Hearts were heavy and emotions were high as Monticello fell to Bloomington Central Catholic 8-1 in Illini Prairie Conference girl’s softball action from Monticello High School Thursday afternoon in Monticello.

The tragic death of Champaign Police Officer Chris Oberheim touched the Monticello softball program especially close as Officer Oberheim was very involved in summer coaching for many players on this year’s team and several teams past. His daughter, Avery, is a senior on this year’s Lady Sages squad.

Thursday, the district held a touching ceremony honoring Officer Oberheim that featured dozens and dozens of uniformed officers from all over central Illinois. 

But when it came time for softball, BCC was too much for the Lady Sages.

Macy Hicks held the Lady Saints in check for 6 ? innings but a three run double by Izzie Kostelnick in the top of the seventh inning put the game out of reach. 

Trailing 4-1, Hicks struck out Adie Wait to start the seventh, but allowed a double to Addison Cervantes, a single to Emily York and walked Elyssa Stenger to load the bases. 

Kostelnick muscled a drive through a hard wind into the right-centerfield gap scoring all three base runners chasing Hicks from the game.

Kostelnick would come around to score on Gabi Hurie’s base hit later in the inning as BCC improved to 14-7 overall. 

Hannah Ubinger led the Lady Sages offensively with two hits. 

Avery Oberheim was greeted to loud cheers in each of her three plate appearances and blooped a base hit into shallow left field in the sixth inning and was lifted to hugs from teammates and cheers from a large gathering of family, friends and law enforcement. 

The Lady Sages drop to 11-10 overall.