Two  local high school softball teams are among the tops in the area while a few others are just trying to build momentum as the regular season is winding down. 

Columbia (17-3) had won 15 straight games before a Tuesday showdown with a solid Salem squad.  

The result was a 1-0 loss to Salem as the Eagles were held to three hits. Paige Froess struck out 11 in a complete game pitching effort.

This past Saturday, the Eagles picked up a 6-0 victory over a tough Centralia squad.

Last Wednesday – into Thursday due to rain – Columbia trounced Breese Central to the tune of 13-1. 

The Eagles play in the Triad tourney this weekend with games against Hardin-Calhoun, O’Fallon and Triad. 

Elle van Breusegen leads Columbia in hitting at .476 with 30 runs, followed by Reagan Jarrard at .436.

Columbia’s pitching has been spectacular, with Emily Webb going 9-1 with a 0.85 ERA and Paige Froess at 5-1 with a 1.41 ERA.

Waterloo (15-2) has continued its winning ways of late.

On Monday, it was a 4-3 victory over Civic Memorial. The Bulldogs led 4-1 after five innings and were able to hold on late. Samantha Juelfs went 3-for-4 with an RBI, and Aidan Dintelman helped her own cause by going 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs in addition to striking out seven in a complete game in the pitching circle.

On Wednesday, Waterloo won 15-1 over Highland. Juelfs and Dintelman each went 3-for-5 with two home runs and five RBIs. Grayce Meter added four hits and three runs.

This past Saturday, Waterloo picked up a 2-1 win against Marion. Meyer went 2-for-2 with an RBI to pace the Bulldogs offense.

Waterloo takes on Herrin and Du Quoin this Saturday in Herrin before hosting Mascoutah on Monday. 

Juelfs leads the way for Waterloo on offense at .500 with five homers, 26 RBIs and 21 runs, followed by Dintelman at .453 with five homers and 20 RBIs in addition to her 15-1 pitching mark and 1.63 ERA in 103 innings.

Gibault (6-11) won 16-1 over East St. Louis on Monday, getting a homer and three RBIs from Lauren Lanham in addition to three hits and three RBIs from Hope Chambers, who also picked up the pitching win. Ashley Murphy went 2-for-2 with three RBIs.

The Hawks lost 10-0 Wednesday at Mater Dei. 

Lanham is hitting .464 (.545 on base percentage) with 12 stolen bases and 28 runs to lead Gibault.

Dupo (7-9) lost 6-5 at Granite City on Monday. The Tigers plated three runs in the  top of the seventh inning, but it was not quite enough. 

Keara Prater went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs. Kaylyn Woods and Kylie Pierce each had two hits.

Pierce is leading the Tigers in hitting at .500, followed by Kylie Kloess at .460 with 17 runs. 

Addison Thompson has a 2.04 ERA in the pitching circle.

Valmeyer (2-9) has been rained out of late. 

The Pirates hosted Steeleville on Tuesday, falling 12-0. The Pirates were held to just three hits.

Valmeyer fared better on Thursday against Steeleville, but still came up short by a count of 6-3.

Valmeyer plays Friday at Dupo, then hosts Chester on Monday. 

Avery Proffer is the team’s top hitter at .519 with three home runs and 14 RBIs.