Offense starts to come alive for Rib Lake in a pair of Marawood slugfests

RIB LAKE SOFTBALL

Rib Lake’s softball team found some offense, hitting double digits in runs in two straight games, but the Lady Redmen have yet to find the complete game needed to break into the win column.

The Chequamegon Screaming Eagles bumped the Redmen to 0-7 for the season Monday with an 18-10 win in Park Falls. It was a close game at 11-8 when the Eagles broke it open with five runs in the bottom of the fifth to go up 16-8. The Redmen were able to avoid the 10-run rule and make it a full seven-inning game.

Hits were fairly even with Chequamegon having a 14-12 edge. Six walks and four errors from a defensive standpoint hurt, according to Rib Lake head coach Dennis Scheithauer.

Danielle Mann led the offense by going three for five out of the leadoff spot in the order. Kyla Kennedy was two for four. They have been Rib Lake’s leading hitters through the first two weeks with Kennedy carrying a .470 batting average and Mann hitting .428.

Rhonnie Jo Scheithauer was two for four. Molly Heiser, Emily Rodman, Reagan Reinhardt, Leah Chmielowiec and Josie Scheithauer had one hit apiece off Chequamegon pitcher Leah Shultz.

Mann started in the circle for Rib Lake and went four innings. Kennedy pitched the last two innings.

Jasmine Schmidt homered for the Screaming Eagles. Shultz and Hailey Minnema had three hits apiece.

With the last two games, I think we can play with those teams,” Scheithauer said. “We just have to cut down on the miscues and mental errors and eliminate some of the runners left on base. We need to score those runs rather than leaving them out there.

“We’re still upbeat. We try to keep reminding the girls we’re young, we’re inexperienced. As long as we keep our growth and keep that pace going, we’ll be fine.”

Chequamegon (1-2, 2-7) is in Rib Lake today, Thursday, for a 4:45 p.m. Marawood North rematch. The Redmen go to Marathon Friday for a Marawood crossover. Rib Lake hosts Prentice Tuesday and visits the Buccaneers May 20 in a pair of North games it certainly can be competitive in.

Newman 22, Rib Lake 12

In another slugfest Friday, host Rib Lake was again in the game until a big inning late did them in during a 22-12 crossover loss to Newman Catholic.

A seven-run top of the sixth turned a 15-9 lead for the Cardinals, who turned it into a 22-9 bulge and then held on to keep the 10-run rule into effect when Rib Lake rallied in the bottom half. The big shot in the seventh was a grand slam home run by Kaitlin Kalafice, who had six RBIs. Angela Rougeot-Donath added a threerun bomb earlier in the game.

This game was back and forth until then. Newman led 9-1 after a five-run rally in the top of the third, but Rib Lake responded with a four-spot. The Cardinals scored four more in the fourth, but the Redmen got five in their half to pull within 13-9.

“The girls are starting to hit the ball a little better,” Dennis Scheithauer said. “We just have to cut down the errors and the walks and the mental mistakes. That’s all I can ask. I expect a few physical errors. Unfortunately, we’re still making some mental mistakes that we shouldn’t be making at this point.”

Rib Lake finished with 11 hits. Kennedy was three for five, while Mann was two for five. Heiser, Rodman, Chmielowiec, Josie Scheithauer and Raelyn Waszkiewicz had a hit apiece.

The Redmen left 10 runners on base, struck out seven times against Newman pitching and committed six defensive errors.

Kennedy took the loss in the circle, striking out five and walking nine.