Jr. Hornettes Prepare For Postseason Play
By Brent Huelsmann
The Nashville Middle School Jr. Hornettes will begin postseason play this week as they play Aviston in the Regional Semi-Finals on September 20 at 4 p.m. in Breese. The Regional Championship game would be September 25 at 4 p.m. in Breese. The Jr. Hornettes have had a lot of success down the stretch as they have defeated Pinckneyville, TSJ/St. Ann, Chester, Sparta, and Trico, only losing to Murphysboro.
The Jr. Hornettes did not need much time to dispose of Pinckneyville, as they won 18-0 on September 5. Nashville jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after one inning, but broke the game open for good in the second with 14 runs coming across the plate. Nashville would add two more in the third to make the score 18-0.
Jordan Donato, Annie Ahlers, Kendall Donato, Ryan Stiegman, Korbi Rhine, Taylor Birkner, and Lily Redman all finished with a hit in the win, while Daphne Kollbaum, Alison Maschhoff, Abby Knepp, Riley Redman, Hope Liszewski, Emmerson Paszkiewicz, Baylie Newman, and Emily Guest all had at least one walk. Fourteen different players scored in the game for Nashville.
The Jr. Hornettes were back in action with a 15-5 win over TSJ/St. Ann on September 7. TSJ/St. Ann got out to an early lead 1-0 lead but the Jr. Hornettes scored the next seven runs of the game. After St. Ann/TSJ got as close as 7-5 in the middle innings, Nashville put the game away with eight runs in the sixth inning.
Jordan Donato, Rhine, and Ahlers each led the way with three hits in the game. Stiegman and Liszewski each had two hits in the contest. Kollbaum, Riley Redman, Paszkiewicz, and Daci Finke all notched one hit in the win.
Nashville picked up another win on September 11 as they traveled to defeat Chester 11-0. The Jr. Hornettes scored three in the first, two in the second, two in the fourth, and four in the fifth on their way to victory.
Valerie Combs led the way with two hits in the win, while Brooklyn Luessenheide, Stiegman, Paszkiewicz, and Rhine all finished with one hit. Jordan Donato, Kollbaum, Ahlers and Newman all scored a run in the win, while Guest reached base via a hit by pitch.
Nashville suffered a rare loss as they fell to Murphysboro 9-2. The Jr. Hornettes fell behind 7-0 after two innings and could not make a comeback as they scored their two lone runs in the sixth inning.
Nashville recorded just four hits as Ahlers, Stiegman, Combs, and Liszewski all recorded a hit. Jordan Donato and Kollbaum reached via the walk.
The Jr. Hornettes got back on the winning track as they defeated Sparta 16-8. Nashville jumped out to a 6-0 lead after the first inning but fell behind as Sparta scored three in the third and five in the fourth to take a 8-6 lead. The Jr. Hornettes would come right back scoring the final ten runs of the game over the final three innings to take a 16-8 win.
Paszkiewicz finished with three hits, four runs and a triple in the win, while Stiegman, Rhine, and Kollbaum all notched two hits for Nashville. Ahlers finished with two hits and a run scored, while Jordan Donato, Combs, and Luessenheide all finished with a hit and a run. Newman finished with a hit for Nashville.
In their final game of the week, the Jr. Hornettes used a late rally, and held off Trico 9-6. Nashville fell behind early, and trailed 3-1 after one inning, but came back to take the lead with three runs in the third. After Trico took the lead back in the sixth, Nashville went on top for good in the bottom half of the inning. Trico would score one in the seventh, but could not complete the comeback.
Ahlers and Stiegman each finished with two hits and two runs in the win, while Jordan Donato, Kollbaum, and Liszewski all finished with one hit and a run scored. Guest scored the lone other run for Nashville.
