The Central A&M softball team is a regional champion thanks to a late comeback in the final.  The Raiders overcame a seven-run margin to beat Villa Grove in extra innings.  As the administrative home team thanks to playoff seeding, Central A&M secured a walk-off win on their opponent's turf. 

The Blue Devils got off to a dream start as leadoff hitter Izzy Dodd homered to right.  On the next at-bat, Hayden Thomas hit a triple and would later score.  The same two players scored the Devils' next two runs in the third inning thanks to a throwing error from Raiders starting pitcher Gwyn Hardimon.  Dodd scored again in the fifth inning and drove in her side's two sixth-inning runs with a double. 

Central A&M left three runners on third base across the first five innings but could not force any across the plate.  Down 7-0 entering the bottom of the sixth, the Raiders were staring at the end of their season.  That's when the tide shifted. 

Two fielding errors presented Central A&M with a chance to put runs on the board.  Five hits in the next six at-bats drove home five runs, with two coming off the bat of Brookelyn Jackson.  She then scored on a Lyndi Woods sacrifice, bringing the score to 7-6. 

After a scoreless top of the seventh, Raider catcher Kylee Snearly led off the bottom half with a double.  Brookelyn Smedley pinch-ran for her, stole third, and scored the tying run on another sacrifice, this time from Kayla McPeek.

Tied 7-7, the regional final proceeded to extra innings.  Hayden Thomas led off the ninth by reaching second on an error and third on a wild pitch with no one out.  Gwyn Hardimon, still in the circle for Central A&M, struck out two batters and forced a groundout to keep Villa Grove off the board. 

Blue Devils pitcher Piper Kiser pitched two outs in the bottom of the ninth before walking Kayla McPeek.  The center fielder stole second with designated player Riley Hazelwonder at the plate.  Hazelwonder launched a fly-ball to left field which dropped in front of Kinleigh Pellow.  With two outs, McPeek ran full force and easily scored the region-winning run, capping a miraculous turnaround which Central A&M will not soon forget. 

McPeek went two-for-three with two stolen bases and the same number of RBI's - including on the game-tying play - and runs - including the winner - and was named Seitz Funeral Homes Player of the Game.  Hardimon pitched all nine innings, striking out 13.  Her punch-out of Pellum to lead off the third inning was the pitcher's 200th of the season. 

For Villa Grove, Izzy Dodd went four-for-five with three RBI's and three runs.  Piper Kiser also threw a complete game, including five strikeouts. 

Central A&M's season continues with the Argenta-Oreana sectional semifinal.  They will face the winner of the LeRoy regional, with first-pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday.