ALBANY - The sizzling continues.
Albany's softball team continued its hot streak Thursday evening with a 7-2 win over Racine Lutheran in a WIAA Division 4 regional opener.
Comets senior Tara Walz was a catalyst, going 2-for-3 with three runs scored. She also pitched a complete game, striking out three and walking none.
Albany (12-3) took the lead with two runs in the third.
"That just kick-started us," Albany coach Connie Wunschel said.
The Comets also were led by senior Megan Schulz, who was 3-for-4 with two runs scored, and junior Jill McNeely, who went 2-for-4.
The Comets advance to play Burlington Catholic Central on Tuesday.
"We are anxious and nervous," Wunschel said. "We will not shy away from that challenge."
DIVISION 2
NO. 2 BRODHEAD 10, NO. 7 EVANSVILLE 0 (5INNINGS)
The Blue Devis were run over by a hit parade Thursday evening in Brodhead.
The Cardinals pummeled their Rock Valley rival Evansville with 15 hits, three of which came from senior Paige Hoeper and freshman leadoff batter Tia Collins.
Another freshman, Erika Stampfli, was dynamite on the pitching plate in only yielding one hit, while striking out seven Blue Devils.
DIVISION 3
NO. 4 BELOIT TURNER 6, NO. 5 NEW GLARUS 0
The Glarner Knights weren't letting the Trojans by for free.
New Glarus starter Keriann Schmidt struck out seven batters and refused to allow any walks and her defense didn't cost her any unearned runs. Nonetheless, Beloit Turner scored twice in the fourth inning and four times in the sixth inning to end the Knights' season Thursday evening.
NO. 1 MINERAL POINT 10, NO. 8 DARLINGTON 0 (5 INNINGS)
The Lady Redbirds can hang their helmets on the fits they gave top-seeded Mineral Point on Thursday evevning.
Darlington hung with its SWAL rival, and trailed just 4-0 through four innings before the Pointers erupted for six runs in the fifth inning to get home early.
DIVISION 4
NO. 2 BLACK HAWK 7, NO. 7 JUDA 0
Melanie Pehl was a disruptive force and Janel Rupnow was her usually cool and reliable self on Thursday.
Pehl, Juda's starter, struck out eight Warriors but walked 10 as Black Hawk got into the regional semifinals with just three hits Thursday evening.
"Sometimes when they're that wild, they're just flat out hard to hit," Black Hawk coach Roger Jackson said.
Jackson's senior ace, Rupnow, stuck with her M.O., fanning just four but not allowing a runner on via the walk. Her club staked her to a 5-0 lead through two innings.
Albany's softball team continued its hot streak Thursday evening with a 7-2 win over Racine Lutheran in a WIAA Division 4 regional opener.
Comets senior Tara Walz was a catalyst, going 2-for-3 with three runs scored. She also pitched a complete game, striking out three and walking none.
Albany (12-3) took the lead with two runs in the third.
"That just kick-started us," Albany coach Connie Wunschel said.
The Comets also were led by senior Megan Schulz, who was 3-for-4 with two runs scored, and junior Jill McNeely, who went 2-for-4.
The Comets advance to play Burlington Catholic Central on Tuesday.
"We are anxious and nervous," Wunschel said. "We will not shy away from that challenge."
DIVISION 2
NO. 2 BRODHEAD 10, NO. 7 EVANSVILLE 0 (5INNINGS)
The Blue Devis were run over by a hit parade Thursday evening in Brodhead.
The Cardinals pummeled their Rock Valley rival Evansville with 15 hits, three of which came from senior Paige Hoeper and freshman leadoff batter Tia Collins.
Another freshman, Erika Stampfli, was dynamite on the pitching plate in only yielding one hit, while striking out seven Blue Devils.
DIVISION 3
NO. 4 BELOIT TURNER 6, NO. 5 NEW GLARUS 0
The Glarner Knights weren't letting the Trojans by for free.
New Glarus starter Keriann Schmidt struck out seven batters and refused to allow any walks and her defense didn't cost her any unearned runs. Nonetheless, Beloit Turner scored twice in the fourth inning and four times in the sixth inning to end the Knights' season Thursday evening.
NO. 1 MINERAL POINT 10, NO. 8 DARLINGTON 0 (5 INNINGS)
The Lady Redbirds can hang their helmets on the fits they gave top-seeded Mineral Point on Thursday evevning.
Darlington hung with its SWAL rival, and trailed just 4-0 through four innings before the Pointers erupted for six runs in the fifth inning to get home early.
DIVISION 4
NO. 2 BLACK HAWK 7, NO. 7 JUDA 0
Melanie Pehl was a disruptive force and Janel Rupnow was her usually cool and reliable self on Thursday.
Pehl, Juda's starter, struck out eight Warriors but walked 10 as Black Hawk got into the regional semifinals with just three hits Thursday evening.
"Sometimes when they're that wild, they're just flat out hard to hit," Black Hawk coach Roger Jackson said.
Jackson's senior ace, Rupnow, stuck with her M.O., fanning just four but not allowing a runner on via the walk. Her club staked her to a 5-0 lead through two innings.
