MJHS softball team headed to championship game

CENTRALIA -- Baylee Kelley homered and scored three runs and Amelia Browning had three hits as the Marion Junior High School softball team rolled past Highland, 13-5, Tuesday in the semifinals in the SIJHSAA Class L state tournament at Centralia's Rotary Park.
MJHS (25-1) plays Murphysboro (25-3) in the championship game Thursday at 3 p.m.
Murphysboro beat Hamilton County, 16-6, in the other semifinal.
Marion scored three runs in the first inning Tuesday after Addi Wall started a rally with a one-out single. Browning doubled and scored in the frame.
Five runs were added in the fourth. Karris Rhine and Browning both singled before Kelley's blast that broke it open.
Browning singled for her third hit and scored in the sixth, when Presley Barnett doubled and Makenzie Nicholson got a hit.
Bailey Long doubled in the seventh, when Rhine reached on an error and scored.
Camryn Harre pitched a complete game with three strikeouts in the circle.
At the other tournaments, Adams lost to Smithton, 5-2, and now plays either Trico or Christopher for third place in Class M at Pinckneyville.
Crab Orchard lost to Elverado, 17-0 in five innings, and now plays Grayville for third place in the Class S tournament in Coulterville.