Sports Calendar: Regional Softball Semifinals

The softball season is winding down as one Corner Conference team remains in the postseason.

The big 1A Region 7 semifinal game for the evening takes place in Red Oak at 7 p.m. It features a rematch from last season, the same two teams that played each other last year, Essex and Exira-EHK.

Both teams fought for their quarterfinal wins. Essex defeated Fremont-Mills 8-3 Wednesday night in Tabor in nine innings. The Trojanettes scored five runs in the ninth inning to get the victory.

Exira-EHK didn't go to extra innings, but they had to rally late to win a close one (6-5) against Stanton on Wednesday in Griswold. The Spartans scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to get the victory.

The five runs given up by Exira-EHK are the most they've given up in a game this season. Enterting Wednesday's quarterfinals, the team had given up just eight runs the entire season.

Rachel Smith is once again the player to keep an eye on for Exira-EHK. The junior has a 21-1 record for the season with 294 strikeouts in 140 innings pitched.

Essex's bats will play a key role for the game, led most notably by lead-off hitter Skylar Ross. The senior has a .446 batting average with a 1.203 OPS this season. Ross was 1-for-4 with a run scored and three stolen bases against Fremont-Mills.

The other semifinal in 1A Region 7 takes place in Martensdale when Martensdale St. Marys hosting CAM. The game starts at 7 p.m.

CAM reached the semifinals when they shutout Griswold Wednesday night 1-0.

The winners of both semifinal games in Region 7 face off Monday night in Greenfield.