Raiders get shut out in Phillips, 2-0

MEDFORD SOFTBALL

The Medford Raiders pitched well enough, but Phillips took advantage of miscues in the field and on the bases to grab a 2-0 non-conference win Monday in a matchup of two teams with high hopes for their 2022 seasons.

The Loggers, coming off a state-qualifying season in Division 4 last spring, improved to 3-1 with another win on Tuesday. On Monday, they rode the pitching of Kendall Weik, who limited the Raiders to just three hits. She walked three and struck out three.

The first loss of the season dropped Medford to 3-1 as well.

Phillips had just two hits in the game, but made the most of them by pushing across runs in the bottom of third and fourth innings.

Martha Miller, who the coaches kept on a limited pitch count, struck out four while retiring the Loggers in order in the first two innings. Alie Williams led off the third by reaching on an error and, with one out, was bunted to second by Jensen Weik, who was the last batter Miller faced.

Williams got to third on a passed ball and scored an unearned run when Jada Eggebrecht singled off Laurissa Klapatauskas.

In the fourth, Megan Deleasky drew a one-out walk, stole second and scored on a base hit by Brianna Guzinski. The Raiders got out of the inning, however, by turning a pretty 6-4-3 double play on a ball hit by Paige Edwards.

Klapatauskas retired the six of the final seven batters she faced and finished with one earned run, one walk, one hit batter and two hits allowed in 3.1 innings. Miller struck out five in her 2.2 innings.

The Raiders had two runners thrown out on the base paths in the first three innings and let a big opportunity get away in the sixth. Makala Ulrich doubled, Eryka Seidl walked as did Hope Faude with one out to load the bases for Klapatauskas, the number-three hitter in Medford’s order. But she lined out to right and Faude was doubled off first.

Weik retired the Raiders in order in the seventh to seal the win for Phillips.

Medford’s Great Northern Conference and home opener Tuesday was postponed when stormy weather arrived just as the Rhinelander Hodags did. The Raiders’ game at Mosinee today, Thursday, has also been postponed based on the weather forecast.

Next week’s schedule has the Raiders playing Antigo on back-to-back nights. They’ll be in Antigo Monday and then host the Red Robins Tuesday with both games starting at 4:30 p.m. Medford is at Tomahawk on April 21 at 5 p.m.