The Marion C. Early softball team is returning to the final four for the first time since 2008 after beating Vienna 1-0 in the state quarterfinal round.
The Lady Panthers got the game’s only run on an RBI by Taylor Blehm in the top of the third inning.
That is all the support Hailey Presley would need. The MCE pitcher threw a complete game with three strikeouts and a 0.86 WHIP. Presley consistently got ahead in the count with 22 first-pitch strikes.
MCE (25-7) will face Canton (25-5) at 1:30 pm on Friday at Killian Sports Complex in Springfield in the Class 1 state semifinals. The Lady Panthers are looking for the program’s first state title since 1992.
