Stanton punches ticket to regional finals

Stanton’s postseason revenge tour improved to 3-0 with an 11-2 win over Lenox in the Class 1A, Region 6 semifinals Friday on the road in Lenox.
After avenging regular season losses to East Union and Fremont-Mills in its previous two regional matchups, the Viqueens were fired up from the start against the Tigers. They plated three runs in the first, four in the second and three more in the third to build a 10-1 lead.
“Us getting off a quick start with our bats made a big difference,” said Stanton coach Brandie McFarland.
Bree Mitchell once against came up for the Viqueens. The senior doubled and drove in three runs and went the distance in the circle, allowing four hits and striking out two.
Kyla Hart added two hits and drove in a run and Kiela Franzen, Janae Schwery and Cooper Stephens each added hits.
Reese Reed took the loss for Lenox. The freshman gave up three hits, two earned runs and walked five.
Stanton faced Riverside (23-3) in Monday’s regional finals with a state bid on the line. Complete results of that game will appear in the next edition of The Red Oak Express.

Stanton 12,
Fremont-Mills 11
Bree Mitchell came up big for Stanton in its thrilling 12-11 win over Fremont-Mills in the Class 1A, Region 6 quarterfinals last Wednesday in Tabor.
Mitchell belted a three-run homer in the second inning and picked up the complete-game win in the circle. The senior scattered eight hits and seven earned runs while striking out five.
All night long Mitchell pitched herself out of jams, including the bottom of the seventh when the Knights cut the lead to 12-11 and had the game-tying run at second base when she induced two pop ups to end the threat.
“She doesn’t give up,” said Stanton coach Brandie McFarland. “If she’s sore or hurting, I’ll never know it until after we’re done.”
From their first at bats, the Viqueens were aggressive at the plate, jumping on early pitches and spraying the ball to all fields. Stanton finished the night with 10 hits.
“We’ve been talking about hitting,” McFarland said. “We’ve been popping the ball up a lot. We’ve been focusing on grounders and line drives – that’s what we want to hit. We always want to get out to a good start, and we got out to a great start.”
Stanton led 4-3 after one inning and 7-5 after two but saw that lead balloon to 12-5 after the fourth. The Viqueens’ scoring would end there as the Knights plated four runs in the fifth and one each in the sixth and seventh.
Mitchell finished her night 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs.
Victoria McFarland was 4-for-5 at the plate and drove in three runs and scored two runs.  
Saige Mitchell started in the circle for the Knights before giving way to Adelynn Billingsley out of the bullpen. Mitchell took the loss after allowing nine hits and five earned runs while striking out five.
Lana Alley had three hits and drove in five runs for the Knights at the plate.
 Billingsley had two hits and drove in a run. and Bella Gute and Billingsley each had a hit and drove in runs.
Fremont-Mills closes out its season with a final record of 16-10.

Stanton 14,
East Union 10
Kyla Hart and Cooper Stephens combined to drive in seven runs for Stanton in a 14-10 win over East Union in Class 1A, Region 6 first round softball action last Monday in Afton.
The Viqueens trailed 3-0 after the first inning but exploded for six runs in the second to take control.
Hart doubled and drove in four runs and Stephens had a double of her own to drive in three runs.
Bree Mitchell and Riley Burke added two hits each for Stanton.
“Our hitting was good tonight and we capitalized off of their errors and scored on offense,” said Stanton coach Brandie McFarland.
East Union’s five fielding miscues led to six Stanton runs.
Bree Mitchell went the distance in the circle, allowing nine hits and seven earned runs while striking out five.
Tristan Lear had three hits and drove in four runs while taking the loss in the circle after scattering seven hits and eight earned runs.