South Central Cougars, Lady Cougars seasons end at sectionals
South Central’s softball and baseball teams had their seasons end at the sectional level.
The Lady Cougars were defeated by Windsor/Stew-Stras, 4-1, in the the South Central Sectional semifinal game, and the Cougars fell to Effingham St. Anthony, 6-1, in the championship game of the Altamont Sectional.
In the South Central Sectional, both South Central and WSS had four hits, but the Lady Cougars were able to only push one run across.
Photo by Rich Bauer
South Central’s Kyra Swift reaches out to snare a fly ball to centerfield during the Lady Cougars’ sectional game with Windsor/Stew-Stras.
Taegan Webster went the distance for South Central, giving up four earned runs while striking out five and allowing four walks.
South Central – Michel 1-3, run, double; Reid 0-1; Shuler 2-3; Montes 1-3, Ky. Swift 0-3; Ka. Swift 0-3; Webster 1-4, double, RBI; Garrett 0-4; Watwood 0-1; Thompson 2-3, double.
The Cougars advanced to the sectional championship with a 2-0 defeat of Arcola.
Anthony Buonaura struck out 14 and allowed just two hits and a walk, and helped his cause with a fifth-inning home run.
Photo by Rich BauerSouth Central’s Anthony Buonaura pitched a two-hitter and homered in the Cougars’ win over Arcola
South Central – Thompson 0-4; Dodson 0-4; Buonaura 2-4, run, home run; A. Magnus 0-4; Montes 1-2, run, walk; Watwood 0-3; Ca. Smith 1-1, RBI, walk; C. Smith 1-1, 2 walks; Robb 0-3; Markley (courtesy runner) 0-0.
In the sectional championship, South Central jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning, with Andrew Magnus bringing home Chase Thompson.
St. Anthony tied the game with a run in the second inning, then went up 2-1 on a controversial home run.
South Central centerfieler Andrew Magnus appeared to make an over-the-shoulder catch on a fly ball hit by Connor Roepke, then dropped the ball over the fence as he was transferring the ball for a throw.
After a lengthy discussion by the three umpires, it was ruled a home run.
Effingham then added three runs in the fifth inning and one more in the sixth inning.
“They (seasons) never seem to end the way you want them to, though it did a couple of years ago,” South Central coach Curt Jones said, referring to the Cougars’ state championship in 2021.
It was a good start, and Jones said, “That’s always one of my big things, get the lead first and put pressure on them.”
Jones said that Aidan Dodson “didn’t have a lot of walks, but it seemed like every one of them scored.
“So, credit them for getting some big hits when they needed to,” he said.
“We had base runners, we had opportunities to score as well; we just couldn’t seem to get the big hits,” Jones said.
About it being another good season for the Cougars, Jones said, “Absolutely … with all of the sophomores we had playing,” he said. “I told them, ‘you guys belonged out here today.
“We had sophomores running around all over out there, and they made some great plays, everyone of them did – this catch over here behind third was stupid and the shortstop diving and catching balls, and threw a guy out at the plate.
“So, I’m really proud of them, how far they have come since last fall,” Jones said.
The Cougars have a tradition of putting winning teams on the diamond year after year.
Asked how that happens, Jones said, “Well, you’ve got to have good players … you do.
“And I’m old and surely I’ve figured out something along the line.
“You’ve got to have good players, and I was thinking about that this morning. People ask me that every year,” he said.
“With Aidan Dodson on the hill, holy cow, and his brother two years ago … and man, I can go way back.
“We just have had guys who can throw and guys who can play, and that’s what it’s all about,” Jones said.
He gave credit to St. Anthony for the win. “They’re going to be hard to beat,” he said.
“They can pitch, they can swing, they’ve got everything,” he said.
“We wish them luck,” Jones said.
“We’d like the NTC to get up there and show them how it’s done,” he said.
“This sectional is hard to get out of and, generally, the winner has some success,” Jones said.
South Central – Thompson 0-3, run; Dodson 0-2; Buonaura 0-3; A. Magnus 0-2, RBI; Montes 0-2, walk; Watwood 0-2, walk; Ca. Smith 0-3, C. Smith 1-2, walk; Robb 0-1, walk; Dunn 1-1; Hoover 0-0; M. Magnus (courtesy runner) 0-0.
Pitching – Dodson 6 innings, 6 hits, 6 earned runs, 3 walks, 10 strikeouts.
