All of the local high school softball teams experienced the thrill of victory in recent action, though some more than others.

Waterloo (13-10) snapped a three-game losing skid with an 8-6 win Monday at Civic Memorial. The Bulldogs got three hits each from Jada Voelker – who homered – Mia Miller and Aidan Dintelman. 

On Wednesday, Waterloo lost an extra-inning heartbreaker at Highland, 5-4. The game was tied 2-2 after six innings, after which Waterloo plated two in the top of the seventh inning. Highland answered with two runs in the bottom of the seventh, then won the game in the eighth. Lilly Heck went 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs. Samantha Juelfs went 3-for-5.

This past Friday, Waterloo lost 5-4 to Wesclin. Mallory Thompson went 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Voelker and Dintelman each added two hits.

Last Wednesday, the Bulldogs dropped an 8-0 contest to Triad. Juelfs collected the only hit for Waterloo, which committed five errors on the day.

Waterloo hosts Mascoutah on Monday. 

Juelfs, a freshman, leads Waterloo in hitting at .450 with 24 runs, followed by Miller at .426 with 20 RBIs and fellow freshman Dintelman at .403 with 20 runs. 

As a pitcher, Miller is 7-5 with a 1.60 ERA and 160 strikeouts in 83 innings.

Columbia (13-10) celebrated senior day in style with a thrilling 13-12 victory Tuesday over Roxana. Karsen Jany, a senior, hit a walk-off grand slam for the Eagles. 

On Thursday, however, the Eagles dropped a 4-2 contest to Freeburg. Macie Pulcher had a double and two RBIs for Columbia.

Columbia won 8-5 over Centralia last Saturday, getting three hits each from Elle van Breusegen, Julia Foster and Jaylyn Brister. Paige Froess struck out seven in five and one-third innings for the mound victory. 

Last Friday, the Eagles eked out a 7-6 win over Breese Central. Each team plated four runs in the seventh inning. Foster and van Breusegen collected two hits each, with Foster picking up the complete game pitching win. 

Last Wednesday, Columbia dropped a 10-1 contest at Edwardsville. Jany went 2-for-2 with a double and RBI. 

Last Tuesday, the Eagles lost 4-1 at Salem despite a 2-for-2 day from Froess.

Brister is hitting .500 with 20 RBIs and 21 runs this spring, followed by van Breusegen at .421 with 11 stolen bases and 28 runs. Froess is hitting .417 with 23 RBIs and is 6-2 as a pitcher with a 2.11 ERA.

Valmeyer (13-2) dropped a 5-2 contest at home on Thursday to Lebanon despite a 12-strikeout, zero walk effort from pitcher Brooke Miller.

The Pirates won 14-4 at home over Wesclin on Wednesday. Valmeyer allowed all four runs in the top of the first inning but answered with 10 runs in its opening frame. Brooke Miller and Mia McSchooler collected three hits each.

The Pirates won 10-6 at Dupo on Tuesday night, as Miller went 2-for-5 with a triple and two RBIs in addition to striking out 12.

On Monday, the Pirates picked up a 15-10 victory over Father McGivney. Valmeyer plated 11 in the first inning and held on late. Kylie Eschmann and Peyton Similey each went 4-for-5 on the day. Avery Proffer, a freshman, went 3-for-4 with a triple and four RBIs. Miller and McSchooler added three hits each.

Last Tuesday, the Pirates won 9-8 over Marissa. Valmeyer scored four runs in the seventh inning to emerge victorious. Miller went 3-for-4 with two triples and two RBIs. Similey went 3-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs.

Miller is hitting .510 with 10 runs and is 7-0 with a 1.34 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 47 innings pitched.

Valmeyer hosts Chester on Monday. 

Other offensive leaders for Valmeyer include McSchooler (.478, 12 runs), Markee Voelker (.468, 11 doubles, 15 RBIs) and Eschmann (.458, 19 RBIs).

Gibault (5-10) won two of four recent games. 

On Wednesday, the Hawks lost 12-0 to Mater Dei.

On Monday, the Hawks won 17-2 over East St. Louis. Sophie Winkler went 2-for-3 with four RBIs and three runs. Karina Jerkatis added two hits, and Hope Chambers had a double and three RBIs.

On Friday, Gibault won 12-6 over Father McGivney. The Hawks trailed 6-4 after five innings before plating five runs in the sixth innings and three more in the seventh. 

Myah Ticer went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs. Libby Mesch and Iroda Makhamatjonova collected three hits each. Chambers went 2-for-3 with four stolen bases for the Hawks. 

Last Tuesday, Gibault dropped a 10-8 contest at Bunker Hill. Ticer went 3-for-5 with two RBIs in the loss.

Gibault plays Thursday at Althoff.

Emma Steibel is hitting .415 with four doubles this season and Ashley Murphy is hitting .394 with 10 runs for the Hawks. 

Dupo (7-10) won 10-9 over Steeleville on Thursday. Kyann Prater smashed two homers, and both Kaylyn Woods and Maddie Ehrhard homered.

Dupo won 10-8 over New Athens last Thursday. Woods went 3-for-3 with a homer and three runs. Prater went 4-for-4 for the Tigers.

Last Tuesday, Dupo rallied for four runs in the seventh inning to win 10-8 over Lebanon. Prater went 3-for-4 with two home runs and five RBIs. Woods went 3-for-4 with a homer and three runs. Ehrhard also homered in the win.

Dupo plays Monday at Wood River and Tuesday at Gibault. 

Woods is hitting .528 to lead the Tigers with three home runs, six triples, seven doubles, 17 RBIs and 25 runs 

Prater is hitting .500 with three home runs, 15 RBIs and 14 runs.