NEW GLARUS — The young Cardinals are trying to gain confidence and experience on the diamond this spring. With seven first-year varsity athletes playing out of position, and a starting pitcher with just a handful of innings under her belt before the season started, coach Tommy Meier knew that his team would take on some lumps.

Before getting dominated by Beloit Turner 21-2 on April 9, Brodhead needed only four innings to get past New Glarus, another young team with athletes playing out of position. Errors plagued the Glarner Knights in the 22-2 Cardinals win April 8.

“The biggest thing is getting the confidence up,” Meier said. “We started four freshmen (against New Glarus). We’re learning as we go, but we can play with anybody if we put the ball in play.”

Both teams scored in the first inning, but the game broke open in the second. Brodhead’s Daisy Nelson hit a 2-RBI double to center to make it 3-1, then Hannah Myhre smashed a 2-run home run to left field. The Cardinals walked out of the inning with a 6-1 advantage.

“I didn’t think it was a home run at first, but it felt really good off the bat,” Myhre said.

Brodhead would pound out 22 hits against Maci Carney and reliever McKenzie Keehn, including six extra base knocks. Myhre, who went 3 for 5 on the day with four runs and four RBIs, finished a triple shy of the cycle.

“With the younger team that we have, (the win) will help with confidence. It was a good win,” Myhre said.

Katie Goecks, Emaleigh McNeece and Nataley Bump all had three hits for Brodhead, while Daisy Nelson, Bailey Matthys and Madisyn Kail each had two. The Cardinals walked just four times but stole 10 bases.

Brodhead scored eight runs in both the third and fourth innings, while New Glarus could only scrape one more across the board in the third.

“Those girls play a lot off of confidence — when they see someone else doing it, then they do it,” Meier said of his team’s hitting at the plate. “The first time through the order we were out in front a little, so we talked about waiting with that front foot. They made the adjustment the next time through and hit the ball hard.”

Bump got the win on the mound, tossing 63 pitches in four innings with seven strikeouts, two walks, five hits and just one earned run.

“The big thing we want her to do is to not walk people and give them free bases and things like that,” Meier said. “She’s been right around the strike zone for us all year.”

Shea Klosterman had two hits for the Knights, while Zoe Moen was 1 for 1 with a walk and a run scored.

“When it was 1-1, it wasn’t too bad. Then they got eight and eight and … It’s frustrating as hell,” said New Glarus assistant coach Gif Hoesly. The Knights are trying to figure out how to fill out the lineup, with several players playing out of position or lacking experience on the diamond in general. “We have to figure out positions — we have too many players playing out of position. We thought we made progress, but then it went south again.”

Beloit Turner 21, Brodhead 2

BRODHEAD — Against Turner the next night, the Trojans used a 12-run second inning to pull away. All 12 runs were unearned, and the Cardinals had nine errors defensively in the contest.

Bump had two of Brodhead’s three hits at the dish on offense. Both hits were doubles and she also stole a base.

Madisyn Kail took the loss on the mound, allowing 13 unearned runs on nine hits and three walks in two innings. Bump pitched the final three and allowed eight runs (four earned) on seven hits, four walks and a strikeout.

Belleville 16, New Glarus 0

NEW GLARUS — The Wildcats used five-run innings in the second and third to pull away from the rival Knights April 9.

Jillian Michaels had four hits and three RBIs for Belleville. Ella Campbell, Kori Rogers, Bailey Legler and Abby Winterburn all had two hits for the Wildcats, while Rayna Nicholson was 3 for 3 with a walk and three runs scored.

Chloe Kramer, Ellie Eichelkraut and Keehn each had a hit for New Glarus.