Softball Lions make third-straight trip to state meet
CARBONDALE - The Carterville Lions softball team is ranked No. 1 in the state in Class 2A and the Top 10 nationally for a reason. They're good - very good.
And the Lions proved once again Monday evening just how good they are before a large crowd at Charlotte West Stadium on the campus of SIU, defeating the Red Bud Musketeers, 6-0, to claim the Carbondale Super-Sectional for the third-straight year.
With the victory, the Lions improve to 37-1 this spring and advance to the semifinal round of the Class 2A state tournament where they will meet Williamsville (6-2 winner over Bloomington Central Catholic in its super-sectional game) at 4:45 p.m. on Thursday at Louisville Slugger Field in Peoria.
"These girls have come with energy every day to practice since February," said Lions head coach Will Capie when breaking down the significance of the victory. "Even on the difficult days when you didn't want to be at practice, these girls would come in and get their work done. They've been dedicated to the process."
Capie added that the pitching is the difference-maker with this team.
"This team's identity is its pitching," he said. "Caidence was outstanding tonight. We have a lot of depth in pitching and it's carried us all year. And we're very fortunate that our offense is coming through, as well."
Should the Lions win Thursday, they would advance to the state championship game at 12:15 p.m. Saturday. A third-place game would be played on Friday at 12:30.
The Lions got on the scoreboard in the second inning with a two spot. Caidence Phillips led off with a double down the left field line. Masyn Kries singled Phillips's courtesy runner Sofia Badiu to third.
Lainey Workman followed with an RBI single to left to drive in Badiu. Emi Ford next delivered a sac fly to shallow right field, caught by a back pedaling second baseman, Brynlee Liefer, scoring pinchrunner Calli Scott with the second run.
In the fourth, Carterville extended its lead to 5-0 with three runs. Workman led off with a single up the middle. After Emi Ford popped out to the pitcher, Anna Hubbard reached on an infield single off the third baseman. Colbie Bennett followed with a double over the left fielder's head, scoring Workman.
Kendall Henriksen hit a fielder's choice grounder to the pitcher, who threw too late to the plate to get Hubbard. Henriksen was credited with an RBI. The Red Bud catcher then tried to pick Bennett off third as the play unfolded, but the throw hit Bennett and bounced away, allowing Carterville's senior speedster to score the fifth run.
The Lions tallied a sixth run in the sixth inning. With two outs, Bennett doubled to left. Pinchrunner Peyton Applehans came home to score on a base hit by Henriksen.
Meanwhile, Phillips continued to dominate Red Bud batters. She worked out of a mild two-on, two-out jam in the bottom of the third by striking out Julia Whelan to end the inning. Most of the time, however, she was notching strikeouts.
Phillips (22-0 on the season) allowed two hits in earning her complete-game shutout. She struck out 14 and walked two.
"It feels really good to be here," said Phillips. "This team is super special. Our senior class has been playing ball together since we were 8 years old. Just a great feeling."
Phillips said she thrives on the pressure.
"I love it. Some people might get nervous, but I like the pressure. It kind of gives me a calming feeling somehow. It just makes me so happy emotionally to go out and do my job to help us win."
Phillips's battery mate - senior catcher Colbie Bennett - said "it's an amazing feeling" to be making a third trip to the state finals.
"To be with the same team for three years... this senior group is an amazing group," she said. "I've loved every moment with them. With this being my senior year, I think, I think I wanted it (state trip) a little more."
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