MONTICELLO - The Monticello softball team's impressive start to the season continued with a last-inning score in their 2-1 victory over Belmont on Thursday night. An erroneous throw by the visiting Braves allowed Monticello junior Jordan Garrison to score the winning run.
Belmont's lone score came in the first inning on an obstruction call, but the Ponies responded with a score of their own in the bottom of the second inning to tie the game up.
"This was not our best game mentally," Monticello coach Duane Garrison said. "Belmont has a good team of their own, so it's nice to get the win, (but) we didn't swing the bats as well as I thought we would tonight."
Junior Courtney Leuzinger started the game on the mound for the Ponies, but teammate Claire Bruns got the win in four innings of relief work. Junior Samantha DeVoe was 2-for-3 at the plate with a double, while Garrison was 2-for-3.
Juda-Albany 11,
Lake Mills 1
LAKE MILLS - In six innings of work, the Juda-Albany softball team took care of business in their 11-1 victory over Lake Mills. Five runs in the first two innings and six more in the game's last two were enough to put away the host L-Cats in a non-conference game.
Senior ace Tabatha Davis pitched all six innings for Juda-Albany and coach Bill Davis, allowing five hits, no walks, while striking out 10.
"We came out strong," Davis said. "We were a little more relaxed in our pitching, (but) we gave ourselves a chance. I wouldn't say Tabatha was in her 'zone,' but she did a great job in giving us the win."
Sophomore Jessica Crull was 4-for-4 at the plate for Juda-Albany. Freshman Sara Jordan was 3-for-4.
Argyle 10, Belleville 2
ARGYLE - The Argyle Orioles picked up a convincing non-conference victory over the visiting Wildcats on Thursday, winning by a score of 10-2.
After allowing one score at the top of the first inning, the Orioles would not surrender another run until late in the game. By then, Argyle was already leading 10-1.
Aysha Monahan hit a three-run homer to give the Orioles some added momentum and offensive support for senior ace Jessica Treuthardt, who pitched all six innings on the mound for the Orioles in the win. Treuthardt also went 3-for-3 at the plate.
Brodhead 10, Clinton 4
CLINTON - Not too far separated from their win against the Cougars on Tuesday, the Brodhead softball team looked to make some adjustments in their rematch on Thursday. The end result was a convincing 10-4 victory that had coach Jeannie Doescher satisfied with her team's efforts.
"We played them (Clinton) on Tuesday, and while we were happy with the win, we thought we could play better," she said. "We wanted to get the bats going, and with tonight's win, I thought we did a good job in doing that. These were not our normal every-time hitters, so it's nice to see them step up and perform."
Trailing by one after the first inning, the Cardinals scored three runs in the second, fourth and sixth innings to widen the gap. Production at the plate was the story of the game for Brodhead, which compiled 19 hits in the win, led by Erin Kloepping (4-for-5), Payton Wright (2-for-4) and Taylor Gerlach (2-for-5). Junior Brooke Boegli picked up the win on the mound for the Cardinals, pitching all seven innings, allowing four hits, two walks and five strikeouts.
Mineral Point 10, Darlington 0
MINERAL POINT - For a young team, any time you compete against an annual powerhouse program, growing struggles will occur. For the Darlingon softball team, which owns a roster comprised of 16 freshmen and sophomores, such was the case in their game against Mineral Point on Thursday. The end result was a 10-0 defeat at the hands of the defending state champion Pointers, which got a perfect game from pitcher Beth Wood on the mound.
"Our first inning was a little shaky, and they (Mineral Point) jumped on us right away," Redbirds coach Karen Bennett said. "We settled in the second and we started to hit her (Wood), but unfortunately their defense was in the right place."
The game ended in five innings, and Wood finished with two strikeouts.
"I know we didn't get the win, but I'm happy with how we made contact tonight," Bennett said. "This is only our third game, but we're making strides and getting better."
Darlington will host Cuba City on Monday, April 21.
New Glarus 10, Black Hawk 9
NEW GLARUS - The New Glarus softball team held off a late-game rally by the visiting Warriors to pick up their first victory on the season, winning 10-9.
The Knights offense collected four runs in the first to give their team the strong start that propelled them to the victory.
"Our first inning really set the tone for us," Knights coach Hannah Grossen said. "That momentum really set us off throughout the remainder of the game."
While the Knights ran out with the early lead, the Warriors climbed back to take a one-run lead at the top of the seventh inning. But clutch play at the plate was able to put the Knights back on top.
"I'm proud of how we didn't give up," Grossen said. "Black Hawk responded with a run of their own, but we did a good job in holding everything together."
For the Warriors, coach Jim Baumgartner said his team capitalized on some of their late game opportunities, but unfortunately his team's slow start proved to be too much to overcome.
"I'm happy with how we battled back," he said. "We did take some advantages of some errors, (but) mentally we broke down. Hopefully, we learn from our mistakes and come out better next time."
Senior Emma Jackson picked up the win for the Knights. Offensively, New Glarus ended the night with 10 hits.
