Middle School Softball

honus14 said:

For us (Catholic school in downstate Illlinois):
There is postseason for all schools registered with the IESA - single elimination leading to state championship, two classes.

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BrianMonk said:

Which the state championship games just happen to start on Friday.

IESA Girls Softball

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pridefpsb17 said:

Took the day off work tomorrow to go watch. Excited for two local teams that made their way to state.

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Mattoon, Casey-Westfield in IESA state softball

NORMAL (JG-TC) — Two area IESA softball teams are to compete in the annual IESA state softball tournament today at Champion Fields in Normal. It is the 12th year of the two-class system and the 35th overall.

Mattoon, coached by Jennifer Nolte, takes a 23-2 record into a Class AA quarterfinal game against 16-3 Mount Zion at noon today.

Casey-Westfield, coached by Audra Staley, has a 14-5 record and is to face undefeated Princeville, 14-0, at 12:30 p.m. today in Class A.

The Class A field boasts an impressive group of eight including many with prior state tournament experience beginning with 2011 Runner-Up Bourbonnais Maternity BVM and 2011 State Champion Casey-Westfield. This marks Casey-Westfield’s 21st appearance since 1980 as they currently hold eight state softball championships (1983, ’84, 90, ’93, 94, 95, 97, and 2011). Buffalo Tri-City and undefeated Princeville are also back in 2012, as they hope to avenge tough losses from a year ago. McNabb Putnam County makes its return after a one year absence, just three years removed from their 2009 State Title.

Casey entered the postseason as the No.2 seed in the Effingham St. Anthony regional and started with a 9-4 win over Oblong and won the regional, 9-6 over top-seeded Cumberland. In the sectional the Braves beat 13-5 Altamont, 11-0 to advance to the state tournament.

While Class A returns six out of eight teams from last year’s state tournament, it’s a completely new field this year in Class AA. That’s not to say this group lacks experience, as it was Mattoon who took home third just two years ago not to mention completed an undefeated season en route to a state title in 2008. Homer Glen Homer, Morris Shabbona and East Peoria Central are all hoping to become the first team since those ‘08 Wildcats to go wire-to-wire without losing a game. Edwardsville Liberty is back for the first time since their third place finish in 2009, as they draw one of the most decorated programs in state history in Beecher. Downs Tri-Valley and Mt. Zion round out the list of softball heavyweights vying to bring home that illustrious first place trophy.

It is Mattoon’s fifth trip to state since starting softball in 2005.

The starting times of the games Friday and Saturday are staggered by class. The Class AA quarterfinals begin today at 10 a.m. The Class A quarterfinals get under way at 10:30 a.m. The four quarterfinal winners advance to semifinal games Saturday morning with the third place and championship games set for Saturday afternoon. The Class AA semifinals get under way at 10 a.m. with the third place game set for 2:00 p.m. and the championship game at 4 p.m. The Class A semifinals begin at 10:30 a.m. with the third place game at 2:30 p.m. and the title game at 4:30 p.m.

The price of admission today is to be $5 for adults and high school students and $2 for senior citizens (62 and over) and students (K-8). Children younger than kindergarten are admitted free both days. Fans attending the games Saturday are to receive a wristband that is to be worn all day and is to be used for entry to the facility throughout the day. Each team advancing to the Saturday games are to play two games that day. The price of admission for the wristband Saturday is to be $7 for adults and high school students and $3 for senior citizens (62 and over) and students (K-8).

This year a total of 196 schools entered with 98 in Class A and AA each.The Class A enrollment range this year was 1-154 and AA began at 155.

