Darren Kinnard/River Radio Sports Central
MURPHYSBORO — The Anna-Jonesboro Lady Wildcats advanced to the Murphysboro 2A Softball Sectional championship game with an 8-4 win over Johnston City Tuesday.
A-J jumped out to a 4-0 lead after an inning and a half only to watch the Lady Indians score a run in second and three more in the third to tie the game 4-4.
Kansas Craig snapped the tie an inning later with her 24th home run of the season, a solo shot for a 5-4 lead.
Lady Wildcats’ pitcher Ruby Yates gave her club some breathing room when she swatted a two-run homer in the fifth inning, just out of the reach of Johnston City centerfielder Peyton Smith.
The Lady Indians loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the fifth, but Yates escaped the mess getting a fly out, a strike out and force out on a bang-bang play at second as Craig just beat Smith to the second base bag to end the inning.
Johnston City threatened again in the seventh, but Molly Roach, Craig, and Ariana Turner combined for a wild double play to end the game.
Anna-Jonesboro (30-3) will play with the winner of Wednesday’s semifinal matchup between defending state champion Carterville and Red Bud. The championship game will be Saturday at noon.
Johnston City finishes the season 18-11.
