Softball:  Warriors Down Dixon, Advance to Regional Finals

Boxscore

The SHS Softball team, ranked 9th in the state in class 3A, opened the post season with a 10-0, 6-inning win over Dixon in the semifinals of the Freeport 3A Regional Tuesday.

Sterling (29-6) took control by scoring five runs after two were out in the bottom of the second.  Bailey Oetting started the rally by drawing a two-out walk.  Priscilla Aponte followed with a double to score Oetting and open the floodgates.  Aponte scored on a base hit from Gabi Trujillo.  Later in the inning, Stephanie Kester had a two-run single.

Kester ended up with three hits, and was the winning pitcher, tossing a four-hitter.  Paige Lobdell and Cassidy Gillihan each had two hits and a run batted in.

Next Up: Sterling will try to win its first regional championship since 2009 Saturday at 11:00 a.m. against Freeport or Rochelle.  The Freeport Regional champion advances to the Belvidere-North Sectional and would play Wednesday, May 30.