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NEWTON -- The Wesclin Warriors scored four runs in both the third and fourth innings to take an 8-2 lead and then held on for an 8-7 upset of Casey-Westfield on Thursday in the Class 2A Newton Softball Sectional.
Senior pitcher Laura Elling entered the game in relief in the bottom of the sixth inning and got the final four outs to preserve the victory.
"Laura Elling came in with two outs and tying run on third base in the sixth, and she struck out the first batter she faced on three pitches," Wesclin coach Jeff Harris said.
"Then she made it a little interesting in the seventh inning.The first two hitters she got little weak ground balls for two outs, and then she walked their No. 9 hitter and their No. 1 hitter got an infield single. Then she got a routine flyball to left field to end the game."
Harris said he presented Elling with the game ball after the win.
"That's what you hope your seniors can do," Harris said. "You put them in the most pressure-filled spot that you can possibly find for them, and she came through. As I walked across the field I grabbed the ball, and when we got to the huddle, I said, 'If anybody derserves this, it is definitely Laura."'
Erica Johnson had two hits and two RBIs to lead the Warriors' nine-hit attack.
"Erica was huge," Harris said. "I think it was one or two hops that she hit the right-center field fence her first at-bat. She absolutely crushed the ball. She got a base hit the next time. There were runners in scoring position both times.
Jami Dress was 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
Wesclin (15-12) will play the Teutopolis Wooden Shoes (33-4) at 10 a.m. Saturday in the championship game of the Newton Sectional.
Casey-Westfield, which was ranked ninth in the final Class 2A poll by the Illinois Coaches Associaton, ends its season with a 26-5 record.
Wesclin had eight hits and scored all eight of their runs off Casey-Westfield starter Heather Austin, who lasted four innings.
Winning pitcher Sara Gilomen allowed 11 hits and six runs (five earned) in 5 2/3 innings of work for Wesclin.
