ARGYLE - When Argyle coach Heidi Ganshert made a switch and moved sophomore Kayla Butler-Paulson from shortstop to a starter at pitcher she didn't know how her defense would respond.
The latest returns have backed up her faith in Paulson and other players for making defensive switches to improve the team. Paulson pitched a complete game and struck out eight to lead Argyle to a 10-2 win over Highland Friday. The other players who have switched positions include senior Jenna Langmeier moving to shortstop and Katie Larson switching to first base.
"She (Paulson) is starting to pitch well," Ganshert said. "I knew moving her (Paulson) to pitcher could hurt our defense because she is one of the best shortstops in the conference. Our defense has stepped up and made some amazing plays."
Paulson gave up just two earned runs on eight in seven innings on the mound. She struck out four and walked three.
Paulson and Hannah Saalsaa each went 2-for-3 to lead the Orioles' 11-hit attack. Argyle's Kari Fischer went 2-for-4 with a double and Ashley Bruehlman was 2-for-4.
Argyle (10-10, 6-8 Six Rivers East) broke the game open with a five-run second. Saalsaa singled and Fischer singled to left. Bruehlman reached on an infield single. With the bases loaded, Larson walked to force in a run. Paulson delivered a two-run double to center to give the Orioles a 3-1 lead. Argyle junior Katrina Carter also had an RBI single for the Orioles in the big inning.
"It was huge," Ganshert said of the Orioles hitting in the second. "I think our girls are finally starting to come on. Hitting is improving every game."
Monticello 16, Darlington 0
DARLINGTON - Monticello sophomore Jessie Garrison and senior Courtney Leuzinger combined for six hits, drove in seven runs and pitched a one-hit shutout as the Ponies rolled to a 16-0 win over Darlington in five innings Friday.
Leuzinger pitched two shutout innings and struck out two to get the win. She went 3-for-4 with a double, triple and two RBI at the plate. Garrison went 3-for-4 with a double, triple and five RBI. She also pitched three one-hit innings, while striking out two and walking two.
Monticello (14-6, 8-4 Six Rivers East) put the game away with an 11-run second inning. The Ponies pounded out 20 hits. Monticello senior Brooke Bidlingmaier went 3-for-4 and senior Jordan Garrison was 3-for-5.
"It's amazing how one night makes a difference," Monticello coach Duane Garrison said after the Ponies lost 6-5 to Belleville Thursday. "They came out to hit tonight."
Darlington's Callie Norton had the only hit for the Redbirds. Darlington pitcher Tara Reichling pitched three innings and gave up 15 runs on 18 hits and struck out two.
Juda-Albany 10, Potosi 0
JUDA - Freshman Nicki Becker tossed a three-hit shutout to propel Juda-Albany to a 10-0 win over Potosi Friday.
Becker has just missed pitching a no-hitter a couple times this season.
"That is not her No. 1 focus," Juda-Albany coach Bill Davis said. "Winning is her focus. After a couple of days of rest she always has a strong performance."
With the win, Juda-Albany improves to 18-2, 13-0 Six Rivers East.
Juda-Albany senior Cheyenne Ambler went 3-for-3 with a home run and three RBI. Ambler hit a two-run home run in the Panthers' nine-run second.
Juda-Albany has three games next week before the regional tournament begins. Davis doesn't plan to coast into the tournament even though the Panthers have clinched the conference title outright already.
"The key is to stay rested and sharp," he said. "There is a fine line between being sharp and getting people tired."
Marshall 11, Belleville 7
MARSHALL - Belleville's Claire Johnsrud went 2-for-4 and had three RBI, but Marshall withstood a rally to beat the Wildcats 11-7.
The Cardinals scored four runs in the second inning to jump out to a 6-0 lead. The Wildcats battled back with two runs in the fourth and a four-run seventh.
Belleville's Allie Kowalski went 3-for-3 and Ryley Helwig was 2-for-4.
Belleville freshman Cassidy Heller pitched six innings and gave up nine earned runs on 12 hits. She struck out three and walked two. With the loss, Belleville drops to 9-10, 5-8 Capitol South.
Shullsburg-Benton 10, Black Hawk 2
SHULLSBURG - The Black Hawk softball team couldn't recover from just one tough inning in a 10-2 loss to Shullsburg-Benton Friday.
Black Hawk trailed just 3-2 entering the sixth inning. Shullsburg-Benton erupted for six runs in the sixth. The Warriors committed three errors.
Black Hawk freshman Hannah Herbst went 2-for-3 to lead the Warriors.
Black Hawk junior pitcher Rachel Ritschard went six innings and gave up eight earned runs on nine hits. She struck out six and walked five.
Belmont 9, Pecatonica 5
BELMONT - Errors haunted Pecatonica in a 9-5 loss to Belmont Friday.
The Vikings committed six errors and the Braves put the game away with a four-run fifth.
Pecatonica senior Brooke Johnson went 2-for-4 to lead the Vikings. Senior teammate Emily Scoville pitched six innings and gave up just two earned runs on eight hits. She struck out four and walked three.
Waterloo 14, New Glarus 1
NEW GLARUS - Waterloo's Kaia Dorn went 2-for-4 with four RBI to lead the Pirates to a 14-1 win over New Glarus.
The Glarner Knights were plagued by six errors. The Pirates had a seven-run fourth inning to take an 11-0 lead.
New Glarus sophomore Lydia Sprecher went 2-for-3. New Glarus junior Jessica Van Dusen pitched five innings and gave up eight earned runs on eight hits. She walked 12 and struck out one.