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Casey-Westfield drops opening game
NORMAL – The Lady Braves lost 8-3 at the IESA Class A State Tournament in Normal to Princeville in the first round and end the season 14-6.
The Casey-Westfield softball team jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning after Karsyn Voris scored on a hit by Mackenzie Morgan.
Princeville dug in and scored four in the second when the Lady Brave defense failed to step it up.
“I think, if we had made those first couple of plays on their bunts, it would have been a different game,” Casey-Westfield coach Audra Staley.
In the fourth, Princeville added another three but the Lady Braves added a couple in the bottom of the sixth when Voris out ran a bunt, stole second and then Morgan hit her in again.* Lindsay Beasley scored the third run after the Princeville defense got a little sloppy and tossed the ball around.
Kate Jones struck out five, walked two and gave up 10 hits in the loss. Voris and Morgan were both 2-for-3. Jones and Beasley both had doubles.
“I really didn’t expect it at the beginning of the year. I saw a lot of improvement from the girls. They have come a long way and I am really proud of them. The majority of the girls will be back, so I am feeling great about next year,” Staley smiled.
Princeville*********** 040*********** 300*********** 1—8-10-2
Casey-Westfield*********** 100*********** 002*********** 0—3-6-5
Winning pitcher: Haley Holt* 7 innings, 8 hits, 3 runs, 10 strikeouts, 2 walks. Losing pitcher: Katelyn Jones 7 innings, 10 hits, 8 runs, 5 strikeouts, 2 walks.
PRINCEVILLE: Caitlin Pullen single, RBI; Lane single, 2 runs, 2 RBIs; Holt 2 singles, double, RBI; Marissa Horton single, run; Jessica Devries RBI; Natalie Cokel single, run, RBI; Natalie Dominquez single, 2 runs, RBI; Nichole Roberts 2 singles, 2 runs, RBI.
CASEY-WESTFIELD: Voris 2 singles, 2 runs; Jones single, double; Beasley single, double, run. Morgan 2 singles, 2 RBI.

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Lady Wildcats suffer 1-0 loss in state contest.
NORMAL* -- After leaving 10 runners stranded in a 1-0 loss to the Mt. Zion Lady Braves, the Mattoon Middle School softball team ended their run at the IESA Class 2A Tournament in Normal. The team ends the season 23-3.
“We knew we were pretty well matched up, but didn’t expect to be 0-0 in the top of the sixth inning. We were hoping it would have been us on top. We just didn’t put the hits together that we know we’re capable of,” said Mattoon coach Jennifer Nolte.
The Lady Wildcats had two outs in the top of the first when seventh grader Abrienne Lee singled up the middle. Dow bounced one out to the Lady Braves shortstop who made a wild throw to first and Lee went to third. Courtesy running for Dow, Kiera Ptomey took second on the next pitch. Both runners were left on the bases after the next batter grounded out to the second baseman.
“When you don’t connect a couple in a row, you struggle,” Nolte added.
Mattoon came close again, in the top of the fifth after one out when Avery Jackson reached on a hard hit ball to left center. Ivy Nichols the drove one towards second and put a little too much pressure on the Mt. Zion defense. With an errant throw after Nichols hit, Jackson went to third and Nichols ended up on second. The Lady Wildcats' next batter struck out. Dow walked to load the bases but then the inning ended and the opportunity lost when Brianna Poehler hit a rocket to right that*Mt. Zion’s Hannah Watts*snagged with an amazing catch.
“We are very capable of hitting. That’s what these girls do best. We are an outstanding defensive team. Knowing typically that Mt. Zion is a small ball/slapping kind of team, I knew it would be a back-and-forth kind of thing with them.* But throughout the season we have been hitters. It was just a little disappointing that we could string anything together today,” Nolte stated.
Mt. Zion scored in the bottom of the sixth after a walk and then Alli Davis hit a double to deep left field. Davis had two of Mt. Zion’s three hits.
Cassi Dow only gave up three hits and struck out 10 batters in six innings. Abrienne Lee was 3-for-4.
“We had a fabulous season. It is a good group of girls. It is always fun to see them so excited about the state tournament. We do have such a good group of girls that come in each year and talent gets better each year that makes it exciting to look forward to each year,” said Nolte.
Mattoon*********** 000*********** 000*********** 0—0-14-0
Mt. Zion*********** 000*********** 001*********** X—1-9-3
Winning pitcher: Gabby Damarin 6 innings, 8 hits, 0 runs, 5 strikeouts, 3 walks. Losing pitcher: Cassi Dow 6 innings, 3 hits, 1 run, 10 strikeouts, 2 walks.
MATTOON: Avery Jackson, single; Ivy Nichols 2 singles; Abrienne Lee 3 singles; Cassi Dow 2 walks; Avery Risinger single; walk; Alyssa Mathais single.
MT. ZION: Paige Hockman run; Gabby Darmin walk; Alli Davis single, double; Rebecca Wilson single.

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