MADISON — Madison Night Mare first baseman Mia Johnson (South Milwaukee, WI/University of Wisconsin-Parkside) answered the call in her team’s Northwoods League Softball game against the Mankato Habaneros Wednesday, July 31. The sophomore went 3-for-4 with a game-tying home run in the sixth of a 10-6 comeback win for the Night Mares.
“She came just two weeks ago, and she’s been a breath of fresh air,” teammate Rylee Rogers (Belmont, WI/Madison College) said of Johnson, who had played just nine games. “She did it for us. The momentum was back in our favor.”
The Night Mares struck first in the bottom of the second. Lexie Shaver (Riverton, UT/Salt Lake Community College) kept the inning alive with a two-out, full-count walk. Chloe Wamboldt (Kenosha, WI/Rock Valley College), the only left-handed batter in the lineup, laid down a bunt single up the third baseline. Indigo Fish’s (Superior, WI/Winona State University) late throw to first went into the outfield, allowing Shaver and Wamboldt to score for a little-league home run.
Two innings later, Madison added on much-needed insurance runs. Johnson fouled off four, 3-2 pitches before drawing a walk. Rogers then came in as a pinch runner and advanced to second on a fielder’s choice by Hilary Blomberg (Verona, WI/University of Wisconsin-Madison). Mankato starting pitcher Jayme Scheck (Palo, IA/Drake University) hit Shaver on the first pitch, putting two runners on. Wamboldt’s fielder’s choice moved both of them into scoring position for Danielle Lucey (Cottage Grove, WI/University of Wisconsin-Madison), who smoked a two-RBI double to center field. Running on two outs, Lucey scored on Addie Blomberg’s (Verona, WI/South Dakota State University) bloop single over the second baseman.
“I’m always ready to run or do whatever they need me to do,” Rogers said. “It was a huge inning. Mia did her job and got on, and I was glad I could score from it.”
What is Northwoods League Softball?
Leveraging the 30-year success of the Northwoods League, the first for-profit Summer Collegiate Baseball League, Northwoods League Softball (NWLS) is the first for-profit Women’s Summer Collegiate Softball League, which began play in the Upper Midwest in the summer of 2024. The purpose of the league is to develop players for their college, Olympic and future professional play. Teams will be promoted similar to minor league baseball teams, playing games in front of fans in a fun, friendly, family-oriented environment.
Currently, there are four teams — the La Crosse Steam, the Mankato Habaneros, Minot Honeybees and Madison Night Mares. The Night Mares play at Warner Park, sharing a field with the Madison Mallards.
“I grew up watching the Mallards, and I thought it was so cool. But I definitely missed looking up to a female athlete, so this is a really cool experience,” Belmont graduate Rylee Rogers said. “It really takes me back. It’s so cool that they (little girls) look up to us, and so many girls are getting into it earlier. I love it.”
Rogers has played in 34 games for the Night Mares, with 27 of those in the outfield. She has a .222 batting average with 12 hits, two doubles, six RBIs and 18 runs scored.
In her first season for the Madison College Wolf Pack, Rogers started 33 of 34 games. She batted .305 with 25 hits, two doubles, one triple and 10 RBIs.
As a Belmont Brave, Rogers was a three-time first-team all-conference catcher in the Six Rivers West.
Despite a 5-0 deficit entering the top of the fifth, the Habaneros didn’t back down. They were patient at the plate, drawing five straight walks. Night Mare starting pitcher Karlie Mckenzie (Cottage Grove, WI/ Eastern Illinois University) was responsible for four of those walks and an earned run. Before relief pitcher Holly Lowenberg (Arlington, WI/Bryant and Stratton College) came in, McKenzie threw eight straight balls.
Lowenberg walked her first batter, making it a 5-2 game. She got the first out via strikeout, but Paige Zender (Rosemont, MN/Iowa State University) cashed in with a go-ahead grand slam — the Habaneros first hit of the game. Entering the evening, Zender led Mankato with a .417 batting average, 12 home runs and 51 RBIs. Lowenberg escaped the inning without another run, inducing a flyout and groundout.
Scheck looked to throw a shutdown inning, retiring the first two batters on four pitches. Johnson also attacked early, but her first pitch landed over the fence in center to tie the game at six.
Madison Night Mares head coach Aaron Moore felt the tides shifting back toward Mankato, as Lowenberg walked leadoff batter Amity White (Brundidge, AL/University of South Alabama) to put two runners on with two outs. He turned to his next relief pitcher, Andrea Jaskowiak (Madison, WI/University of Iowa), who got the final out of the inning with a pop up to catcher Hailey Blomberg.
The pitching change proved vital, as the Night Mares maintained their lead entering the bottom of the fourth. There, Wamboldt slapped a one-out single up the middle. Lucey followed with her second double of the game, putting runners on second and third. Addie Blomberg then reached on an error to load the bases, as shortstop Joscelyn Bennett (Rockton, IL/Bryant and Stratton College) dropped an easy pop up.
With the top of its order up, Madison took the lead once again. Tia Durst (Sycamore, IL/Lake Land College) hit a sacrifice fly deep into the outfield to score Wamboldt and have Lucey advance to third. The Night Mares then tallied three straight hits for two more insurance runs, making it a 10-6 game.
In the top of the seventh, Jaskowiak shut the Habaneros down, striking out the last two batters.
Jaskowiak earned the win, improving to 9-2 on the season. Johnson led the team, going 3-for-4 with a home run. Wamboldt and Lucey went a combined 4-for-6 with four RBIs and four runs scored.
With the win, the Night Mares close in on the Habaneros for the league title. Madison is now three games back of Mankato with five games left in the season. In the last 10 games, Madison is 8-2, while Mankato is 6-4.
