Box Score CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The No. 1 Parkland College Softball team punched its ticket to the NJCAA National Tournament with a 4-3 victory over St. Louis Community College in the Central District Championship Game on Saturday, May 11th. The Cobras (57-4) needed clutch hitting down the stretch to take down the Archers (41-11), edging out the Region 16 Champions on a crucial RBI single from sophomore Emma Mason in the bottom of the 6th inning. Sophomore starting pitcher Karley Yergler (30-2) handed the ball off to sophomore Ellie Vetter in the 7th inning, and Vetter closed out the win to send the Cobras to the NJCAA National Tournament for the second year in a row.
 
"We are extremely proud of this team and blessed to have the opportunity to coach them," Co-Head Coach Dan Paulson said after the win. "We had to overcome some bumps this weekend, but this group stuck together and battled. Postseason in this region and district is always tough, and this team showed what they are made of this weekend."
 
"Kristi and I also want to thank all the supporters who showed up to our home field this weekend and all season," Paulson continued. "We have the best fans, as well as outstanding support from Parkland administration, and that certainly helped us with home-field advantage this weekend."
 
Up next, Parkland will compete in the NJCAA Division II National Championship Tournament in Spartanburg, South Carolina, beginning Monday, May 20th. Tournament seeding will be determined during the NJCAA Selection Show on Tuesday, May 14th, at 11:00 a.m. on the NJCAA Network.
 
No. 1 Parkland College 4, St. Louis Community College 3
 
The Cobras opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st inning as leadoff hitter Mia Ruder scored on an error, but the Archers returned the favor in the top of the 4th, taking a 2-1 lead on an error and putting the pressure on. Parkland loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the 5th – but struck out twice to bring Ryleigh Owens to the plate in a critical at bat. The sophomore outfielder delivered in the clutch, lining a 2-RBI single to center field to score Alisha Frederick and Lizzie Stiverson and give the Cobras a 3-2 lead heading into the 6th inning.
 
St. Louis CC scored on a passed ball in the top of the 6th to tie the game, but a clutch go-ahead RBI single from Emma Mason scored Ruder and put Parkland back in front 4-3. In the top of the 7th, sophomore pitcher Ellie Vetter (1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, K, BB) entered the game and sealed the 4-3 win with a scoreless inning.
 
Yergler (6.0 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 3 K, BB) faced 25 batters through six innings on Saturday, allowing three unearned runs on 99 pitches in her 30th start of the season.
 
"Emma Mason and Ryleigh Owens were huge at the plate with big hits in pressure situations, Ellie Vetter and Karley Yergler were solid in the circle, and our defense was outstanding," Paulson added after the game.
 
"Maddie Reed controlled the outfield in centerfield, Kailee Otto was spectacular at third base, and Stiverson and Wallace came up with some big plays up the middle. Overall, this was a team effort all weekend."