HHS softball team falls in state tournament quarterfinals

A season of historic success came to an end Tuesday, as the Houston High School softball team was defeated 10-2 by Willow Springs in a quarterfinals game of the Class 2 State Tournament at Willow Springs.

“As time goes on, the hurt from this one will subside a bit,” said HHS head coach Jim Moore, “and we’ll be able to reflect on all the positives that did happen this year. There was a lot to be proud of for sure.”

Playing as the home team after winning a coin toss, the District 3 champion Lady Tigers got on the board first, scoring a run in the bottom of the second inning on a 2-out single by sophomore Ashley Gilbert that drove in junior Sophia Crites, who had reached base on a fielder’s choice.

But the District 4 champion Lady Bears took control of the contest from there, scoring 4 runs in the top of the third frame with a rally featuring 3 straight singles, an error and a sacrifice fly. Willow Springs got another run with 2 hits and another sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth inning, and then ran away with the game by scoring 3 runs on 4 hits in the sixth and adding 2 runs without the benefit of a hit in the seventh.

The Lady Tigers scored their final run of the season in the bottom of the seventh inning, as sophomore catcher Gracyn McNiell led off with a single and came home when Gilbert smacked a 1-out double to left-center field.

In earning the victory, Willow Springs scored more runs and had more hits in a game than any other Houston opponent this season. All nine Lady Bears who batted had at least 1 hit and the batter leading off an inning reached base six times.

Lady Tigers’ fielders offered plenty of assistance by committing a season-high 7 errors.

“We picked a bad day to have an off day,” Moore said. “That’s uncharacteristic of us; most of those were plays we usually make. But we didn’t and they did, and whenever you get to a game like this, the team that makes fewer mistakes is usually the one that advances.”

Sophomore Lilly Kincaid got the start for Houston and worked 5 2/3 innings, allowing 11 hits and only 1 earned run while fanning 1 and walking 1. Junior Makinley Aaron finished, allowing no hits and recording 1 strikeout.

Gilbert, Kincaid and Aaron each had 2 hits in the contest.

Houston finished the 2024 campaign with an overall record of 19-4, setting a new program high for wins in a season. In the process, the Lady Tigers won their third consecutive district championship, and also won the South Central Association title by running the table in a 7-game conference schedule (including a 10-7 win over Willow Springs on April 18 in Houston).

Houston will lose only one senior to graduation from this year’s roster: First baseman and pitcher Kelsey Pritchett.

“We’re definitely going to miss Kelsey,” Moore said. “She did an outstanding job this year of leading this team and fostering the girls and helping them in so many ways. Her leadership was greatly valued and it sets the tone for the future.”

Within a couple of weeks, the Lady Tigers will be back in action in summer ball.

“We for sure are looking forward to the future,” Moore said. “The girls coming back are going to work hard – and they worked all year, that’s how we improved so much. They’re going to put the time in between now and next season, and we’re going to be better next year. We just are.

“I look forward to that journey, but that doesn’t really help in the moment.”

Willow Springs (24-6) advances to meet District 6 champion Diamond (36-1) in the Class 2 semifinals Monday at the Killian Sports Complex in Springfield.

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