Elena Krause and Aubrey Shepherd have been rather effective in the circle in the early going of the 2024 season. But the hurlers haven't been getting any run support as Pontiac has suffered three close losses thus far. Two of those setbacks came this week.
On March 19 at Pontiac, Krause and Shepherd tried to hold East Peoria in check but the Raiders topped the Tribe 2-0 at The Diamond at Williamson Field.
Krause struck out five and gave up two runs (one earned). Shepherd retired all six batters she faced.
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Maddie Gourley and Brooke Burger had the only base hits for Pontiac.
At Chatham, Krause had the only base hit for Pontiac (0-3) in a loss to Glenwood on March 21. Krause took the loss in the circle after yielding four runs on four hits. She fanned nine. Aubrey Shepherd allowed two hits in relief.
Dwight 5-5, Henry-Senachwine 2-3 — Dwight was finally able to get its softball season off and running as the Trojans opened with a pair of Tri-County Conference victories over Henry-Senachwine.
Taylor Heath guided DTHS to a 5-2 win over the Mallards on March 19. Heath struck out 13 and allowed just two runs (one earned) and five hits in the circle. At the plate, Heath collected two hits, drove in a run and scored twice. Her first hit plated Megan Livingston with the first run of the game.
Averi Jury had a double and drove in three runs while Avery Scheuer had a hit and RBI and Livingston singled.
On March 21, Dwight needed nine innings to complete the home-and-home sweep. Scheuer belted a two-run homer for the win. This came after the Trojans took a 3-1 lead in the top of the seventh only to let it slip away when Henry scored twice in the bottom of the frame to force extra innings.
Heath got the win in relief, fanning three in her two innings. Madi Ely started and gave up three runs (one earned) while fanning 12 in seven innings.
Including the homer, Scheuer had three hits and drove in three runs to pace Dwight (2-0). Taylor Frobish had two hits, including a two-bagger, and drove in a run. Heath and Sarah Parker each had a double and single.
Central Catholic 6, Lexington-Ridgeview 5 — At Lexington, Central Catholic answered a big inning from host Lexington-Ridgeview with a four-run spot that proved to be a winner for the visiting Saints on March 20.
Mikayla Ziegler had two hits and drove in a run for the Minutemen. C Pierce had a hit and two RBIs and Eleana Atkins doubled.
Belle Payne took the loss despite not giving up an earned run.
Tri-Valley 9, Prairie Central 6 — At Downs, Tri-Valley scored three runs in its last at bat to get past Prairie Central on March 21. Dixie Hogan took the loss after yielding three unearned runs in relief. She fanned one. F Fields struck out three in relief and starter Jules Woodrey struck out one.
Woodrey had a triple, single and drove in a run. Rylee Galloway singled and drove in two runs.
Prairie Central 21, El Paso-Gridley 8 — At El Paso, Prairie Central struck early and often in a nonconference win on March 16. The Hawks scored in each inning they batted for their first win of the season.
Sam Slagel was the power supply for PC with two home runs among her three base hits. She also drove in five runs. Kyah Creek also had three hits that included a homer and double while driving in four runs. Kyrsten Atkins chalked up a pair of triples and drove in six runs. Jules Woodrey had a double, single and two RBIs and Rylee Galloway collected two hits and a run batted in.
Dixie Hogan fanned four in going the distance in the circle for Prairie Central (1-3). Gracie Sieger took the loss for EPG.
Nickelle Cummings had a homer and two doubles while driving in three runs for the Titans. Morgan Seggerman homered while Sieger and Claire Stroh each doubled. Lexi Schouweller had two hits.
El Paso-Gridley 10, Hall 5 — At El Paso, Tori Seggerman homered to lead El Paso-Gridley past Spring Valley (Hall) on March 21. Seggerman finished with three hits and drove in three runs.
The Titans had to rally from an early deficit. Nickelle Cummings singled to drive in two runs in the fourth inning to put EPG ahead for good. Cummings had a hit and two RBIs. Isabel Vargas collected two doubles and Gracie Sieger helped her cause with a triple, single and three RBIs. Sloan Gentes added a two-base hit.
Sieger struck out four in going the distance for the win.
WFC 10-15, Lowpoint-Washburn 0-3 — Shae Simons and Lilly Libby were on the mark in pitching Woodland-Flanagan-Cornell to a pair of Tri-County Conference wins over Lowpoint-Washburn this week.
Simons set down 10 Lowpoint-Washburn batters on strikes as she tossed her second no-hitter of the season on March 19. Olivia Chismarick had three hits, including a two-bagger, and drove in two runs for the Warriors. Emma Palaschack had two hits and drove in a run and Libby had a double and two RBIs.
Libby struck out four and didn't allow an earned run as the Warriors won 15-3. Palaschack collected two triples two singles and two runs batted in to pace WFC at the plate. Simons doubled, singled and drove in a run and Chismarick tripled. Libby and Ella Derossett each had two hits and three RBIs. Jaylei Leininger had two hits and two RBIs
St. Bede 12, WFC 1 — At Woodland, St. Bede solved Shae Simons, hitting the WFC star for 12 runs in a nonconference victory for the Bruins. Simons struck out seven in going the distance.
Olivia Chismarick had the lone hit, a double, for Woodland-Flanagan-Cornell.
This article originally appeared on Pontiac Daily Leader: Pontiac getting off to slow start to 2024 softball season
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