Carterville, IL — Link to original article: https://bit.ly/3Vf9f21 The Carterville Lions will return to the Class 2A Super-Sectional for the first time in eight years this Monday after rolling past Johnston City, 9-0, Saturday to claim the Carterville Sectional championship. With the victory, the girls from west Williamson County improve to a breath-taking 35-1 this season, which includes 35 straight wins. JC ends its season at a solid, if not spectacular 28-9 mark. Coach Will Capie’s crew scored early and often Saturday to make quick work of a strong Indians squad. In fact, losing the coin flip to determine who would be the visiting team and who would be the home team was about the only thing bad to happen to the Lions on this day. But that mattered not as Carterville broke loose for five runs in the top of the first inning. For all intents and purposes, that was the ballgame as absolutely nobody scores that many runs against this exceptionally skilled Lions pitching staff. The Lions tacked on one run in the second highlighted by an RBI single from senior catcher Maddie Rosenbery. Two runs crossed the plate in the third thanks to a two-base error and one final run in the fourth inning thanks to an RBI groundout off the bat of senior first baseman Lacie Carr to account for the final tally. “This is a game we’ve had in the back of our minds all spring,” Capie said. “I wouldn’t be honest if I told you that I hadn’t thought about last year’s game with Johnston City (sectional loss) every day since then. We had a shot at redemption today and took advantage of it. “The girls had a very good approach at the plate,” Capie said. “We felt that their pitcher (junior Aubree Williford) was going to try to get us to expand our zone off the plate and our girls just refused to do it. We made her come back over the plate and then we didn’t miss.” Colbie Bennett beat out an infield hit to start things off for the Lions in the first. Senior Kennedy Rushing followed with an RBI triple into the right-centerfield gap. Senior Amayah Doyle next delivered an RBI double into the gap in left-centerfield for a 2-0 lead. Two outs later, Taryn Ford walked. Senior Karson Caudill ripped an RBI single to left for a 3-0 advantage and Caidence Phillips put the icing on the cake with a two-run single to left for a commanding 5-0 lead. Capie said Bennett is the team’s sparkplug at the top of the lineup, and when she beat out the infield grounder to short, that kind of set the tone for the rest of the game. “When Colbie gets on, it puts a lot more pressure on defenses because she can run. And then you’re going to have to pitch to Amayah most likely with a runner or runners on base,” Capie said. Phillips (18-1) drew the start in the circle for the Lions. She was her usual steady self, tossing five shutout innings. She allowed no runs on three hits, struck out seven and walked none. Phillips was ecstatic with the win. “It feels amazing to get this win. Thank you, Jesus,” she said. “I can’t thank my teammates and coaches enough. And I can’t say thank you enough to all the people from the Carterville community here supporting us. It was a great atmosphere and a great game.” An estimated 500 fans attended Saturday’s title match. “I was spotting my fastballs well today,” Phillips continued. “We really talked about that yesterday in practice. I wasn’t looking to strike everyone out. Just trust my defense. And that’s what I did.” Ford (17-0) threw the final two frames. Also a sophomore righty, she lacked command of the strike zone against JC, which is unusual for her, but still managed to keep the Indians off the scoreboard. She allowed no hits, walked four, and struck out five. Only once did the Indians advance a baserunner to third base in the game and that was the seventh inning when the outcome had already been determined. JC managed three total hits — all singles from Lilli Armes, Carsyn Clark and Williford. It was also Williford who was the pitcher of record for the Tribe. Despite some outstanding performances in the regional and sectional, she was unable to tame the Lions Saturday. The junior allowed five runs on five hits and was removed from the game with two outs in the first inning. Peyton Johnson relieved her and worked the remaining 6 1/3 innings. “Softball is all about momentum, and we lost it early,” said JC head coach Scott Hutchinson. “Our kids didn’t give up, but momentum is huge in the game of softball and we just never did recover from their aggressive hitters in the first inning. “There’s a reason why they’re the No. 1 or 2 team in the state,” Hutchinson said. “They’re legit. Hats off to them. We had a great season. Our kids fought the whole season. Carterville didn’t short-game us today. We could have tucked our tails and left at any point in time, but our kids didn’t stop fighting.” Hutchinson said Williford and Johnson both pitched well for the Tribe all season. “I always feel that when we split them up, we’re better off because they pitch totally different,” the JC coach said. “And they’ll both be back next year.” Hutchinson added that JC graduates three seniors, all starters, in Hope Newell, Hallie Newell, and Carsyn Clark. “It’s bittersweet for the three seniors, but this has been a fun group to coach — one of the most coachable groups I’ve had. Fortunately, we have a lot of players returning. Look out for us next year. Don’t be surprised to see us and Carterville back here in the sectional again.” The Lions were led offensively by Caudill, who stroked three hits in four at bats with one RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base. Rushing tripled, doubled, had an RBI and run scored. Doyle notched a pair of doubles, drew a walk, drove in a run and scored three runs. Ford tripled and singled with a walk and two runs scored. Rosenbery had an RBI single. Phillips had a single and two RBIs. Bennett and Kendall McCalla added one hit each. Carterville will meet Newton at 2 p.m. Monday at Johnston City in the super-sectional with a trip to state hanging in the balance. Newton defeated Gillespie, 3-2, Saturday to advance. “We played Newton last year at Centralia,” Capie said. ”They’re going to be a well-coached team. I’m not sure what they have, but we will do our homework on them and be ready to go Monday.” Capie said he couldn’t be more proud of what his team has accomplished to date. “It’s really exciting to be going back to the super-sectional,” he said. “These girls have walked around with a target on their backs for the last two years. “The way they have handled the pressure is nothing short of amazing,” Capie added. “We’ve been knocking on the door the last three years and finally kicked the door down today.”