BASEBALL: Indians work quick in stomping Steeleville

Du Quoin got a little help from some Steeleville errors and a lot of help from shortstop Jacob Valier, who belted a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth inning to secure a 12-1 short-game win for the Indians, winners of their last five games.

Braden Lee got the win on the mound, going all five innings and giving up one earned run on four hits and a pair of walks.

"Jacob swung the bat good (on Tuesday) and it continued today," said DHS head baseball coach Tim Craft. "Braden did a great job, he didn't strike anyone out, but threw a bunch of ground balls and let his defense make plays behind him. He did a good job keeping them off-balance."

Du Quoin got after it early on offense, grabbing a 4-0 lead after one inning thanks to hits from Valier (single), Levi Brening (RBI single) and Ryne O'Rourke (RBI single) and walks by A.J. Smith and Lee.

Two more runs crossed the plate for DHS in the second when A.J. Smith reached on an error, and the Indians were in command up 6-0.

"We've had two games in a row where teams have let us have some extra base runners," said Craft, "and we've been able to take advantage of that."

Steeleville picked up their lone run in the fourth on a single, a walk and a sacrifice fly, but Lee limited the damage and retired the last four batters of the game in order, allowing Valier's blast to win the game in walk-off fashion.

Valier (3-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR), Smith (1-2, 2 R, 2B, BB), Brening (1-3, 2 R, RBI), O'Rourke (1-1, 2 RBI, BB, SAC), Ethan Keller (1-3, 2 R, BB) and Brock Bullar (1-3, R) had Du Quoin's eight hits.

The Indians (11-6, 4-2) head to Anna-Jonesboro for a key conference matchup on Friday at 4:30 p.m.