The Herrin Junior High girls’ softball team has been on an extraordinary run this season. With a record of 15 wins and just one loss, the Tigers have been showing confidence, focus, and teamwork as they move toward the end of their regular season. For eighth graders Lizzy Apple, Rylin Cravens, and Marlee Pelker, the winning streak has been both a reward for their hard work and a motivation to keep pushing.

The season began in early August, before the school year started, and the girls have been playing steadily since. This year, Herrin is hosting regionals at its own complex, and if they advance, the state tournament will be played nearby at Marion’s new sports complex. Having both tournaments so close to home adds excitement and an opportunity for the community to show its support.

The Tigers are building on last season, when they finished 11–8 and placed second in regionals. That loss still lingers, but it also drives them forward. Carterville took first place last year, but Herrin has already beaten them this season, 4–2. The players expect Carterville will again be their toughest challenge, likely waiting in the regional championship. “That’s not going to happen this year,” Rylin said with determination.

Lizzy, who pitches as well as playing multiple positions, is proud of two games in which she allowed just one hit, though one of those came off her arm, forcing her to leave after four or five innings. In many other games, she hasn’t pitched the full seven innings because Herrin has won by the mercy rule, ending games early when the Tigers built commanding leads.

Rylin’s highlight of the season came at the plate. “Probably when I hit the fence,” she said, describing a long drive that brought in two or three RBIs. She has also made strong plays at shortstop. For Marlee, her favorite memory was an inside-the-park home run at Benton. “It went right over her head,” she recalled, smiling at the thought of racing around the bases. She also brings versatility, playing both second base and catcher.

The three girls are part of the starting nine, and Coach Nick Baskin makes lineup decisions based on the opponent. Against tougher teams, the best lineup takes the field. Against less competitive schools, other players gain valuable experience. With around 20 girls on the roster, that depth has been important to this season’s success.

All three players are involved in multiple sports. Lizzy balances softball with volleyball, cheer, and track. Rylin has been playing softball all her life, following in the footsteps of her grandfather, longtime coach Keith Warren, and also enjoys volleyball, basketball, and track. Marlee plays softball, volleyball, and cheer, and she competes in bowling, where she made it to state in both sixth and seventh grade. She admits the busy schedule means a lot of responsibility to keep up with homework and practices. “It’s a lot, Rylin said. “But it’s fun—the love of the sport, the drive to go far, and the friendships you make. It’s like a second family.”

Team culture has been central to their success. When their long winning streak ended, the girls admitted it wasn’t easy. “Some people were obviously sad because we’d won 15,” Lizzy said. But they also saw value in the loss. “That’s just telling us to work harder and focus on more goals in the future,” Rylin explained. “It’s never one person’s fault. You win as a team and you lose as a team.” They supported one another and quickly turned their focus back to preparing for the next game.

Community support also makes a difference. The players say having fans in the stands pushes them to perform better. “It kind of gets us fired up more,” Rylin said. “We play better when there are more people there cheering us on.” The encouragement transforms games into memorable experiences not just for the team but for the whole school community.

With the postseason approaching, the Herrin Junior High girls’ softball team carries confidence into each game. They know Carterville will be waiting, but they also know they’ve beaten them once and can do it again. Their mix of pitching, hitting, defense, and team spirit has given them momentum, and they intend to keep it rolling.