BASEBALL: Warriors top PJHS, clinch outright conference title

Du Quoin clinched an outright conference championship with Monday's 4-1 home win over Pinckneyville, getting great pitching performances from Slade West and Brian Winters.

West tossed the first five innings, giving up only an unearned run, and allowed three hits and a walk with four strikeouts to get the win. Winters came in for the final six outs and nailed down the save, giving up one hit and two walks with four Ks.

"Slade West did a great job on the mound today," said DHS head coach Tim Craft. "He gave up a few base runners in the first inning, but really buckled down and threw a lot of strikes."

"It is a great accomplishment to win our conference. We play a lot of games in a short amount of time and it takes a consistent effort to win these games. I am really proud of our kids."

Pinckneyville got on the board first in the top of the third inning when Hunter Riggins singled then scored on an error. The Junior Panthers would strand their remaining seven base runners, and left a total of eight on for the game.

Du Quoin evened things up in the bottom of the third on a sacrifice fly by Alex Zimmerman, bringing home Winters, who reached base with a single.

The Warriors pushed ahead in the fifth when Zimmerman walked, Braeden Pursell doubled, and West singled in the go-ahead run. Owen Bradley then grounded into a double play, bringing home Pursell for a 3-1 lead. Winters added a sac fly in the sixth.

"Early on we struggled to make consistent contact, but our bats came through later in the game," Craft said.

Winters (1-3, R, RBI, SAC), Pursell (2-3, R, 2B), West (2-3, RBI) and Trae Horn (1-3) had Du Quoin's hits. Pinckneyville got hits from Riggins (2-4, R) and Dalton Kitchen (2-3, 2B, BB).

The Warriors have one final regular season game - at home on Tuesday against Nashville - before beginning Regional action on Wednesday in Du Quoin against Johnston City at 4:00 p.m.

The Junior Panthers are at Christopher on Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. for their first Regional contest, taking on Trico.