Mendota had plenty of offense and superb pitching, which was the right ingredient to take down Dixon, 7-0, in a Big Northern Conference varsity softball contest on May 25 at Dixon.

The Lady Trojans had two big innings when they were at the plate and got seven strong innings from winning pitcher Paige Manning when they were in the field. Mendota collected 11 hits in the game in scoring three runs in the third inning and four runs in the seventh, while Manning shut the door on the Duchesses.

Manning gave up just three hits in the route-going performance and only allowed one Dixon baserunner to get as far as third base. She struck out the side in the first two innings on her way to recording 13 whiffs for the game. The junior righty issued two free passes.

The Lady Trojans scored all the runs they needed in the top of the third. With one out, Zoe Finley reached on an error to get things started. Katie Jenner and Lauren Martin followed with consecutive singles to load the bases for Mary DeFore, who also singled to drive in the first run. One out later, Jenna O’Donnell ripped a double to drive in a pair.

Mendota put the game away with four runs in the top of the seventh. A two-run single by Ryleigh Sondgeroth was the big blow in the inning. Jenner drove in a run with a fielder’s choice and DeFore plated another on a sacrifice bunt.

Jenner, Martin and DeFore finished with two hits apiece for the Lady Trojans.

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Stillman Valley posted a 5-1 conference victory over the Lady Trojans on May 26 at the MHS field.

Stillman Valley scored single runs in the second, third and fourth innings, and then added two more in the fifth to take a 5-0 lead.

Mendota only had a couple of scoring chances through six innings and then finally avoided the shutout with a run in the bottom of the seventh. Jenna O’Donnell led off with a double and raced home on a ground out by Ryleigh Sondgeroth.

The Lady Trojans had just four hits – a single and a double by O’Donnell and two singles by Paige Manning.

Mary DeFore pitched all six innings for Mendota, giving up 10 hits and striking out three.

Mendota finished the regular season with an 8-7 overall record and ended with a 6-6 conference mark.