From the DuQuoin Evening Call:
Elkville Wins SIFL Tournament
By Jeff Profitt/GateHouse News ServiceElkville Fastpitch claimed a pair of victories Wednesday, winning the Southern Illinois Fastpitch League (SIFL) End-of-season Tournament.
Now 31-10, Elkville defeated Kuhnert Builders of Elkville 13-5 in the semifinal game and then bested Scheller (Bauza Landscaping Dirt Bags) 5-1 to claim the championship.
Troy Downen was the winning pitcher in both contests, entering in relief of Don Malawy during the second inning of game one.
In that win over Kuhnert’s, Elkville scored five times in the third inning and sealed the victory by taking on seven more tallies in the fourth and fifth.
Shawn Hunter went 4-for-4 at the plate with a double and three RBI for Elkville.
Drew Porter and Barry Maynor were each 2-for-3 with back-to-back solo home runs.
Tim Herring and Bryar Funk added RBI hits.
Downen allowed four hits in the final four innings.
Kuhnert’s had solo homers from Dax Piper and Jeremy Keith. Daniel Eisenhauer added a two-run shot.
Piper finished with two hits.
Keith was the losing hurler.
Against Scheller, Aaron Hunter’s third inning solo home run turned out to be the difference.
Only two of Elkville’s runs against Scheller hurler Bryant Hale were earned.
Hale and Downen both tossed six-hitters.
Brad Niedbalski’s solo blast accounted for the Scheller scoring. Mason Woodside went 3-for-4
Waylon Leonard knocked on a run for Elkville.
This weekend, Elkville and Scheller each begin play as the ASA Class B State Tournament opens in Altamont.
Scheller faces Mississippi Valley Merchants (Mendon) at 2:15 p.m. Saturday while Elkville drew a first round bye and doesn’t play until 10:45 Sunday morning.
