HS softball: Gillian Smith hits first career home run in Gillespie’s big win over Staunton
Gillespie High School freshman Gillian Smith poses with her first career home run ball following the Miner softball team’s 9-7 South Central Conference victory at Staunton May 6. Photo contributed.
Miners could rematch Bulldogs in Gillespie regional championship
By JACKSON WILSON
Enquirer Democrat Reporter
On May 6, Gillespie High School softball head coach Michelle Smith received an early Mother’s Day present in the form of her daughter’s first career home run, which came at the perfect time for the Miners’ in a big 9-7 South Central Conference victory against their biggest rival at Staunton.
Gillian Smith, a freshman, ended the day with two hits and a pair of RBI for Gillespie, which additionally received multi-hit efforts from Ava Rakers with three hits and three RBI; Laci Shuckenbrock with three hits; Macie Wright with two hits and two RBI; and Delaney Taylor with two hits, including a triple, and a sacrifice fly.
After falling behind 7-5 in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Miners fought back with four runs in the top of the sixth to land their seventh win in eight conference contests and remain in the running for another SCC title.
Gillespie, which also defeated North Mac (4-0) May 2, Sacred Heart Griffin (2-1) May 8 and Litchfield (9-4) May 9 in recent action, is 19-6 overall. The Miners have won 13 of 14 games since Apr. 11 with their lone loss coming against SCC frontrunner Southwestern, which is 14-3 overall and 6-0 in league play.
Sadie Sholtis defeated Grace Burris on the rubber. Both hurlers pitched complete games. Sholtis allowed seven runs, but only two earned, on nine hits while striking out eight without a walk. Burris also collected eight strikeouts, but surrendered 14 hits in one of her worst outings of the season.
Lilly Bandy was the top offensive weapon for the Dogs with four hits and two runs scored. She was backed by Sam Anderson, who had two RBI and Ele Feldmann, who added a hit and RBI while scoring a run.
Staunton rebounded with back-to-back conference victories at Pana (4-0) May 7 and against Vandalia (10-6) May 9. The Bulldogs are 16-3 on the year and 6-2 against the SCC and can play a pivotal role in shifting the final landscape of the conference standings with a highly-anticipated regular season finale against Southwestern looming May 14.
Gillespie and Staunton could rematch in the championship round of regionals in the Vandalia sub-sectional.
The Miners have been selected as a host and will face East Alton Wood River in semifinal action Wed., May 21 at 4:30 p.m. on the Ben-Gil Elementary School soil. If they win, they play for the title Sat., May 24 11 a.m.
The Bulldogs are the regional’s top seed and will face either Marquette or Roxana Tues., May 20 at 4:30 p.m.
Other regional action
In other regional action, Southwestern heads to Columbia to battle Trenton Wesclin Wed., May 21 at 4:30 p.m. The winner of that semifinal will draw Breese or state-ranked Columbia in the title game Fri., May 23 at 4:30 p.m.
North Mac and Carlinville are in the Auburn sector of the Macomb bracket. The Panthers open with a quarterfinal duel against Riverton in Virden Mon., May 19 at 4:30 p.m. The winner heads to Auburn to face the top seed and former fourth place state finisher Trojans May 20 at 4:30 p.m. Carlinville has received a first round bye and will take on Sacred Heart Griffin May 21 at 4:30 p.m. The championship is May 24 at 11 a.m.
