Panthers head into Regionals with 3-game win streak

By Fred Kroner

The St. Joseph Panthers softball team collected wins on three consecutive nights, starting with a 17-2 triumph at Rantoul Eater on Tuesday (Aug. 29).

That was followed on Wednesday (Aug. 30) with a 12-4 victory at home over Danville North Ridge and then a 3-1 decision at Champaign Edison.

Against Eater, Brooklyn Stevens powered two home runs and drove in five runs to spark the offensive outburst.

Mia Miller also drilled two hits and scored three runs. Stevens and Ashlee Jannusch also touched home plate three times.

Teagan Blacker slammed a home run. She scored two runs and drove in two runs. Braelyn Ikemire had three RBI. Ainsley Dirksmeyer finished with two RBI. Avery Haley tallied two runs. Ava Alexander stole three bases.

The Panthers led, 9-2, after two innings.

Lyla Patton pitched a complete game, permitting two hits and two walks in four innings. She struck out six hitters.

Against North Ridge, Stevens threw all seven innings. She walked three batters and fanned seven.

St. Joseph created a 9-0 lead after two innings.

Vivian Smith and Jannusch swatted two hits each. Jannusch, Stevens and Ikemire all knocked in two runs. Jannusch tallied three runs. Crossing home plate twice each were Smith and Blacker.

Against Edison, Patton tossed a three-hitter and registered a season-high 17 strikeouts.

The Panthers staked her to a 2-0 first-inning lead.

Jannusch produced two hits and scored one run. Also scoring once each were Dirksmeyer and Candice Wright. Blacker and Ella Buhs each contributed one RBI.

St. Joseph takes a 12-4 record into the postseason. The Panthers are the No. 1 seed for the Hoopeston IESA Class 2A Regional and will open tournament play on Saturday (Sept. 9) against either fourth-seeded Watseka or fifth-seeded Oakwood.