They say big players play at their best in big games. Such was the case for Brianna Weilbacher of the Columbia softball team Thursday in the Class 3A Centralia Sectional against Highland at Kaskaskia College.

Weilbacher was a force in the pitching circle and at the plate for the Eagles, scattering just five hits in a complete game performance and hitting a solo home run in a 3-1 Columbia win.

“She was in the groove and was hitting her spots well,” Columbia head coach Rhonda Major said.

The Eagles (33-2) will face Centralia for the sectional title at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Kaskaskia College.

Weilbacher’s solo homer made it 2-0 in the first inning. Teammate Caitlyn Touchette kept her recent power surge going, smacking a solo home run in the fourth to make it 3-0 Eagles.

After Highland plated a run in the fifth, Weilbacher finished strong. She struck out the side in the seventh for the win.