High School Sports
Gillespie softball bounce back from loss with 3 consecutive wins
The Gillespie High School softball team picked up an 11-0 win against the Mater Dei Lady Knights on Monday, April 15.
Emma Gipson took home the win in the circle, allowing only two hits throughout five innings, striking out six. Lexie Caylor took the loss for Mater Dei. Caylor gave up four runs on two hits, striking out one and walking four.
Gillespie put 9 hits in the hit column. Sadie Sholtis was on fire at the plate, going 3 for 3 with 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored. Ava Parish did her job perfectly in the leadoff spot, going 1 for 3 with 2 RBIs, 2 runs scored, a home run to center field, and a walk. Gipson went 2 for 2 with 1 RBI in the victory. Macie Wright, Wrigley Releford, and Delaney Taylor all picked up a hit in the game.
Gipson had another strong showing on Tuesday, April 16, leading Gillepsie to a 9 to 2 victory over Southwestern Piasa Bird. Gipson gave up 2 runs on 4 hits, striking out 10 batters over seven innings of work.
Wright proved to be a powerhouse at the plate going 3 for 4 with 2 RBIs, 2 runs scored, and a home run to left fielding during the fourth inning. Parish went 3 for 4 at the plate, driving in 2 RBIs and 1 run plated. Taylor showed up at the plate in the nine-hole going 3 for 4. Gipson, Reid, and Releford all had a multi-hit ball game. Laci Shuckenbrock collected a hit in the victory. Gillespie had a total of 16 hits and 8 RBIs on the night.
Gillespie steamrolled past the Greenfield/Northwestern Tigers on Wednesday, April 17, with a 15 to 3 victory.
Paxton Reid picked up the win for Gillespie in the circle, surrendering six hits and three runs over five innings, striking out eight batters. Frank took the loss for Greenfield/Northwestern.
Reid dominated the circle and the batter’s box, going 1 for 3 with 2 RBIs and a home run to left field. Parish, Bertagnolli, Gipson, and Taylor each put up 2 hits in the winning efforts. Sholtis, Reid, Wright, and Schuckenbrock, put a 1 in the hit column. Bertagnolli led Gillespie in RBIs knocking in three runs.
Gillespie will face off against the Lincolnwood Lady Lancers on Monday, April 22.
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The Gillespie High School baseball team had six players receive South Central Conference accolades, conference officials announced on Monday. The Miners had three named to the first team, two to the second team, and two to the third team.
Named to the first team included seniors Bryce Buhs as pitcher, Tristen Wargo as infielder, and Jesse Berry as outfielder. Wargo was also named to the conference’s second team as pitcher alongside sophomore Collin Griffith. Senior Jaydon Baker and junior Jack Kaylor were named to the third team as designated hitter/utility and outfielder, respectively.
Rounding out the conference’s first team included Nathan Matoush of Hillsboro in two places as pitcher and infielder; Marcus Payne, Rocky Darr and Hunter Newell of Southwestern; Carson Satthoff, Mathew Bywater, and Jake Gasperson of Litchfield; Aiden Hatalla of North Mac; Benjamin Hutchinson of Greenville; and Kale Konrad of Vandalia.
Joining Wargo and Griffith on the conference’s second team is Adam Hale, Colin LeMarr and Ryan Lowis of Southwestern; Carter Legendre and Dillon Pritchett of Staunton; Ethan Saathoff of Litchfield; Rowdy Sussenbach and Cohen Alstat of Greenville; Quinn Morrow of North Mac; and Andrew Kelly of Vandalia.
Third team honorees include Drake Curry, Cohen Alstat, Dominic Sanchez, and Hudson Alstat of Greenville; Carson Saathoff and Tate Dobrinich of Litchfield; Cade McCready and Collin Etter of North Mac; Ryan Karbach, Parker Moore, and Madyx Angel of Pana; Marcus Payne of Southwestern; Ayden Jones of Vandalia; and Noah Convery of Carlinville.
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Eight players from the Gillespie Miners softball team were selected to the South Central Conference All-Conference teams, conference officials announced on Monday.
Being honored on the first team from Gillespie included senior Emma Gipson, juniors Delaney Taylor and Macie Wright, and sophomores Ava Parish and Paxton Reid. Senior Wrigley Releford and sophomore Sadie Sholtis were named to the conference’s second team while freshman Laci Shuckenbrock was named to the third team.
Other first-team honorees from around the conference include Carlinville’s Hallie Gibson and Isabella Tiburzi; Staunton’s Ele Feldmann, Taylor Nolan, and Lilly Troeckler; and Alexis Bowman of North Mac.
Joining Releford and Sholtis on the second team include Taylor Keirs and Ines Oprtigosa of North Mac; Gianna Bianco of Staunton; Abby McDonald of Southwestern; Braley Wiser and Hannah Gibson of Carlinville; Zoee Englert and Haylee Clark of Greenville; Brianna Mathis of Pana; Aubrey Evans of Hillsboro; and Madison Lupton of Vandalia.
Rounding out the third team are Joey Laker and Kennedy Bowker of Pana; EmmaLeigh Wilfong and Emma Bingham of Greenville; Addison Ruyle and Olivia Kunz of Carlinville; Vivian Zurheide and Ella Kadell of Southwestern; Korryn Keehner, Kylie Lucykow, and Sam Anderson of Staunton; Elise Walch of Litchfield; Karleigh Prose of North Mac; and Peyton Chappelear of Hillsboro.
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In an emotional rollercoaster of a sectional final, Gillespie’s season came to a bittersweet end with a nail-biting 2-3 defeat at the hands of Newton this past Saturday, May 25.
Newton swooped in with a late-game rally, clinching the win over Gillespie. Tensions were high all game long. Newton made an explosive statement right out of the gates when Sally Mahaffey blasted a solo home run to right field. Gillespie’s response was swift, with a double from Emma Gipson in the bottom of the first to tie the game at one apiece.
The scoreboard remained unchanged as both teams dug in until the sixth inning, when Sadie Sholtis’ single sent a runner home, pushing Gillespie into the lead. A hit off the bat of Audrie Reich allowed Newton to tie the game up 2–2. Newton clinched the lead in the top of the eighth and held off Gillespie with three straight outs in the bottom of the eighth, taking the win.
Emma Gipson led Gillespie in the hit column, going 2 for 4 with one RBI. Sholtis went 1 for 2 at the plate with one run, one RBI, and two walks pocketed. Lauren Bertagnolli went 1 for 3 with one run plated. Wrigley Releford and Laci Shuckenbrock both had a hit in their efforts.
While this may not be the end that Gillespie hoped for, they still had a phenomenal season. Gillespie’s season record is a testament to their grit and tenacity ending 29-5 on the season. The Miners have three seniors departing the team including Lauren Bertagnolli, Emma Gipson, and Wrigley Releford.
