Softball Kahoks compete hard over three game week
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By Mark Jurgena
The young Collinsville High School softball team improved their run output each game in the past week but couldn’t quite come up with a victory.
Jerseyville 18 Collinsville 6 (5 innings)
CHS took a 4-0 lead with a big top of the first and tacked on in the top of the second on March 23 but Jersey scored 18 runs over the next three innings to come away with the victory at home.
In the first, Collinsville plated three runs with their first six hitters.
After Lexie Rafalowski reached on an error, Emma Hylton hit an infield single to put runners on first and second.
Rafalowski was called out on offensive interference for the first out but it enabled Hylton to steal second base.
Bailey Demick moved her to third with another infield single and a bunt off the bat of Katie Bardwell went for a hit to score Hylton.
Keagan Edwards singled and drove home a run with the final Kahok tally coming off a ground ball out to the shortstop by Addie Stone.
In the second, Marissa Thomas began the inning by reaching on an error and was lifted for courtesy runner Brittany Sarginson.
Faith Fairchild followed and reached on an error where both she and Sarginson advanced an extra base.
Hylton drove her home on a ground out to the pitcher to increase the Kahok advantage to 4-0.
Collinsville finished their scoring with two runs in the top of the fifth.
Rafalowski began the inning with a single and stole second then came home on Demick’s double to left.
Demick then moved to third and scored on two wild pitches.
For the Kahoks, Demick had two hits including a double and an RBI while Hylton, Katie Bardwell, and Edwards all singled and drove in a run.
Rafalowski had a single while Stone had an RBI.
Thomas and Stone were in the circle for the Kahoks.
Freeburg 13 Collinsville 3 (6 innings)
The Kahoks jumped out to a 1-0 lead at Freeburg on March 22 but weren’t able to hold it as they dropped a decision to the Midgets.
Freeburg was the Class 2A state runner-up last season and returns the 2022 St. Louis Post-Dispatch Metro softball Player of the Year in Nicole Edmiaston.
In the opening stanza, Rafalowski walked on five pitches and stole second. She scored on an error after a successful bunt by Hylton to make it 1-0 CHS.
Collinsville fell behind 5-1 after three but cut the lead to three in the top of the fourth when Demick singled, moved to second on a wild pitch and took third on an error.
She scored on a sacrifice fly by Stone.
The Midgets increased their lead to 11-2 through five before the Kahoks picked up their final run.
Hylton singled to lead off the inning and with one out stole second and moved up on a wild pitch. Bardwell then drove her home with a single to center.
FCHS scored twice in the bottom of the sixth to invoke the mercy rule.
For Collinsville Hylton, Demick, Bardwell and Edwards all had hits. Bardwell and Stone had RBI.
Once again Thomas and Stone pitched for the Kahoks.
Edmiaston struck out 10 and walked none in the circle for Freeburg.
CM 12 Collinsville 0
CM jumped out to a 3-0 lead then just continued to tack on finishing the game with seven runs in the final two innings to win at Collinsville on March 20.
The Eagles scored those 12 runs on 12 hits and five CHS errors.
Demick, Hylton, and Stone had hits for CHS.
Thomas pitched for CHS.
Upcoming Schedule
The Kahoks hosted Belleville West Tuesday in their Southwestern Conference opener and traveled to Breese (Mater Dei) yesterday however results were unavailable at press time.
They play at Edwardsville this afternoon with the first pitch slated for 4:30 p.m.
Collinsville is scheduled to host East St. Louis Tuesday at 4:30.
