Dupo senior outfielder Alyssa Strubberg takes a swing at home against Waterloo on Friday. For more photos from this game, visit www.republictimes.net/photo-store. (Alan Dooley photo)

The Columbia and Dupo softball teams are dominating play so far this spring while other local squads are fighting to reach the .500 mark.

The Eagles opened Cahokia Conference play last Tuesday against Carlyle, winning 12-2. Columbia’s Lexi Touchette hit her first home run and Courtney Weilbacher went 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Chelsey Pena went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored.

On Friday, the Eagles continued their offensive onslaught in a 12-6 victory over Belleville East. Touchette went 3-for-5 with a home run and five RBIs. Weilbacher and Keeler Van Breusegen each turned in 3-for-5 efforts with three runs scored. Calli Wibbenmeyer added two hits and two RBIs.

“We have been playing pretty well this early in the season,” Columbia head coach Rhonda Major said. “As a team, we have been aggressive at the plate.”

Wibbenmeyer leads the team in hitting at .536. Kalli Farmer is next at .486 and Weilbacher is hitting .485. Touchette is hitting .429 with two home runs.

“Freshman  pitcher Mikela Kossina has stepped in and done a good job, both pitching and hitting,” Major added.

Columbia hosted Freeburg on Tuesday and will play Thursday at home against Breese Central, Friday at Granite City and a Saturday doubleheader at O’Fallon.

Dupo, meanwhile, is experiencing similar success. The Tigers are 7-1 following some big wins last week.

Last Tuesday, Dupo toppled previously unbeaten New Athens, 5-2. Jessica Stansch pitched well in the win and Meg Brown went 1-1 with two RBIs as the Tigers lineup drew 11 total walks…>>>

Read this story in the April 13 issue of the Republic-Times. If you don’t already receive the paper, you can subscribe by calling 939-3814 or clicking here. Or you can pick up a copy at the R-T office at 205 W. Mill Street in Waterloo or at any of these other locations.