Senior Jen Wellnitz went 3-for-5 at the plate for the Warriors.
Belmont's lone score came in the first inning on an obstruction call, but the Ponies responded with a score of their own in the bottom of the second inning to tie the game up.
"This was not our best game mentally," Monticello coach Duane Garrison said. "Belmont has a good team of their own, so it's nice to get the win, (but) we didn't swing the bats as well as I thought we would tonight."
Junior Courtney Leuzinger started the game on the mound for the Ponies, but teammate Claire Bruns got the win in four innings of relief work. Junior Samantha DeVoe was 2-for-3 at the plate with a double, while Garrison was 2-for-3.
Juda-Albany 11,
Lake Mills 1
LAKE MILLS - In six innings of work, the Juda-Albany softball team took care of business in their 11-1 victory over Lake Mills. Five runs in the first two innings and six more in the game's last two were enough to put away the host L-Cats in a non-conference game.
Senior ace Tabatha Davis pitched all six innings for Juda-Albany and coach Bill Davis, allowing five hits, no walks, while striking out 10.
"We came out strong," Davis said. "We were a little more relaxed in our pitching, (but) we gave ourselves a chance. I wouldn't say Tabatha was in her 'zone,' but she did a great job in giving us the win."
Sophomore Jessica Crull was 4-for-4 at the plate for Juda-Albany. Freshman Sara Jordan was 3-for-4.
Argyle 10, Belleville 2
ARGYLE - The Argyle Orioles picked up a convincing non-conference victory over the visiting Wildcats on Thursday, winning by a score of 10-2.
After allowing one score at the top of the first inning, the Orioles would not surrender another run until late in the game. By then, Argyle was already leading 10-1.
Aysha Monahan hit a three-run homer to give the Orioles some added momentum and offensive support for senior ace Jessica Treuthardt, who pitched all six innings on the mound for the Orioles in the win. Treuthardt also went 3-for-3 at the plate.
Brodhead 10, Clinton 4
CLINTON - Not too far separated from their win against the Cougars on Tuesday, the Brodhead softball team looked to make some adjustments in their rematch on Thursday. The end result was a convincing 10-4 victory that had coach Jeannie Doescher satisfied with her team's efforts.
"We played them (Clinton) on Tuesday, and while we were happy with the win, we thought we could play better," she said. "We wanted to get the bats going, and with tonight's win, I thought we did a good job in doing that. These were not our normal every-time hitters, so it's nice to see them step up and perform."
Trailing by one after the first inning, the Cardinals scored three runs in the second, fourth and sixth innings to widen the gap. Production at the plate was the story of the game for Brodhead, which compiled 19 hits in the win, led by Erin Kloepping (4-for-5), Payton Wright (2-for-4) and Taylor Gerlach (2-for-5). Junior Brooke Boegli picked up the win on the mound for the Cardinals, pitching all seven innings, allowing four hits, two walks and five strikeouts.
Mineral Point 10, Darlington 0
MINERAL POINT - For a young team, any time you compete against an annual powerhouse program, growing struggles will occur. For the Darlingon softball team, which owns a roster comprised of 16 freshmen and sophomores, such was the case in their game against Mineral Point on Thursday. The end result was a 10-0 defeat at the hands of the defending state champion Pointers, which got a perfect game from pitcher Beth Wood on the mound.
"Our first inning was a little shaky, and they (Mineral Point) jumped on us right away," Redbirds coach Karen Bennett said. "We settled in the second and we started to hit her (Wood), but unfortunately their defense was in the right place."
The game ended in five innings, and Wood finished with two strikeouts.
"I know we didn't get the win, but I'm happy with how we made contact tonight," Bennett said. "This is only our third game, but we're making strides and getting better."
Darlington will host Cuba City on Monday, April 21.
New Glarus 10, Black Hawk 9
NEW GLARUS - The New Glarus softball team held off a late-game rally by the visiting Warriors to pick up their first victory on the season, winning 10-9.
The Knights offense collected four runs in the first to give their team the strong start that propelled them to the victory.
"Our first inning really set the tone for us," Knights coach Hannah Grossen said. "That momentum really set us off throughout the remainder of the game."
While the Knights ran out with the early lead, the Warriors climbed back to take a one-run lead at the top of the seventh inning. But clutch play at the plate was able to put the Knights back on top.
"I'm proud of how we didn't give up," Grossen said. "Black Hawk responded with a run of their own, but we did a good job in holding everything together."
For the Warriors, coach Jim Baumgartner said his team capitalized on some of their late game opportunities, but unfortunately his team's slow start proved to be too much to overcome.
"I'm happy with how we battled back," he said. "We did take some advantages of some errors, (but) mentally we broke down. Hopefully, we learn from our mistakes and come out better next time."
Senior Emma Jackson picked up the win for the Knights. Offensively, New Glarus ended the night with 10 hits.
Senior Jen Wellnitz went 3-for-5 at the plate for the Warriors.
