Darren Kinnard/River Radio Sports Central
CARBONDALE — Carterville’s bid for back to back state championships is still alive and kicking after the Lady Lions dismantled Newton 8-0 to win the SIU 2A Supersectional and earn a trip back to state.
Carterville got contributions up and down its lineup, starting in the circle where junior pitcher Caidence Phillips was outstanding again, taking a perfect game into the seventh inning and finishing with a 14-strikeout no hitter. A dropped pop fly prevented perfection, but Phillips got the final two outs to preserve the no hitter and shutout. Newton (26-3) did not put a ball in play the first time through the order as Phillips struck out the first nine batters she faced.
Offensively, Savannah Gibbs had three hits and drove in a pair, Taryn Ford and Kendall McCalla homered during a five-run sixth inning, Colbie Bennett scored twice to lead the Lady Lions who had seven different players record hits and seven different players score runs.
Carterville improves to 28-4 and now heads to the Louisville Slugger Complex in Peoria for a date with North Boone (27-6) in the first semifinal at 3:00 Friday. This a rematch of last year’s stated title game that Carterville won 1-0 on Ford’s walkoff RBI single in the bottom of the seventh.
Auburn (27-) will face Beecher (35-2) in the second semifinal Friday. The trophy games will be Saturday afternoon.
