The St. Anthony Lady Bulldogs have received the top seed in the 2022 National Trail Conference Softball Tournament.

The annual tourney will be played Monday, Wednesday and Friday, May 2-6, at Evergreen Hollow Park in Effingham.

The top four seeds also included Windsor/Stew-Stras (No. 2), South Central (No. 3) and Altamont (No. 4).

There will be four games played Monday, four more Wednesday and the finals are set for Friday.

Games will be played on both the east (ED) and west diamonds (WD).

Here is the tournament schedule:

Monday, May 2

Game 1 – 4:15 p.m. (ED) – St. Anthony (#1) vs. St. Elmo/Brownstown (#8)

Game 2 – 4:15 p.m. (WD) – WSS (#2) vs. Cowden-Herrick/Beecher City (#7)

Game 3 – 6 p.m. (ED) – Altamont (#4) vs. Neoga (#5)

Game 4 – 6 p.m. (WD) – South Central (#3) vs. Dieterich (#6)

Wednesday, May 4

Game 5 – 4:15 p.m. (ED) – Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 3

Game 6 – 4:15 p.m. (WD) – Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 3

Game 7 – 6 p.m. (ED) – Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 4

Game 8 – 6 p.m. (WD) – Loser Game 2 vs. Loser Game 4

Friday, May 6

Game 9 – 4:15 p.m. (ED) – Loser Game 5 vs. Loser Game 7 (3^rd place)

Game 10 – 4:15 p.m. (WD) – Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 8 (consolation)

Game 11 – 6 p.m. (ED) – Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 7 (championship)

The St. Anthony Lady Bulldogs scored seven runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to rally for an 8-2 win at home Thursday over Altamont.

The Lady Indians scored two runs in the top of the sixth to take a 2-1 lead.

But Abbi Hatton doubled, Grace Karolewicz reached on an error and Cameron Rios laid down a bunt single to load the bases and start the Lady Bulldogs big inning. With one out, Hailey Niebrugge singled to drive in a pair and put the hosts on top. Lucy Fearday then had an RBI single and Maddie Kibler walked to load the bases again. Sydney Kibler also walked to force in a run, another came home on a wild pitch and Hatton capped the inning with a two-run single.

Sydney Kibler, who pitched all seven innings, retired Altamont in order in the seventh to seal the victory. Kibler allowed only two hits, while walking one and striking out 12.

She was locked into a pitcher’s dual with Altamont’s Grace Lemke, who had allowed just one hit and one unearned run through the first five innings.

The Lady Bulldogs improved to 17-3 on the season. They will play again tonight (Friday) against Teutopolis in the annual Cross Creak Classic at Evergreen Hollow Park. Game time is set for 7 p.m.

By Steve Raymond

ET Sports Report

Ask any coach of any sport and they will quickly tell you how important getting off to a quick start is to virtually any team.

The St. Anthony Lady Bulldogs certainly benefitted Friday night.

They scored five runs in the opening two innings and then road the strong pitching performance of Lucy Fearday to a 7-1 victory over Teutopolis in the 9^th annual Cross Creek Classic, played at Evergreen Hollow Park in Effingham.

St. Anthony combined five hits and two costly errors to push those five runs across in the first two innings – four of those being unearned.

“It’s always important to get off to a good start,” St. Anthony coach Makayla Walsh admitted. “We try to score in every inning. At least, that’s the goal.

“I can’t complain about anything tonight,” Walsh added. “We had 10 hits and no errors. We came ready to hit and were really relaxed. I thought the girls were locked into a zone and ready to go.”

The Lady Bulldogs wasted no time taking control. In the bottom of the first, Cameron Rios lined the first pitch she saw off the glove of T-Town shortstop Emily Konkel for a base hit and then raced all the way to third on a sacrifice bunt by Addie Wernsing. Hailey Niebrugge followed with a base hit to stake SAHS to a 1-0 lead.

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The St. Anthony Lady Bulldogs used a pair of six-run innings to pull away and post a 16-4 win Monday at Dieterich.

SAHS scored six runs in both the third and fourth innings and then added four more in the sixth.

In that third inning, Anna Faber walked, Abbi Hatton singled and Grace Karolewicz was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Cameron Rios drove in the first run and reached first base on a fielder’s choice. Addie Wernsing followed with an RBI single and Hailey Niebrugge was hit by a pitch to force in the third run. Lucy Fearday then delivered a two-run single and the final run scored on an error.

Wernsing had a two-run double and Kallie Kabbes added an RBI double in the six-run fourth and St. Anthony then combined four hits and a walk to score four more times in the sixth.

Lucy Fearday started and pitched the first three innings to get the win. She retired all nine batters she faced without allowing a hit or walk. She struck out four. Stacie Vonderheide pitched the final three innings, allowing five hits and four runs.

The Lady Bulldogs improved to 15-3 on the season. They will play Thursday at home against Altamont and then face Teutopolis Friday night in the Cross Creek Classic at Evergreen Hollow Park. Game time is set for 7 p.m.