To some degree, last year’s district championship still weighed heavily on the mind of Perryville softball coach Dustin Wengert. That was clearly evident as he yelled to his team as they went out to the field for the final half inning that his team still needed three more outs despite a sizable lead.
“It certainly wasn’t over at that point,” Wengert said. “We were here last year and watched it slip away.”
Perryville left no doubt this season.
The Pirates scored five runs in the second inning and rode that momentum to a 9-1 victory over Lutheran South in the Class 3, District 1 championship game on Thursday in the Perryville City Park.
The title is the second for the program in the last three seasons.
“In this year of flux we’ve been shut down and thought we might not play again this season. About the only consistent thing we have had has been softball,” Wengert said. “The girls have played hard all year and deserved every bit of success they’ve had.”
Perryville (18-5) had five players, Brittanie Stewart, Brooke Huber, Ann-Marie Simpson, Anna Korando, and Katie Roberts. chip in with two hits apiece. Roberts accounted for three RBI, while Huber drove in two runs.
The Pirates broke the game open in the second inning, when Stewart hit the first of two triples to start the inning. Korando drove in Stewart for the first run of the game with a single.
The Pirates loaded the bases later in the inning and Makayla Pecaut walked forcing in a run, which gave Perryville a 2-0 lead.