Danville, Ill. - Kiersten Manning pitched two masterpieces on Sunday in the Region 24 tournament as the #4 seeded ICC softball team collected wins over #1 seeded Danville 3-0 and #2 Parkland 5-1 at Winter Park.  

Manning gave up just two hits against DACC while striking out nine and then limited the potent Parkland offense to just five hits and one run while fanning seven Cobras.  The Cougar offense was steady, getting eight hits in each game to give Manning the run and defensive support she needed.  

"Our kids are playing with a focused mindset and a 'one-play-at-a-time' mentality," head coach Heather Doty said. "We have a lot of confidence right now and the team trusts each other that everyone will do their job.  Kiersten was hitting her spots and our offense came through when we needed it."  

Up next:  The wins put the #4 seeded Cougars in the driver's seat of the double-elimination tourney as they will play at Winter Park on Monday, May 9 at 1:15 pm against the winner of the 11:00 am game between Parkland and Danville.   If the Cougars win the 1:15 pm game, they will be the Region 24 Tournament Champions and advance to the Nationals.  If ICC loses the 1:15 pm game, the teams will play again at 3:30 to determine who gets the Region Tourney winnner and automatic bid to Nationals.

The loser will play in the District P Championship on May 14-15 with the winner of the best of three series advancing to Nationals.


Game 1 | ICC 3, Danville 0
The Cougars scored all of their runs in the top of the fourth inning.  Olivia Drish reached on an error followed by a Manning single.  Priscilla Peek then hit an RBI double and Savanah Clifton hit a two-RBI single.

Manning was in control the entire game, needing just 88 pitches to get the complete game, with 69 of them called for strikes.  

Clifton led the Cougars with two RBI while Peek (one RBI) and Sydnee Usherwood each doubled.   

Game 2 | ICC 5, Parkland 1
ICC struck first again in their second game, pushing four runs across in the second as Peek started things with a single to left.  With two outs, Clifton singled to right, scoring Peek for the Cougars' first run.  Alyssa Casas and Allie Scrivner each singled to load the bases and then Sydnee Usherwood drew a walk to make the score 2-0.  Olivia Stirnaman hit a line drive and reached base on an error, scoring Casas and Scrivner as ICC went up 4-0.  

The Cougars added a run in the top of the fourth on an RBI single from Olivia Drish.

Parkland scratched a run in the bottom of the seventh but Manning and the ICC defense tightened to get the win.

Clifton went 2-3 (double), Drish 1-4 (RBI), Clifton 2-4 (RBI), and Peek 2-3 from the plate.
 

Sunday, May 8
Game 1---10:00 am   Illinois Central 3, Danville 0
Game 2---12:15 pm   Parkland 5, Spoon River 4
Game 3---2:30 pm     Illinois Central 5, Parkland 1
Game 4---4:45 pm     Danville 7, Spoon River 0 
 

Monday, May 9
Game 5---11:00 am     Parkland vs. Winner Game 4
Game 6---1:15 pm       Illinois Central vs. Winner Game 5
Game 7---3:30 pm      If Necessary Game