BASEBALL: DMS wins Class L Regional title

Slade West smacked a crucial three-run double and Brian Winters struck out ten West Frankfort hitters as Du Quoin Middle School held on for a 5-4 win in Saturday's Class L Baseball Regional championship game, sending them to Centralia this weekend for the SIJHSAA State Tournament.

Down 1-0, the Warriors did all their offensive damage in the bottom of the second inning. After back-to-back batters were hit by pitches with the bases loaded to give Du Quoin the lead, West connected on a bases-clearing double to give his team a 5-1 lead.

"What a great game," said DMS head coach Tim Craft. "We faced another tough pitcher and were able to take advantage of some walks and hit batters to take the lead in the second. Slade West came up with a huge three-run double for us."

After their rally in the second inning, Du Quoin would manage only two hits the rest of the game. Their four-run lead stayed where it was until the top of the fifth when Winters issued a pair of one-out walks in front of a base hit and a sacrifice fly that brought West Frankfort to within a run. The Warriors got out of the jam, however, and Winters retired the final seven batters he faced in order.

"Brian kept making big pitch after big pitch for us," Craft said. "We kind of got caught up in the moment in the fifth and made a few mental mistakes in the field, but we were able to settle down and fight through it."

"I am really proud of what these kids have accomplished. We just have to keep taking it one game at a time."

West (1-3, 3 RBI, 2B, BB), Alex Zimmerman (1-2, R, RBI, 2 HBP), Braeden Pursell (1-2, R, RBI, 2 HBP), Owen Bradley (1-3) and Trae Horn (1-3) had Du Quoin's hits against West Frankfort. Winters gave up five hits and walked five on the mound.

The Warriors will meet Herrin at 11 a.m. this Saturday at Centralia Rotary Park in the quarterfinals of the Class L State Tournament. Semifinals will be held on October 6, finals on October 8.