Kahok softball heads for final week of regular season
by Mark Jurgena
COLLINSVILLE — The Collinsville softball team dropped a pair of Southwestern Conference matchups last week. They fell to O’Fallon and dropped a one-run decision to Alton.
Alton loss
Collinsville played well but Alton was able to push across a run in the bottom of the sixth to beat the Kahoks 1-0 on May 10 in Alton.
It flipped the script from the previous meeting, a contest the Kahoks won 4-2 on April 4 at the Collinsville Sports Complex.
The Kahoks outhit the Redbirds with Lexi Rafalowski and Kaegan Edwards collecting two hits each. Katie Bardwell added a double as well.
Marissa Thomas was in the circle for the Kahoks firing a complete game and scattering four hits while giving up one unearned run. She struck out eight and walked two.
O’Fallon loss
On May 9 Collinsville dropped a 6-3 decision at O’Fallon.
The game had been moved away from Collinsville due to field conditions from the weather.
Collinsville answered O’Fallon’s runs in both the fourth and fifth innings but couldn’t keep it up as the Panthers plated three runs over the final two innings to pull away for the victory.
After O’Fallon scored in the top of the fourth to go up 1-0, the Kahoks answered back with a run of their own that they manufactured.
Emma Hylton led off with a bunt single followed by a sacrifice bunt by Edwards. She reached base safely to put runners at the corners. Carsyn Moad followed with a bunt to score Hylton and tie the contest.
After O’Fallon plated two more runs to make it 3-1, the Kahoks followed suit with a pair of runs.
Rafalowski led off the inning with a walk and with one out, Bailey Demick blasted a home run to center field to tie the contest 3-3.
But Collinsville couldn’t keep up with the Panthers as they pulled away for a three-run victory.
On offense for the Kahoks Bardwell led the way with a pair of hits with Demick blasting that home run with a pair of RBIs.
Hylton, Edwards and Moad all had singles with Moad picking up and RBI.
Thomas threw another complete game scattering nine hits giving up six runs with only four of them earned. She struck out six hitters and walked two.
Collinsville was 6-19-1 overall after last week and 4-7 in the SWC. Edwardsville is on top of the SWC standings with a 9-1 record.
Upcoming Schedule
CHS played Cahokia on Monday evening and Granite City on Tuesday however results were unavailable at press time.
Tomorrow they play Belleville East in their final regular season game of the year.
On May 22 they open Class 4A Regional play at Belleville East. The sixth-ranked Kahoks will face fourth-ranked Quincy in the semifinal.
If Collinsville wins they will play the winner of Belleville East and O’Fallon on May 24 for the regional championship.
