SOFTBALL: West Frankfort explodes late in win over Elverado

For five innings, the Lady Falcons were neck-and-neck with West Frankfort on the softball diamond in Vergennes, but the Lady Redbirds' bats came to life in the sixth and seventh innings when they scored eight total runs to win the game 11-3. Elverado pitchers issued nine walks, of which seven turned into runs.

"We played a great game for five innings," said EHS head coach Donette Wheatley, "then we walked too many batters. Throw some hits in there and they scored some runs on us. We are hitting the ball better. They are a very aggressive team on the base paths."

West Frankfort got a run without recording a hit in the top of the second inning, and tacked on another in the top of the third after a walk and a base hit.

Elverado was able to tie the score at 2-2 in the bottom of the third on a two-run double by Britani Prescott, but the Redbirds got the lead back after a walk, an error and a ground-out RBI by Sam Finn in the fourth.

Cheyenne Abbadusky and Prescott both singled in Elverado's fifth, making it 3-3, but West Frankfort would find their groove at the plate in the top of the sixth.

RBI hits by Sydney Chamness and Kiarha Wilce highlighted the four-run sixth for the Lady Redbirds, who got four more in the seventh after two walks, an error, and singles from Sarah Aldridge and Wilce.

Abbadusky (2-4, 2 R), Prescott (3-4, 3 RBI, 2B), Baylie McClanahan (1-4, 2B), Paige Newfarmer (1-3, R, BB) and Tori Ehlers (1-3) had Elverado's eight hits against Wilce, who also led West Frankfort with three hits (3-5, RBI).