BASEBALL: Indians whip Wildcats, 12-2

The baseball Indians finished conference play with an exclamation point, drilling Anna-Jonesboro 12-2 in five innings on Friday at the Ballpark at Du Quoin High School.

Levi Brening picked up his second win over the Wildcats in a week, allowing just three hits and two walks with seven strikeouts.

"It was a good way to end a tough few weeks," said DHS head coach Tim Craft. "Levi started off a little slow, but once we got him some runs, he ran with it."

"To go 7-3 in our conference is a pretty good accomplishment. We just have to keep working to improve over the next two weeks to get ready for the post season."

The Indians did half of their total damage in the first inning. Jacob Valier singled with one out in front of a two-run homer by A.J. Smith. Brening then singled, Braden Lee was hit by a pitch, Ryne O'Rourke walked, and then Ashton Smith, Cole Hopkins and Ethan Keller all came through with RBI singles in the six-run spurt.

Brock Bullar and O'Rourke both doubled to add a run for Du Quoin in the second, then Bullar delivered a three-run double as part of the Indians' five-run fourth.

Keller (1-3, 2 RBI), Valier (2-3, 2 R), A.J. Smith (1-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR), Brening (2-3, 2 R, RBI), Bullar (2-3, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 2B), O'Rourke (1-2, R, RBI, 2B, BB), Ashton Smith (1-2, R, RBI), Hopkins (2-2, R, RBI) and Jacob Edwards (1-1, 3 R, 2B) all had hits for Du Quoin.

The Indians (15-10, 7-4) host West Frankfort on Wedneday and Trico on Friday.