Now is the time to shine for local high school softball teams as regional play is starting up.

Valmeyer (12-6) clinched a share of the title in the Kaskaskia Division of the Cahokia Conference with a 10-1 victory last Thursday over Marissa. Avery Proffer went 3-for-3 and Brooke Miller struck out 10 in a complete game for the Pirates. 

On Monday, Valmeyer closed out its regular season with a 3-2 loss at Trico. All runs scored in the game came in the sixth inning. The Pirates got two hits each from Proffer, Miller and Payton Similey. 

Valmeyer hosts a Class 1A regional and will take on rival New Athens at 2 p.m. Saturday. The regional final is set for 4:15 p.m. Monday. Gibault, Dupo and Marissa were also in this regional. 

The winner of the Valmeyer Regional advances to the Carrollton Sectional on May 21.

Proffer leads the Pirates in hitting with a .478 batting averaged, followed by Miller at .476 with 15 stolen bases and 29 runs. 

In the pitching circle, Miller has a 1.93 ERA. 

Gibault (7-14) closed out its regular season with a pair of wins. 

The Hawks won 5-3 over Dupo last Friday, with senior Libby Mesch striking out 10 in five innings pitched. Hope Chambers went 2-for-4 with three RBIs.

Last Thursday, Gibault picked up a 14-2 win over Father McGivney. Sophie Winkler went 4-for-5 with two RBIs. Chloe Lancaster added two hits and five RBIs. Ashley Murphy struck out nine in a complete game pitching effort.

The Hawks opened regional play against Dupo on Wednesday in O’Fallon, falling 5-4.

In addition to her 3-3 record in the pitching circle, Mesch was tops on the Hawks in hitting at .536 with four homers and 14 RBIs. Karina Jerkatis hit .365 with six stolen bases and 17 runs. 

Dupo (2-15) was led by freshman Kaitlyn Roberts in last week’s loss to Gibault. She went 2-for-3 at the plate. Kaitlyn Townsend went the distance in the pitching circle, allowing just one earned run.

The Tigers were led offensively this season by freshman Keara Prater at .368 with 14 runs, followed by senior Maddie Ehrhard at .333 with 13 RBIs and freshman Roberts at .317.

In Wednesday’s win over Gibault. Roberts went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs and Prater went 2-for-4 with a triple and two runs.

Dupo faced Marissa in the regional semifinal on Thursday, falling 11-3 to end its season.

Columbia (20-10) is ready for regional play after winning three straight games to close out the regular season. 

The Eagles won 4-2 over Breese Central on Thursday, 2-0 over Wood River on Friday and 10-3 at Nashville on Saturday. 

Columbia played Wood River in the Class 2A Wesclin Regional on Wednesday, winning 10-3. Sam Augustine homered and Kaylee Bosch went 3-for-4 with an RBI.

The regional final is 4 p.m. Friday for a berth in the Greenville Sectional that begins May 21.

Leading the Eagles in hitting is senior Jaylyn Brister at .479 with 11 doubles, four triples, four home runs, 40 RBIs and 32 runs. Elle van Breusegen is hitting .467 with 42 runs and 15 stolen bases. 

Paige Froess is hitting .453 with 28 RBIs in addition to her 6-4 record and 2.44 ERA as a pitcher. 

Emily Webb is 6-4 with a 1.84 ERA in the pitching circle. 

Waterloo (22-6) still has regular season games, weather permitting, before regionals begin.

On Wednesday, Waterloo won 8-2 over Granite City. Maddie Gummersheimer went 3-for-3 with an RBI.

The Bulldogs won 14-4 at Mascoutah last Friday, getting a homer and three RBIs from Raelyn Melching in addition to two hits and four RBIs from Kate Lindhorst.

Last Thursday, Waterloo lost 8-4 to Waltonville. Samantha Juelfs went 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

Waterloo hosts Jerseyville on Friday. 

The Bulldogs will play in the Class 3A Triad Regional this coming Tuesday against Centralia. 

Juelfs leads Waterloo in hitting at .442 with 14 doubles, 22 RBIs and 28 runs. Melching is hitting .435 with seven homers and 39 RBIs. Mallory Thompson is hitting .417 with 13 doubles and 28 runs.

Mia Miller is the pitching ace for the ‘Dogs with a 13-4 record and 1.21 ERA to go along with 194 strikeouts over 104 and one-third innings.