud over Galatia 12-2 and Cisne outlslugged Valmeyer 11-10.
In Class M first round softball games at Pinckneyville, the hosts beat Aviston 11-1, Nashville beat Smithton 10-0, Goreville 10-0 over Crab Orchard and Fairfield dominated Christopher 14-3.
In Class M basball, Goreville shutout Pinckneyville 10-0, NCOE shutout Albion 3-0, Smithton beat Aviston 6-2 and Nashville over Maryville Christian 9-2.
