Winters Homers as Missouri Takes Two in MO-IL Softball Clash

Quincy, IL – After a ten-year hiatus, the Missouri vs. Illinois All-Star Softball Game returned to showcase the best talent from West Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri. Hosted at John Wood Community College on June 25, the event featured a spirited doubleheader full of fierce yet friendly competition.

Team Missouri—led by Highland head coach Paul Scifres—swept the night with two commanding victories. Missouri took Game 1 by a score of 11-3 and followed it up with an 11-5 win in Game 2, which was called after four innings due to darkness.

Game 1

North Shelby’s Abby Uhlmeyer started in the circle for Missouri, while Hannah Hodgson of Havana got the nod for Illinois.

Mark Twain’s Bronwyn Harding got things going for Missouri with a one-out double. After a flyout, Haleigh Winters delivered a two-out RBI single to give Missouri a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.

Illinois answered quickly. A fielder’s choice and a one-out single put runners in scoring position. Pittsfield’s Grace Henry tied the game with an RBI single. A wild pitch allowed Western’s Rachel McMullen to score, and Beardstown’s Bella Palmer grounded out to bring in another run, giving Illinois a 3-1 lead.

The second inning saw Missouri go down in order. Illinois followed with a two-out single and a walk but couldn’t add to their lead. Missouri again went 1-2-3 in the third and made a pitching change, bringing in Bowling Green’s Sydney Charlton. Illinois managed only a two-out walk in the bottom half.

Missouri mounted a two-out rally in the fourth to retake the lead. Community R-VI’s Amy McCurdy and Elsberry’s Mya Pflasterer hit back-to-back singles. Fellow Indian Anna Talbot drove in a run with an RBI single, and Macon’s Keely Hicks followed with a two-RBI single to give Missouri a 4-3 edge. Illinois couldn’t respond.

The offense continued for Missouri in the fifth. Uhlmeyer singled to start, followed by an RBI double from Harding. Montgomery County’s Alivia Fisher added an RBI single. Winters tacked on another RBI hit, and Talbot capped the inning with an RBI single to stretch the lead to 8-3.

Haleigh Winters sends a chopper to get an RBI

In the sixth, South Shelby’s Callie McWilliams singled and later scored on a passed ball. Illinois remained quiet, and Missouri entered the seventh up 9-3.

Pflasterer and Talbot led off the seventh with singles. Hicks hit a grounder that was misplayed, scoring Pflasterer. A walk to McWilliams loaded the bases, and Uhlmeyer drove in one last run with a single. Illinois escaped the inning but couldn’t mount a comeback, giving Missouri the 11-3 win.

Missouri Key Stats
Sydney Charlton (W): 3.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 4 K
Anna Talbot: 3-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 R
Haleigh Winters: 2-for-3, 2 RBI

Illinois Key Stats
Hannah Hodgson (L): 7.0 IP, 12 H, 9 R, 7 ER, 3 K
Charlie Gerleman: 1-for-3, 1 2B, 1 BB
Vanessa Nunez: 2-for-4, 1 R

Game 2

Game 2 saw Missouri become the home team and start Bowling Green’s Sydney Charlton in the circle. Illinois turned to Payson-Seymour’s Abby Hagenbaumer.

Liberty’s Ally Lefringhouse recorded the first hit for Illinois with a single, but the team couldn’t drive in a run.

Missouri picked up right where they left off. Elle Azarraraz drew a walk to get things going. Alivia Fisher followed with an RBI double. Winters added an RBI double of her own. Talbot chipped in with an RBI single, followed by another RBI from Charlton. Azarraraz reached on an error to drive in a run, giving Missouri a 6-0 lead after one inning.

Illinois couldn’t find an answer despite loading the bases on walks in the top of the second.

Then came the loudest hit of the night. After Uhlmeyer was hit by a pitch, Winters launched a two-run home run to center field to extend the lead to 8-0.

Illinois mounted a response in the third, cutting the deficit in half. RBI hits came from Lefringhouse, Macomb’s Kendyl Danner, Payson-Seymour’s Ella Archer, and Hagenbaumer, making it 8-4.

But Missouri wasn’t done. Talbot and Charlton each singled, and Clark County’s Ava McKay added an RBI single. McCurdy followed with one of her own, and the lead grew to 11-4.

Clark County’s Ava McKay battles at the plate

Illinois didn’t go down without a fight. McMullen singled, and Henry added an RBI single to bring in one more run. But as daylight faded, so did Illinois’ chances. The game was called after four innings, sealing an 11-5 Missouri victory.

Missouri Key Stats
Sydney Charlton (W): 2.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 K; 2-for-2, 2 RBI, 2 R
Haleigh Winters: 2-for-3, 1 HR, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R
Anna Talbot: 2-for-2, 1 RBI, 2 R

Illinois Key Stats
Abby Hagenbaumer (L): 2.0 IP, 5 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 1 K
Ally Lefringhouse: 2-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 R
Ella Archer: 1-for-3, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 R