BRODHEAD - Stevens Point Area High School, a state qualifier last year, swept a doubleheader from Brodhead on Saturday.
Stevens Point, which has won eight of the last 11 Division 1 state titles, defeated Brodhead 19-2 in the first game and 14-8 in the second game of the twinbill.
Brodhead (1-3) has had two losses to Stevens Point and one to Monroe.
"We went after the best," Brodhead coach B.J. Bockhop said of scheduling a doubleheader late against Stevens Point.
The Cardinals took a 2-1 lead into the fifth inning after senior Taurie Burns hit a two-run home run in the first. Stevens Point scored six runs off Brodhead senior starting pitcher Amanda Pickel in the fifth to take a 7-2 lead. Stevens Point then erupted for a 12-run sixth inning off Brodhead's Brooke Boegli. Pickel pitched five innings and gave up six earned runs on nine hits. She struck out three and walked four.
"Amanda was getting tired and I wanted to get Brooke some time," Bockhop said. "They had (Boegli) ... timed down pretty well."
Burns went 4-for-6 in the doubleheader, including the home run and two RBIs in the first game.
In the second game, the Cardinals trailed 11-3 after three innings before rallying. The Cardinals exploded for five runs in the fourth to cut SPASH's lead to 11-8. Stevens Point scored three runs in the sixth to seal the win.
The Cardinals had 11 hits. Burns went 3-for-4 and sophomore Taylor Gerlach was 2-for-2. Senior Taylor Douglas, sophomore Payton Wright and freshman Kylie Moe were each 2-for-4 and sophomore Erin Kloepping was 2-for-5.
Pickel pitched six innings and gave up seven earned runs on 11 hits. She struck out three and walked four. Pickel had a throwing error in the sixth that kept the inning alive for SPASH. The next batter, Stevens Point's Angela Lange, then hit a three-run homer.
Juda-Albany 9, Highland 6
ALBANY - Juda-Albany seniors Jessica Rackow and Kirstie Kauk each had two hits to power the Panthers to a 9-6 win over Highland.
"I didn't want to go 10 days without a game," Juda-Albany coach Bill Davis said. "I wanted to set something up so we could get out there on the field."
Rackow went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and Kauk was 2-for-4 with two RBIs to lead the Panthers.
Juda-Albany junior Tabatha Davis pitched seven innings and didn't give up an earned run. All six of Highland's runs they scored came off of walks and three errors. Davis struck out 10, gave up five hits and walked five.
"Other than the walks, she was pretty good," Bill Davis said.
Highland threatened with runners on first and second and just one out in the fourth. Davis struck out the next two batters to end the threat.
"That was key," Bill Davis said. "Defensively, we have to be better. The errors came at the same time. We have to work out the bugs. It's something we have to get over as a team."
Juda-Albany will host Monticello at 4:30 p.m. Monday in Albany.
Stevens Point, which has won eight of the last 11 Division 1 state titles, defeated Brodhead 19-2 in the first game and 14-8 in the second game of the twinbill.
Brodhead (1-3) has had two losses to Stevens Point and one to Monroe.
"We went after the best," Brodhead coach B.J. Bockhop said of scheduling a doubleheader late against Stevens Point.
The Cardinals took a 2-1 lead into the fifth inning after senior Taurie Burns hit a two-run home run in the first. Stevens Point scored six runs off Brodhead senior starting pitcher Amanda Pickel in the fifth to take a 7-2 lead. Stevens Point then erupted for a 12-run sixth inning off Brodhead's Brooke Boegli. Pickel pitched five innings and gave up six earned runs on nine hits. She struck out three and walked four.
"Amanda was getting tired and I wanted to get Brooke some time," Bockhop said. "They had (Boegli) ... timed down pretty well."
Burns went 4-for-6 in the doubleheader, including the home run and two RBIs in the first game.
In the second game, the Cardinals trailed 11-3 after three innings before rallying. The Cardinals exploded for five runs in the fourth to cut SPASH's lead to 11-8. Stevens Point scored three runs in the sixth to seal the win.
The Cardinals had 11 hits. Burns went 3-for-4 and sophomore Taylor Gerlach was 2-for-2. Senior Taylor Douglas, sophomore Payton Wright and freshman Kylie Moe were each 2-for-4 and sophomore Erin Kloepping was 2-for-5.
Pickel pitched six innings and gave up seven earned runs on 11 hits. She struck out three and walked four. Pickel had a throwing error in the sixth that kept the inning alive for SPASH. The next batter, Stevens Point's Angela Lange, then hit a three-run homer.
Juda-Albany 9, Highland 6
ALBANY - Juda-Albany seniors Jessica Rackow and Kirstie Kauk each had two hits to power the Panthers to a 9-6 win over Highland.
"I didn't want to go 10 days without a game," Juda-Albany coach Bill Davis said. "I wanted to set something up so we could get out there on the field."
Rackow went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and Kauk was 2-for-4 with two RBIs to lead the Panthers.
Juda-Albany junior Tabatha Davis pitched seven innings and didn't give up an earned run. All six of Highland's runs they scored came off of walks and three errors. Davis struck out 10, gave up five hits and walked five.
"Other than the walks, she was pretty good," Bill Davis said.
Highland threatened with runners on first and second and just one out in the fourth. Davis struck out the next two batters to end the threat.
"That was key," Bill Davis said. "Defensively, we have to be better. The errors came at the same time. We have to work out the bugs. It's something we have to get over as a team."
Juda-Albany will host Monticello at 4:30 p.m. Monday in Albany.
