PLEASANT PLAINS - Mason Crump led Roxana with two hits and a first-inning RBI, and both Dalton Carriker and Brad Herrin combined for 12 strikeouts. But Sam Dukett was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning, forcing home Peyton Casson with the winning run as Williamsville took a 2-1 win in nine innings over the Shells in the IHSA Class 2A sectional semifinal on Wednesday afternoon, June 3, 2026, at Pleasant Plains.
The Bullets advance to a date with the host Cardinals, who defeated Marquette Catholic 9-1 in the second semifinal, Saturday morning in the sectional final/Round of 16 game.
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Roxana scored its only run in the first inning on a lead-off single by Carriker, who went to second on a wild pitch. With two outs, Crump's RBI double to center gave the Shells a 1-0 lead.
Roxana made it last until the bottom of the sixth inning, as Williamsville tied the game on a lead-off walk to Parker White, who was sacrificed to second by Wyatt Patton, then Tate Austwick walked, Dukett singled to load the bases, and one out later, Brenton Trickey walked to force home White and tie the game 1-1.
The game stayed tied until the bottom of the ninth, when Casson reached on an error, as did Patton one out later, Austwick was intentionally walked to load the bases, and Dukett was hit on a 2-2 pitch to force home Casson and give the Bullets the win, 2-1.
Crump led the way for Roxana with two hits and an RBI, while Carriker, Nick Miles, and Lyndon Theis also had hits. Carriker started on the mound and pitched well, going six innings and allowing an earned run on seven hits, walking four and striking out seven. Herrin pitched the final 2 1/3 innings and was tagged with the loss, giving up an unearned run on one hit, walking four, and fanning five.
The Shells end their season at 24-9, while Williamsville is now 17-15, and advances to Saturday's final against Pleasant Plains at 11 a.m. The winner meets the Monticello sectional winner, either St. Joseph-Ogden or Tolono Unity, in the super-sectional quarterfinal game at Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, Monday at 7 p.m. The state finals take place June 12-13 at Illinois Field on the campus of the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana.
