Local high school softball teams are either hoping to maintain positive momentum or get things going in the right direction as the postseason approaches.

Columbia

The Eagles just keep rolling as they ended last week extending their win streak to 16 games while also wrapping up the conference title and winning the Triad Tournament.

Columbia (27-2) beat Breese Central last Wednesday, 8-0, behind a strong game from pitcher Brianna Weilbacher, who allowed no runs on one hit and struck out 15.

Thursday against Wesclin, Weilbacher continued to have a hot hand, allowing no runs on three hits and striking out eight as the Eagles took the game, 7-0.

Columbia defeated Althoff 12-2 in the opening round of the Triad Tournament. Caitlyn Touchette had a monster game at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two home runs and five RBIs. Kaylee Bastien went 4-for-4 with four doubles and two RBIs. Kalli Farmer went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs.

Bastien currently ranks among the top hitters in the entire area with a batting average of .588.

Columbia topped Civic Memorial in the next game as the offense kept rolling. Weilbacher hit two home runs and Bastien bashed a home run with three RBIs.

Saturday, the Eagles topped Highland 9-0 behind a strong pitching performance from Weilbacher to advance to the championship game. She allowed no runs on one hit and struck out 11. Farmer led the offense, going 1-for-3 with three RBIs.

Columbia topped Chatham Glenwood, 5-2, to win the Triad Tournament behind another

strong outing from Weilbacher and some timely hitting. Kelly Metter, Claire Foster, Taryn Pena, Weilbacher and Farmer all had RBIs to help them win the title game.

“We are hitting the ball solid up and down the lineup for the most part, and playing fundamentally sound softball right now and playing as a team,” Columbia head coach Rhonda Major said. “This is a great group of girls who work well with one another. Every day, someone different comes through with a big play whether it is defense or offense. I believe this is a great example of why this group is so special and I believe they will continue to work hard to finish the season strong.”

Columbia won again Monday against New Athens, 4-1.

Waterloo

The Bulldogs (18-8) opened last week with a tough conference loss to Highland, 3-1. The game was scoreless through three innings before the teams traded runs in the fourth.

The game stayed tied at one until the seventh when Highland (14-7) scored two to take the win.

Kasey Bradley pitched a strong game for Waterloo, striking out eight Highland batters.

Waterloo bounced back with a big conference win against Civic Memorial last Wednesday, 11-5. Kylie Albrecht led the ‘Dogs, going 2-for-5 with a double and a home run for three RBIs. Kady Cecena and Katy Polacek each added two RBIs.

Friday, Waterloo played Wesclin in the first round of the Alton Tournament. Waterloo held a slim 2-1 lead through five innings before Wesclin scored two in the sixth and four more in the seventh to open up a 7-2 lead going into the bottom of the seventh.

The ‘Dogs dug deep and came up with a monster inning, scoring six times to take the game, 8-7.

Kaitlyn Storm went 1-for-2 with a double and three RBIs to lead the Waterloo offense.

The ‘Dogs faced Wood River in the next round, taking the game 9-0 to advance to the championship against host Alton (22-8).

Mallory Meyer pitched a gem for Waterloo, allowing no runs on three hits and striking out eight to get the win.

Waterloo scattered nine hits against Alton, but could not manage a run as the Redbirds took the game and the championship, 3-0.

Waterloo’s offense scored in bunches Monday in an 11-3 win over Mascoutah.

“We are showing a lot of fight and determination,” Waterloo head coach Sarah Renner said of her club, which plays Highland on Wednesday and Chester on Thursday.

Gibault

Gibault (13-12) had a tough week, dropping all three of its games.

They lost to Mater Dei last Wednesday, 18-4, then lost a doubleheader to Freeburg Saturday, 5-1 and 4-2.

“The season is going about as I expected,” Gibault head coach Dave Gregson said. “We had a key injury to Paige Wriston (the only junior on the team). She missed three weeks, but is back now.

“We are a very young team and make some key mistakes, but we are improving.

Gibault bounced back on Monday to defeat Metro East Lutheran, 9-3.

Lauren Prader, Noelle Davis, Hannah Knese and Wriston are having really good seasons for the Hawks, who play Sparta on Wednesday and O’Fallon on Friday before the regionals begin.

Dupo

The Dupo Tigers (24-6) began last week by beating Steeleville 8-0 last Tuesday, clinching the regular season conference crown in the process. Megan Brown tossed yet another no-hitter on the mound while striking out 11.

Brown also went 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs, and Racheal Donald added two doubles. Donald leads the team in hitting at .527. Brown is second at .516.

Thursday against Valmeyer, Brown was again in top form. The freshman phenom no-hit the Pirates for her second no-no in as many games.

Brown also helped her team at the plate going 3-for-4 with three RBIs as Dupo won, 14-0.

The Tigers fell to Highland in the first game of the Triad Tournament. It was a game that went down to the wire. Highland jumped out to an early 5-1 lead through four, but the Tigers battled back to tie the game before losing 6-5.

Donald, Skylure Barlow and Amber Mobbs each had two RBIs for the Tigers.

Dupo bounced back Saturday to beat Belleville West by the score of 6-1, and edged past Red Bud on Monday, 4-3.

Dupo is set to host high-powered Columbia to close out their regular season on Thursday.