PCM softball slides into another regional final

MONROE — The Mustangs’ march back to the state softball tournament began with an 8-0 win over Southeast Valley on Thursday.

The Class 3A No. 6 PCM softball team scored eight runs on only seven hits, but Rylee Parsons and Camden Webb combined for a two hitter in the circle during the 3A Region 4 quarterfinals.

The Mustangs scored three times in the first, plated four runs in the second and added one final run in the third during the five-inning victory.

Libby Winters led the offense with two hits, one triple, two runs and three RBIs. She leads the Mustangs with a batting average of .511 and an on-base percentage of .537 and has totaled a team-best 36 runs, 45 hits, 26 RBIs, 66 total bases and four triples this summer.

Hadley Millang added two hits and three RBIs, Addison Steenhoek collected two hits, one double and one run and Addi Hudnut belted a solo homer, scored two runs and stole one base.

Steenhoek is tied for the team lead with 13 doubles. It was Hudnut’s first homer of the season and her 11th steal.

Tori Lindsay was hit by a pitch and scored one run, Lillian Humpal walked, scored one run and stole one base and Peyton Lathrum scored one run and stole one base.

Lindsay has been hit by a team-most 14 pitches, which ranks tied for second in 3A.

Parsons spun the first 2 1/3 innings and got the no decision after allowing no earned runs on three hits with one strikeout.

Webb (9-2) allowed no runs and no hits, walked one and fanned six in 2 2/3 innings. She has 97 strikeouts in 78 innings.

Webb got the win and now has an earned run average of 1.71 this summer. That ranks seventh in 3A.

Lauren Eslick led Southeast Valley (13-13) with one hit and one walk.

PCM 9, Greene County 0

MONROE — The Mustangs laced four doubles and were given seven free bases during a 9-0 win over Greene County on Saturday.

PCM won the 3A Region 4 semifinal matchup after scoring three in the second, two in the third and four in the fourth.

It was the Mustangs’ third win over the Rams this season. They outscored their conference rivals 24-2 in those three meetings. Greene County (16-12) was plagued by two errors.

PCM has won five straight games overall and the shutout was its 12th of the season.

Winters led the Mustangs (24-4) with two doubles, two runs and one walk. She is tied with Steenhoek and they both rank tied for sixth in 3A with 13 doubles and Winters’ .511 batting average ranks 14th in the class.

Humpal doubled, scored one run and had one RBI, Hudnut singled, scored two runs and walked once, Holly Wood doubled and drove in three runs and Lindsay finished with one hit and one run and she was hit by one pitch.

Lindsay also has zero errors in 84 chances this summer. She’s one of 15 players with at least 42 chances to have a perfect fielding percentage.

Steenhoek was hit by one pitch, scored one run and had one RBI. Her fielding percentage is .990 as she has only two errors in 203 chances.

Webb totaled one hit, one run and one RBI, Kyra Naeve walked once and scored one run and Lathrum stole one base.

Parsons started in the circle but took the no decision after allowing no runs and four hits with one strikeout in 2 1/3 innings.

Webb earned the win after surrendering no runs and no hits and striking out two in 1 2/3 innings.

Winters struck out three and allowed only one hit in her one inning.

PCM’s pitchers walked zero and did not hit a batter. The Mustangs drew three walks, were hit by two pitches and had more doubles (4) than singles (3) at the plate and the defense committed zero errors.

PCM has 19 errors in 28 games this season. The Mustangs’ .973 fielding percentage leads 3A. Their 61 doubles are tied for eighth in the class.

The Mustangs are one win away from their second straight state tournament berth. PCM hosts No. 11 Missouri Valley (29-6) in the regional championship at 7 p.m. on Tuesday in Monroe.

Missouri Valley’s 29 wins are the third-most in 3A. The Lady Reds defeated Unity Christian, 11-5, in their regional semifinal matchup.