VERGENNES — Josie Wettig’s big day in the circle and at the plate helped the Trico Pioneers win their second straight softball regional championship, beating Elverado 6-1 to win the Elverado 1A Regional title.

Wettig struck out 12 on her way to the complete game victory and was 3-3 at the plate with a solo home run.

This one was scoreless until the fourth, when Mississippi State-bound Morgan Bernardini led off with a double for the Lady Falcons. A sacrifice moved her to third, and she scored on Ellie Yates sacrifice fly.

The Pioneers tied it in the bottom of the fourth on Wettig’s opposite field blast to the play are beyond the left field fence.

Trico then took the lead in the fifth. Dalyn Eilers doubled, and when Eilers tried to steal third, the throw went into left field allowing her to score the go ahead run.

The Pioneers added four insurance tallies in the sixth with Lexi Stroub delivering a two-run single and Haley Kranawetter adding an RBI single.

Elverado made it interesting in the seventh, loading the bases and were two batters away from getting Bernardini back to the plate, but Wettig slammed the door shut with a strikeout.

Trico advances to the Goreville 1A Sectional where the Pioneers will face Pope County in the first semifinal Tuesday at 4:30. The host Lady Blackcats will take on Woodlawn at 6:30.

The Lady Falcons finished their season 19-10.