DU QUOIN — For the first time in nearly two years, we saw high school softball. The Mt. Vernon Lady Rams broke open a tie game with three runs in the sixth and eight more in the seventh to beat Du Quoin 12-1 in the season opener for both teams.

Jacie Dees got the scoring started in the top of the fourth with a solo home run off the scoreboard. Du Quoin tied it up in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI double from Abbi Moccaby to score Lauren Heape.

It stayed that way until the sixth. Justice Malone’s ringing RBI double put the Lady Rams in front to stay. Malone then scored from second on a bunt single by Lauren Little. Little later scored for a 4-1 Lady Rams’ lead that grew to 12-1 when Mt. Vernon put an eight spot on the scoreboard that Dees rocked earlier in the afternoon.