By Fred Kroner
Villa Grove’s softball team won two of four games in the two-day Rantoul Invitational, which ended on Saturday (April 2).
After dropping a 13-0 decision on Friday (April 1) to Effingham St. Anthony, the Blue Devils won twice on Saturday, beating Centennial, 14-8, losing to St. Joseph-Ogden, 19-2, before finishing with a 15-2 conquest over Rantoul in the 11th-place contest.
Against St. Anthony, Kaylee Arbuckle, Emma Bratten-Noice, Alex Brown and Chloe Reardon had hits. Brown struck out two batters in three innings and suffered the loss.
Against Centennial, Logan Lillard had two hits. Arbuckle and Addie Wilson each had one hit.
The Blue Devils were out-hit by the Chargers, 14-9, but benefitted from 10 walks and eight batters who were hit by pitches.
Arbuckle drove in three runs and Wilson had two RBI. Brown scored three runs. Bratten-Noice picked up the pitching win, fanning one batter in three innings.
Against SJ-O, the VG hits were recorded by Bratten-Noice, Brown and Wilson. Brown and Wilson each drove in one run.
Brown pitched three innings and struck out three batters.
Against Rantoul, Reardon powered a home run and knocked in three runs. Brown produced two hits and earned the pitching win, striking out four batters in two innings.
Driving in two runs apiece were Lila Bessent, Bratten-Noice and Alison Pangburn.
Villa Grove (6-8) returns to action on Monday (April 4) at home against Toledo Cumberland.
