The South Elgin softball team was ready for action right from the get-go Thursday afternoon at the Class 4A Fremd sectional semifinals against No. 2-seeded St. Charles North.

The No. 5-seeded Storm (29-4) scored two runs against North Stars pitcher Paige Murray in the top of the first inning, and they never looked back as they posted a 5-0 victory to advance to the championship game Friday at 4:30 p.m. against No. 6 St. Charles East.

Sophomore Emma Bell led off with an infield hit before scoring on an RBI double by Jenna Sheehan for a quick 1-0 lead. Loyola University-bound winning pitcher Anna Kiel (16-3, 0.82 ERA) drove in Sheehan with an RBI single to make the score 2-0.

Defending state champion St. Charles North (22-10) could never get its offense going as Kiel fired a 5-hitter with

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