A-J softball team outscores Nashville to win conference title

Kylee Lence was 3-for-3 with 2 doubles and 4 RBIs to lead Anna-Jonesboro to a 9-2 victory over visiting Nashville for the Southern Illinois River-to-River Mississippi Division Conference championship in high school softball  Monday, May 17.

The conference  crown was the first for the Lady Wildcats since 2000, when they shared the title with Nashville and Pinckneyville.

Fallon Clayton was 2-for-3 for the Lady Wildcats. Jordan Edwards was 1-for-2 with 2 stolen bases and an RBI. Rachel Hayden was 1-for-2 with a stolen base.

Lindsey Patterson was 1-for-3 with a stolen base and 2 RBIs. Hillary Abernathy was 1-for-4 with an RBI. Jayda Rendleman was 1-for-4.

Patterson was the winning pitcher, scattering 4 hits to go with 8 strikeouts and a walk.

“We’ve pushed them hard,” A-J coach Kevin Stephens said. “It’s been our job as coaches to give them the opportunity. All the credit goes to these young ladies.

“I’ve deeply enjoyed coaching at the high school level this year.”

Stephens, who is in his first season at the helm of the Lady Wildcats, is a former junior high school softball coach and coaches a traveling summer-league squad.

Stephens honored his senior players, Amanda Dillow, Hillary Abernathy, Kylee Lence and Natalie Gee, at the conclusion of the game.

A-J, which improved to 23-4 and finished conference play at 8-2, was scheduled to play Vienna Wednesday in the semifinals of the Lady Eagles 2A regional.

The winner will play the Carterville-Harrisburg winner for the championship at 11 a.m. Saturday at Vienna.