Pekin, Cardinal head to regionals

PACKWOOD ? Pekin?s regular-season-ending skid reached five games with an 11-3 loss to Class 2A ninth-ranked Mediapolis Tuesday night.

The Panthers have lost a season-worst five straight games, but get to wipe the slate clean entering Class 1A regional play tonight vs. WACO.

?We?ve kind of been in a funk, but everyone in the state is now 0-0,? said Pekin head coach Bryan Marlay. ?Anyone can beat anyone, and all it takes is a four-game run.?

Pekin fell one game shy of the state tournament a year ago with a loss to Mid-Prairie in the regional final.

Tuesday, Mediapolis completed a perfect 18-0 run through the SEISC north division to claim the league crown. Pekin settled for third place with an 11-7 mark.

Dominique Tolle hit a home run, a double and finished with two RBI to lead the Panther offense. Jessi Martin and Cheyann Lankford also had two-baggers as part of the nine-hit offense.

Leslie Stone struck out three while giving up six walks and 10 hits to take the loss.

The Class 1A Region 5 opener against WACO is scheduled to begin tonight at 7 p.m.

Pekin vs. Mediapolis

Mediapolis ? 0 3 3 0 0 3 2 ? 11 10 0

Pekin ? 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 ? 3 9 2

PEKIN ? Martin 1-3, 2B; Lankford 1-3, 2B, R; Tolle 3-3, 2B, HR, 2RBI, R; Baker 0-3; Davis 2-3; Jensen 0-3; Spilman 1-3, R; Johnson 0-3; Stone 1-3, RBI

Pitching ? Stone (L) 7 INN, 10H, 6BB, 3K, 8ER

Central Lee 3, Cardinal 2

DONNELLSON ? The Cardinal softball team finished up the regular season with a 3-2 loss at Central Lee Tuesday night.

The loss is the Comets? fourth straight ? matching their longest skid of the season ? heading into Class 2A regional play Friday night.

Cardinal mustered just two hits Tuesday as Central Lee went on to win the game with one out in the bottom of the seventh. Felisha Durflinger struck out two and gave up eight hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Carlie Bennett finished the night 1-2 at the plate and drove in both of the Cardinal runs. Durflinger and Liz Nichols came up with the other two base hits.

Cardinal finishes the year alone in second place in the SEISC south division with an 11-3 mark. Fifth-ranked West Burlington won the conference at 13-1.

The Comets will host either Van Buren or Eddyville-Blakesburg in regional play Friday night. The opponent is scheduled to be determined with a game at 7 p.m. Thursday in Keosauqua.