TUESDAY ROUNDUP: Matesa, Gillespie no-hits Southwestern

Thanks to a no-hitter by Gillespie's Kelcie Matesa, the South Central Conference West may split its softball championship.

It could play out that way because Gillespie and Southwestern, the league's top two teams, have divided their season series. The host Miners topped the Piasa Birds 1-0 Tuesday night to secure at least a tie for the conference title, avenging a 5-0 loss on April 21.

Gillespie finishes league play with a 9-1 record. Southwestern, which had won 13 in a row, is 8-1 in the SCC West and plays Friday at Marquette needing a victory over the Explorers for a share of the title.

"That's huge to come back and (at least) split this title," said Gillespie coach Michelle Tucker, whose team is 21-3 overall. "It says a lot about our team. ..... I knew we could beat them. I knew we were close. This team is tough. ..... They always seem to come through when they need to."

Gillespie's Gabby Bires recorded the game's only hit - a second-inning double. She reached third on a sacrifice and scored on a wild pitch by tough-luck loser Leslie Davis, who struck out seven with no walks and one hit for the 19-3 Piasa Birds.

Matesa struck out 10, raising her total to 355 for the season and giving her 1,430 for her career. She is 37 shy of the state record of 1,467, held by Suzie Rzegocki of Lemont from 2003-07, with five scheduled games remaining.

 Marquette 3, Pana 0 - Bernadette Heneghan pitched a complete game with 11 strikeouts and zero walks to guide the Explorers to a road nonconference victory. Michelle Pedigo and Rachel Eveans supplied two hits apiece for the 12-14 Explorers, who scored their three runs in the game's final two innings.

PREP BASEBALL

 Southwestern 12, Carlinville 2 - An eight-run furth inning enabled SCC West champ Southwestern to roll over Carlinville and gain its 20th victory of the season. Southwestern is 9-0 in the division and 20-11 overall.

Ryan Cox went 2-for-4 with a double, home run and four RBIs to spark the Piasa Birds. Teammates Cole Lawson and Conner Kessinger each had two hits and combined for four RBIs. Ray Blackwood picked up the win. He allowed five hits.

Marcus Rutherford went 2-for-2 with a homer and two RBIs for Carlinvile (4-12, 2-7).

 Calhoun 3, North Greene 2 - David Baalman didn't give up an earned run in a route-going performance for 9-18 Calhoun. Hayden Sievers had two hits, one a triple, for the Warriors, now 5-9 in Western Illinois Valley Conference play.

 Staunton 5, Vandalia 4 - Jake Langley's two-out RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning lifted Staunton to a SCC East victory. Langley and teammate Phil Rhodes both went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs to lead Staunton (5-11, 2-6). Andrew Milkovich earned the win on the mound in a complete-game effort. Vandalia is 11-13, 5-4.

BOYS TRACK

 Hawks win WIVC title - Carrollton scored 170 points to finish first in the seven-school conference meet in Jacksonville.

Tyler Lippert of the Hawks was best in the shot (49 feet, 3 inches) and the discus (114-6 1/2) as Carrollton won its third consecutive WIVC title. North Greene was second with 96 points.

West Central (74 points), Jax ISD (70), Virginia (61), Virginia (57) and Jacksonville Routt (53) rounded out the team scoring.

 Cavs champ in SCC - Carlinville rolled up 161 points for the team title in the South Central meet at Litchfield High. The host Purple Panthers were second with 119 points.

Staunton (70 points), Pana (40), Hillsboro (40), Southwestern (31), Vandalia (28), East Alton-Wood River (26), Greenville (19), Gillespie (nine), Marquette (nine) and Roxana (six points) completed the team totals.

Mike Ruyle powered the Cavaliers by winning the long jump (19-10 1/2) and the 800-meters (2 minutes, 4.6 seconds). Carlinville won eight events in all, including two relays.

GIRLS TRACK

 Spartans second in WIVC - West central outscored North Greene 166-130 for team honors in the girls league meet. Carrollton (105 points), Greenfield (89), Jax ISD (54), Virginia 35, Jax Routt (13) were next in line.

PREP TENNIS

 EA-WR 7, Jersey 2 - The Oilers improved to 17-1 by defeating Jersey at home. Five victories in the six singles bouts clinched the win.