Area Roundup: Princeton softball rallies past Boilermakers

PRINCETON – Down 1-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning, Princeton’s McKenzie Hecht clubbed a two-run home run and winning pitcher Katie Bates made that stand up for a 2-1 victory over Kewanee on Thursday afternoon.

PHS managed just four hits on the day, but Hecht’s shot off losing pitcher Makaela Salisbury scored Taylor Wetsel ahead of her to give Bates the lead. Bates struck out three and walked none to get the win in the circle.

Mendota 15, Rockford Christian 0 (4 inn.): At Rockford, Paige Manning surrendered just two hits and fanned eight over four innings and clubbed three hits, one a double, and drove in a run to pace the winners. Izabella Nanez (3 RBI), Katlyn Jenner (RBI) and Mary Defore (RBI) each added two hits and Zoe Hanson and Jenna O’Donnell each a double in the win.

Earlville 8, West Carroll 4: At Earlville, the Red Raiders scored three runs in the home first inning to take control of the win for pitcher Brooklyn Guelde (5 H, 9 K, 4 W). Hannah Pfaff led her support with a triple, single, a run and RBI. Madyson Olson also smacked a triple and Guelde, Paige Marks, Elizabeth Browder (RBI) each chipped in a double for the Raiders (2-4).

Varsity baseball

Rockford Christian 12, Mendota 2: At Mendota, Rockford Christian broke open a 2-1 game with a four-run fourth inning and the Trojans managed just four hits on the day in the non-conference decision. Krew Bond collected a double and triple among those hits, Emilio Perez drove in a run for MHS, whose Johnnie Gonzalez (6 R, 1 ER, 5 K, 5 BB) suffered the mound loss.

Earlville 1, Somonauk 0; Somonauk 3, Earlville 1: At Earlville on Wednesday, Davis Sweeney led the Raiders to the Game 1 win, striking out 12 over five innings to make the most of the two hits his team managed in the win. Noah Lemke (RBI) and Jeremy Weymouth had those safeties. In the nightcap, Lemke took the loss as EHS collected just hits from Griffin Cook and Garrett Cook. Sweeney and Jake Pickert also saw mound duty in that loss.

Putnam County 10, Galva 0 (6 inn.): At Granville on Wednesday, Troy Petty and Drake Smith combined for a no-hitter, striking out 13 and walking just two for the Panthers. Andrew Pyszka (2 RBI) had three hits and Matthew Liebhart two (2B, 3 RBI) at the plate in the win.

Varsity tennis

Ottawa 4, Mendota 1: At Mendota on Wednesday, Trent Stamberger defeated Ottawa’s Ethan Kraft at No. 1 singles for the Trojans’ only win.