PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. — The Monroe Cheesemakers have opened their softball season with games at Pigeon Forge, Tenn. The Cheesemakers played in two scrimmages on Sunday, March 29 and lost to Twinsburg 12-2 and Lake Park 11-1.
On Monday, March 30, Monroe played two games and went 1-1 for the day. First, they lost to Conotton Valley (OH) 7-0. Senior Kaegann Paulson and sophomore Jayde Hawkinson got the only hits of the game for the Cheesemakers. Monroe came back with an 8-7 win over Central Crossing (OH) in the second game. The Cheesemakers scored six of their seven runs in the first inning. Paulson and Amaira Collins each hit home runs and drove in two runs for the Cheesemakers. Paulson pitched all seven innings for the Cheesemakers and gave up five earned runs with three walks and three strikeouts.
Monroe played against Hilliard Darby (Ohio) on Tuesday, March 31 and rolled to a 10-4 win. The Cheesemakers took a 2-0 lead in the first inning and led 4-3 going into the sixth inning. That’s when Monroe erupted for six runs. Junior Maddi Ruegsegger went 2x4 and drove in three runs. Jayde Hawkinson knocked in a pair of runs and Amaira Collins and Paizley Kundert each had an RBI. Paulson went the distance in the pitching circle and allowed just one earned run with five strikeouts and one walk.
The Cheesemakers played Pike County Central (Kent.) in a second game on Tuesday, March 31 and won 10-3. Ruegsegger went 2x4 with a double, triple, and two RBIs. The Cheesemakers also got RBIs from Jayde Hawkinson, Ivie Ellenson, Jade Tran, Paizley Kundert, and Alayna Fiez. The game was tied 1-1 in the fifth inning when the Cheesemakers blew the game open with a seven-run fifth inning. Kaegann Paulson allowed five hits and stuck out 14 batters. Monroe went 3-1 in their four games in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
Monticello-New Glarus 19, Belleville 0
BELLEVILLE — Monticello-New Glarus began its softball season by routing the Belleville Wildcats 19-0 in four innings in nonconference action on Tuesday, March 31.
MNG started the game with single runs in the first and second innings to take a 2-0 lead. Then, MNG blew the game open with a 10-run third inning followed by a seven-run fourth inning. The Ponies racked up 13 hits. Meanwhile, the Wildcats were held to just three hits.
Monticello-New Glarus (1-0) will go on the road for a nonconference game scheduled for Monday, April 6 at Cambridge. Belleville (0-2) will play at home in a nonconference game scheduled against Pecatonica on Monday, April 6.
Iowa-Grant 13, Argyle-Black Hawk 0
ARGYLE — The Iowa-Grant Panthers shutout Argyle-Black Hawk 13-0 in six innings in nonconference softball on Monday, March 30 in the season opener for both teams. The Panthers scored 11 runs over the final four innings. Argyle-Black Hawk was limited to just three hits in the game.
Argyle-Black Hawk was scheduled to play at home against Parkview on Tuesday, March 31 and at Belleville on Thursday, April 2 in nonconference action.
Darlington 8, Pecatonica 3
DARLINGTON — A six-run fifth inning enabled the Darlington Redbirds to come away with an 8-3 win over the Pecatonica Vikings in nonconference softball on Monday, March 30.
Junior Lilly Ritchie drove in four runs to lead the Redbirds to the win. Senior Sydney Wiegel pitched five innings and allowed just one earned run and struck out eight. Freshman Kate McGranahan pitched two innings in relief and allowed just one hit.
For Pecatonica, freshman Brooklyn Muench collected two hits, scored a run and had three stolen bases. Sam Hittesdorf pitched four innings and allowed five earned runs with two strikeouts and a walk. Jenna Kurschner pitched two innings and gave up three earned runs with a strikeout and three walks.
Darlington (1-1) opened SWAL conference action at home against Boscobel on Thursday, April 2 while Pecatonica (0-2) will play a nonconference game on Monday, April 6 at Belleville.
Mount Horeb 6, Pecatonica 3
MOUNT HOREB — The Pecatonica Vikings lost in their softball opener at Mount Horeb 6-3 on Friday, March 27 in nonconference action.
The Vikings took a 2-0 lead in the first inning as senior Brooklyn Johnsrud and junior Katelynne Jorenby each scored a run. Mount Horeb tied it 2-2 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning. Pecatonica went ahead 3-2 as freshman Maddie Meddaugh scored a run in the second inning for the Vikings. But, Mount Horeb took the lead 4-3 with two runs in the bottom of the second inning and added single runs in the fourth and the fifth.
Pecatonica (0-1) faced Darlington on the road in a nonconference game on Monday, March 30.