The latest returns have backed up her faith in Paulson and other players for making defensive switches to improve the team. Paulson pitched a complete game and struck out eight to lead Argyle to a 10-2 win over Highland Friday. The other players who have switched positions include senior Jenna Langmeier moving to shortstop and Katie Larson switching to first base.
"She (Paulson) is starting to pitch well," Ganshert said. "I knew moving her (Paulson) to pitcher could hurt our defense because she is one of the best shortstops in the conference. Our defense has stepped up and made some amazing plays."
Paulson gave up just two earned runs on eight in seven innings on the mound. She struck out four and walked three.
Paulson and Hannah Saalsaa each went 2-for-3 to lead the Orioles' 11-hit attack. Argyle's Kari Fischer went 2-for-4 with a double and Ashley Bruehlman was 2-for-4.
Argyle (10-10, 6-8 Six Rivers East) broke the game open with a five-run second. Saalsaa singled and Fischer singled to left. Bruehlman reached on an infield single. With the bases loaded, Larson walked to force in a run. Paulson delivered a two-run double to center to give the Orioles a 3-1 lead. Argyle junior Katrina Carter also had an RBI single for the Orioles in the big inning.
"It was huge," Ganshert said of the Orioles hitting in the second. "I think our girls are finally starting to come on. Hitting is improving every game."
Monticello 16, Darlington 0
DARLINGTON - Monticello sophomore Jessie Garrison and senior Courtney Leuzinger combined for six hits, drove in seven runs and pitched a one-hit shutout as the Ponies rolled to a 16-0 win over Darlington in five innings Friday.
Leuzinger pitched two shutout innings and struck out two to get the win. She went 3-for-4 with a double, triple and two RBI at the plate. Garrison went 3-for-4 with a double, triple and five RBI. She also pitched three one-hit innings, while striking out two and walking two.
Monticello (14-6, 8-4 Six Rivers East) put the game away with an 11-run second inning. The Ponies pounded out 20 hits. Monticello senior Brooke Bidlingmaier went 3-for-4 and senior Jordan Garrison was 3-for-5.
"It's amazing how one night makes a difference," Monticello coach Duane Garrison said after the Ponies lost 6-5 to Belleville Thursday. "They came out to hit tonight."
Darlington's Callie Norton had the only hit for the Redbirds. Darlington pitcher Tara Reichling pitched three innings and gave up 15 runs on 18 hits and struck out two.
Juda-Albany 10, Potosi 0
JUDA - Freshman Nicki Becker tossed a three-hit shutout to propel Juda-Albany to a 10-0 win over Potosi Friday.
Becker has just missed pitching a no-hitter a couple times this season.
"That is not her No. 1 focus," Juda-Albany coach Bill Davis said. "Winning is her focus. After a couple of days of rest she always has a strong performance."
With the win, Juda-Albany improves to 18-2, 13-0 Six Rivers East.
Juda-Albany senior Cheyenne Ambler went 3-for-3 with a home run and three RBI. Ambler hit a two-run home run in the Panthers' nine-run second.
Juda-Albany has three games next week before the regional tournament begins. Davis doesn't plan to coast into the tournament even though the Panthers have clinched the conference title outright already.
"The key is to stay rested and sharp," he said. "There is a fine line between being sharp and getting people tired."
Marshall 11, Belleville 7
MARSHALL - Belleville's Claire Johnsrud went 2-for-4 and had three RBI, but Marshall withstood a rally to beat the Wildcats 11-7.
The Cardinals scored four runs in the second inning to jump out to a 6-0 lead. The Wildcats battled back with two runs in the fourth and a four-run seventh.
Belleville's Allie Kowalski went 3-for-3 and Ryley Helwig was 2-for-4.
Belleville freshman Cassidy Heller pitched six innings and gave up nine earned runs on 12 hits. She struck out three and walked two. With the loss, Belleville drops to 9-10, 5-8 Capitol South.
Shullsburg-Benton 10, Black Hawk 2
SHULLSBURG - The Black Hawk softball team couldn't recover from just one tough inning in a 10-2 loss to Shullsburg-Benton Friday.
Black Hawk trailed just 3-2 entering the sixth inning. Shullsburg-Benton erupted for six runs in the sixth. The Warriors committed three errors.
Black Hawk freshman Hannah Herbst went 2-for-3 to lead the Warriors.
Black Hawk junior pitcher Rachel Ritschard went six innings and gave up eight earned runs on nine hits. She struck out six and walked five.
Belmont 9, Pecatonica 5
BELMONT - Errors haunted Pecatonica in a 9-5 loss to Belmont Friday.
The Vikings committed six errors and the Braves put the game away with a four-run fifth.
Pecatonica senior Brooke Johnson went 2-for-4 to lead the Vikings. Senior teammate Emily Scoville pitched six innings and gave up just two earned runs on eight hits. She struck out four and walked three.
Waterloo 14, New Glarus 1
NEW GLARUS - Waterloo's Kaia Dorn went 2-for-4 with four RBI to lead the Pirates to a 14-1 win over New Glarus.
The Glarner Knights were plagued by six errors. The Pirates had a seven-run fourth inning to take an 11-0 lead.
New Glarus sophomore Lydia Sprecher went 2-for-3. New Glarus junior Jessica Van Dusen pitched five innings and gave up eight earned runs on eight hits. She walked 12 and struck out one.
