Staff writer
The Marion High School Warriors softball team won its first-round regional game Monday at Salty Archer Field in Lyons. The fifth-seeded Warriors defeated the fourth-seeded Sterling Black Bears, 4-2.
One day after graduation, Raelene Allen pitched what head coach Jill Hudson called possibly the best game of Allen’s high school career. Allen struck out five opposing batters. Hudson also credited the Warriors defense with doing a good job of backing up Allen.
“They were just focused every pitch,” Hudson said.
Sterling took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning, but the Warriors tied the game in the top of the third. With two outs, JayDee Shafers hustled to first base, reaching safely while Sterling defenders bobbled the ball. She advanced to second base on a passed ball, and Megan Richmond drove her home with a single to shallow right field.
Allen led off the top of the fourth inning with a double to deep right field and scored when Shelby Percell followed up with a double to deep center field. With two outs, Jordan Harper recorded an RBI, reaching first base safely on a defensive error.
The Black Bears narrowed the margin in the bottom of the fourth inning to 3-2 in Marion’s favor.
Sterling’s Morgan Brown led the bottom of the fifth inning with a walk and a stolen base. Left fielder Annie Whitaker prevented Brown from advancing, catching a deep flyout. With one out, third baseman Sarah Guetersloh recorded an unassisted double play. She caught a line drive by Sterling’s Brook Boeken and tagged out Brown.
Still leading 3-2, the Warriors added an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning, as Shafers scored from third base when Whitaker hit a long foulout down the right field line. Shafers tagged up, and ran home after the ball was caught.
Holding a 2-run lead going into the bottom of the seventh inning, the Warriors defense didn’t let up. Shortstop Richmond caught a high pop fly to start the inning, and Allen finished it with back-to-back strikeouts.
“I knew all along they could do it, and we saw it come together today,” Hudson said.
With the win, the Warriors advanced to play first-seeded Hillsboro High School in the semifinals Tuesday.