FREEPORT — The Rochelle Little League 10U Softball All-Stars defeated Sterling 18-8 on Friday to continue their run at the Illinois Little League District 19 Championship tournament. Ella Behrens struck out six batters over three innings pitched, while Mya Martinez added two strikeouts. Martinez went 4-for-4 with one triple and six RBIs to lead the Rochelle offense. Chloe Escatel singled twice and recorded two RBIs, while Nevaeh Rodriguez added two RBIs.

Sterling went ahead 1-0 with one run on an error in the top of the first inning. Rochelle took a 2-1 lead after Escatel scored on a wild pitch and Ariana Hueramo scored on an error in the bottom of the first inning. Jamie Riddell singled to plate Martinez and put Rochelle up 3-1 before Braley McGee notched an RBI single to bring Riddell home and make it a 4-1 game.

Sterling tied the game at 4-4 with three runs on three walks and a groundout in the top of the second inning. Martinez’s inside-the-park home run in the bottom of the second inning scored Behrens and Hueramo to give Rochelle a 7-4 lead. After Sterling tied the game at 7-7 with three runs on three walks and two singles in the top of the third inning, Rochelle answered with eight runs in the bottom of the third inning. Isadora Hueramo walked and scored on an RBI single from Escatel before Misha Krawcewicz plated Delani McGee with a bases-loaded walk.

Martinez then cleared the bases with a three-RBI triple that brought Escatel and Ariana Hueramo home. Leading 12-7, Rochelle continued to add more runs, with Isadora Hueramo smacking a two-RBI double to score Riddell and Elise Hardcastle before Hueramo scored on a passed ball. Sterling earned one run back in the top of the fourth inning, but Rochelle closed the win out with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Ariana Hueramo tripled and scored on a passed ball before Rodriguez pounded a two-RBI double to plate Martinez and Amada Ortiz.