Cougar Softball Shutout
Eleuria Starfish
April 7, 2023
It is now well into mid-season for the Illinois Central College (ICC) softball team. Less than ten regular season games remain. The current record is 11-10 and the Lady Cougars hope to increase their winning margin.
Despite the recent inclement weather, the softball team was able to have their games against Lewis & Clark this past Wednesday at ICC’s Thome field.
The ICC softball team put on an impressive display of hitting to earn a 2-0 sweep against Lewis & Clark. The group recorded a total of 20 hits on the day and scored 8-0 and 7-3 wins in the double-header.
The Cougars hit seven home runs, with two each from Marley Williamson and Kiersten Manning and one each from Olivia Drish, Shylar Boze, and Savanah Clifton. The games were played under the scorching sun, but the Cougars were unphased and delivered a dominant performance.
The victory sweetened the team’s overall record to 12-10, while the Blazers dropped to 10-7.
During the first game, the team’s hitters were in principal form, with Williamson leading the way with an ideal 2-2 record, including two home runs and four RBI. Boze also put in a solid performance, going 2-3 with a home run, double, and two RBI. Manning and Drish both went 2-3 at the plate, with Manning adding an RBI and Drish smashing a home run and driving in a run.
Alicia Casas also put in a strong showing, hitting a double and contributing to the team’s overall success. The win improved the Cougars’ record and showed that they are a force to be reckoned with.
The team’s impressive hitting was matched by their excellent pitching, with Manning leading the way. Manning went five innings, striking out an impressive 13 batters and allowing only a single hit. Her dominant performance on the mound set the tone for the game and kept the opposing team from gaining any momentum.
Manning, who during the second game put on another chief performance and went 1-2 at the plate, hitting a home run and driving in two runs.
“The most important and impactful thing when it comes to pitching to remain dominant field is to have a good mindset. I constantly had to remind myself yesterday that even when I was doing good, you can’t let that affect your mindset. You are there to do a job and I kept telling myself to take it batter by batter and do the best you can because I knew I had phenomenal backup behind me,” Manning said.
When asked what her favorite aspect of the double-header yesterday was, Manning stated:
“I would definitely say my favorite part of the game yesterday was celebrating everything with my teammates. Everyone did so good yesterday and it just makes the game more fun to celebrate other people’s performances.”
With words of wisdom from ICC’s very own standout player, the ladies are looking forward to the remainder of their games. The team’s next game is scheduled for Wednesday, April 5, against Heartland at 3 p.m. in Normal, IL. Show some cougar pride and catch the next home game Monday, April 10, at 3 p.m. For more ICC updates be sure to check iccharbinger.com.