Running the table in the regular season with 22 victories, Mick Byrd’s Vienna Eagle softball team began their quest for a district title in the MSHSAA Class 1, District 5 Softball Tournament last week at St. Elizabeth High School.

Defeating Leeton 10-0 in five innings Thursday night, Vienna was supposed to have faced the host Lady Hornets Saturday afternoon for the district title.

However, Mother Nature helped postpone the game Saturday and Monday before it was finally played last night (Tuesday).

After St. Elizabeth got their first turn at the plate, Vienna’s offense gave senior pitcher Jordyn Steffen four runs and an early 4-0 lead in Hornet country.

As it turned out, that was all of the offense Steffen would need as she held St. Elizabeth to three runs on four hits while striking out seven Lady Hornets.

In that first inning, Jada Kleffner walked and scored along with Marsie Messersmith on a Karissa Feeler two-RBI single. Steffen helped her own cause in the inning with a walk before courtesy runner Rhea Helton replaced her on the base paths.

Helton eventually scored on a Kamryn Hayes RBI ground out while Feeler was drove in by Rachel Garro via a RBI single to cap the four-run first inning.

After St. Elizabeth got a run back in the top of the second, Vienna answered in the bottom of the third inning.

Alexi Struemph walked and scored on a passed ball giving Vienna their four-run lead back at 5-1 through three innings.

Following a scoreless fourth inning, the Eagle offense added to their lead in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Struemph singled and scored on a Garro RBI ground out while Hayes walked before scoring on an Alicia Long RBI single giving Vienna a 7-2 lead after five inning.

Even though the Lady Hornets scored a run in the top of the six, the Eagles had another quick answer in the bottom of the sixth.

Messersmith singled and scored on a Steffen RBI ground out before Struemph also singled and scored on a Hayes RBI single pushing Vienna’s lead to 9-3.

Retiring St. Elizabeth in order in the top of the seventh inning, Vienna celebrated a district title earning a sectional date with Pilot Grove today (Wednesday) at 5:30 p.m., at Pilot Grove High School.

Entering sectional action with a 22-3 record, Pilot Grove shares five common opponents with Vienna in Jamestown, Russellville, Osage, Iberia and Leeton.

Both teams have wins over all of the teams mentioned with the exception of Osage.

Osage handed Pilot Grove a 4-2 loss in late September while Vienna came from behind to defeat the Lady Indians 9-6 also in the month of September.

A Vienna victory today would advance them to the quarterfinals against either Salisbury or Silex on Saturday, Oct. 20. A Silex win means Vienna would host while a Salisbury win mean Vienna would travel for the quarters.