Dukes marooned in Moline: Thunder advance; Amboy, AFC lose in regional semifinals

The Dixon Dukes took an early lead but couldn’t hold on Thursday in a 7-5 loss at Moline.

Brendan Gould hit a two-run homer for Dixon (15-16), which used a four-run second inning to take a 4-1 lead.

But the Maroons scored three runs in the bottom of the inning to tie it up, then matched Dixon’s run in the third. Moline added a run in the fifth and another in the sixth for the win.

Nick Emmole added a single, a double and an RBI for the Dukes. Ross Reubin took the loss in relief of Gould.

Class 2A Stillman  Valley Regional

Mendota 20, Amboy 2: The Clippers got solo home runs from Spencer Morrissey and Levi Kaleel, but the Trojans won the semifinal matchup in five innings.

Class 2A West Carroll Regional

West Carroll 6, Forreston 5: Justin Ferguson capped his 4-for-4 night with the game-winning RBI in the bottom of the seventh as the Thunder advanced to the regional finals.

Ferguson drove in three runs for West Carroll, and his third RBI came with two outs in the final inning. Luke Ingersoll picked up the win as the Thunder overcame Austin LeClere’s two homers and three RBIs.

Class 1A Hinckley- Big Rock Regional

HBR 12, AFC 2: Brian O’Connell hit a solo home run and Logan Meurer also drove in a run, but the Raiders (7-18) lost in the semifinals to the regional hosts in six innings.

Softball

Rock Island 5, Sterling 0: Misplayed fly balls and some hard hits cost the Golden Warriors in the Rocks’ four-run fifth inning, and Sterling (15-15) never recovered.

Jaime Rehmert (10-11) took the loss.

Thursday's stars

• Brendan Gould, Dixon, 2-run HR

• Justin Ferguson, WC, 4-for-4, 3 RBIs, winning RBI in bottom of the 7th

• Spencer Morrissey & Levi Kaleel, Amboy, solo HRs

• Brian O'Connell, AFC, solo HR