The Lady Knights softball team edged out John A. Logan on Friday in the first round of the Region 24 tournament. In a best-of-three series, OCC swept the Friday double header by scores of 1-0 and 3-2. Christian Chambers threw a 3-hit shutout in game one, striking out 4 and walking none. Mindy Garrelts threw a complete game in the nightcap, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits, striking out 4 and walking 2.
OCC scored the only run in the first game in the first inning when Tori Stamper reached on a one-out single, then stole second base. After a fly-out, Brittany Voils roped a 2-out single to left to drive in Stamper. That was all Chambers would need.
In game two, Logan drew first blood, using two-first inning doubles to go up 1-0. They added a solo HR in the 3rd inning to go up 2-0. OCC would respond with a run in the 4th inning, thanks to an RBI double by Sam Perkins. OCC would tie the game in the 5th on a lead-off HR by KJ Royse, and took the lead in the 6th on a lead-off HR by Kayala Hoppenjans. Garrelts would issue two-2 out walks in the 7th, only to strike out the next batter looking.
OCC is now 41-22-1 on the season.
OCC now moves to the Region XXIV Final Four hosted by Kaskaskia College on May 6-7. The schedule is below:
Friday
Game 1: OCC vs. WVC 10AM
Game 2: RLC vs. LLC 12 PM
Game 3: Loser G1 vs. Loser G2 (loser eliminated)
Game 4: Winner G1 vs. Winner G2
Saturday
Game 5: Winner G3 vs. Loser G4 11 AM (loser eliminated)
Game 6: Winner G5 vs. Winner G4 1 PM (winner G5 must win twice)
Game 7: if necessary