South Beloit looking to improve as playoffs approach

By Chris Johnson

Reporter

LENA  – The 2016 spring sports season is about over for the South Beloit Lady Sobos.

The playoffs begin in a little over a week and the Lady Sobos are still looking for ways to improve, following a 12-2 loss to the Lena-Winslow Lady Panthers in NUIC play.

In the match against the Lady Panthers, South Beloit struggled to find offense.

The pitching was challenged right from the start, only settling down after the Lady Panthers had built an 8-0 lead.

South Beloit scored its two runs in the top of the third inning, allowing the hope of the contest’s continuation.

After a team bats five times and sees itself down by ten runs or more, by rule, the game can be called.

Lena-Winslow, however, pushed to shorten the day, as they scored four times and built a 12-2 lead, before the first pitch into the fourth inning.

Four errors were committed by South Beloit in the conference loss, allowing additional baserunners for the hosts.

The Lady Panthers ended up not needing the assistance, as they connected for 13 hits in the game, which ended after just four home at bats.

South Beloit had chances, but found it impossible to slow the Lena-Winslow offense.

Emmaleigh Lindsey was tagged with the loss for South Beloit. She had six strikeouts in the game.

Only a few games remain for South Beloit, before they prepare to head into the Class 1A State Softball Tournament in two weeks.

The IHSA Selection Committee met on Tuesday, May 3, to determine which teams will face off, in the opening round games.

Two Sub-Sectionals have been set up, with Elgin Westminster Christian and Dakota asked to host the opening round games.

With squads from Kirkland Hiawatha, Alden-Hebron, Westminster Christian and South Beloit battling, the IHSA looked at geographical positioning, in addition to overall records, as they picked the top seeds.

The other squads playing in the Class 1A Sub-Sectional include Ashton-Franklin Center, Pecatonica, Durand and Dakota.

If regional teams face off, the Sub-Sectional at Dakota should involve teams from Dakota, Durand and Pecatonica.

Based on current records and geography, as the IHSA Selection Committee met, Elgin=Westminster Christian, Alden-Hebron and Kirkland-Hiawatha would look to be playing in Elgin, when the post-season begins.

The two teams, which may see travel as a big part of their tournament could be South Beloit and Ashton-Franklin Center.

At this point, one of those two teams appears to be the most likely candidates for the trip east to Elgin.

On May 6, the Lady Sobos take on the Winnebago Lady Indians in one of the season’s final cross-conference clashes, featuring the NUIC and Big Northern West.