Athens softball coach able to win 300th game
Athens varsity head softball coach Craig Diedrich won his 300th game in Tuesday’s 6-4 home victory against Wausau Newman.
Senior Sierra hart pitched the complete- game win for Athens, which improved its record to 14-4 overall this season. Junior leadoff hitter Elle Gauerke went three for three with two runs scored.
Athens also won home games against Chequamegon, 13-3, on Thursday; Auburndale, 10-0, on Friday and Cadott, 9-5, on Monday.
The Bluejays are ranked No. 10 in this week’s wissports.net Division 5 coaches poll.
Athens was awarded a No. 1 seed in the WIAA Division 5 playoffs and a thus received a first-round bye.
The Bluejays play at home this Tuesday, May 24, in a regional semifinal against the winnner between Clear Lake and Owen-Withee this Thursday, May 19.
‘Cats on winning streak
Just like Athens, Edgar’s softball team has won four consecutive games. Edgar won three straight road games with a 3-1 victory against Stratford on Thursday, 9-2 win against Chequamegon on Friday and a 1-0 victory against Thorp on Monday.
Edgar then easily downed Prentice, 15-0, on Tuesday at home. The Wildcats currently have a 12-6 overall record this season.
Sophomore Makayla Wirkus struck out 12 batters in the team’s 3-1 win against Stratord. Maycie Yonker led the Wildcats with two RBIs against the Tigers.
The Wildcats were awarded a No. 2 seed in the WIAA Division 5 playoffs and thus received a first-round bye.
Edgar will play against Bowler/ Gresham in a home regional semifinal this Tuesday, May 24.
Athens and Edgar are in separate WIAA Division 5 sectionals, thus they wouldn’t compete against each other until the state tournament.
Raiders down Cards
Marathon’s softball team edged Wausau Newman, 3-2, on Monday. Ella Mader batted two for three and Delaney Lang with one for three with a double.
The Red Raiders lost to the Iola-Scandinavia Thunderbirds, 8-4, in the Waupaca Triangular on Saturday. Sophia Tylinski batted two for four with a triple. Marathon also fell to Waupaca, 13-2, on Saturday. Bridget Salber hit two for four in the loss.
Marathon lost to Phillips, 17-14, on Friday. Mader batted three for five with a double and Lauren Karlen was two for four with a double.
The Red Raiders fell, 6-5, to the Auburndale Eagles on Thursday. Jada Prihoda batted one for four with a homer. Mader hit two for four with a double and Kali Prihoda was one for four with a double.
Marathon also lost to Auburndale, 6-2, on May 10.
Marathon currently has a 4-17 overall record this season. Marathon plays a home WIAA Division 4 regional quarterfinal against Montello at 5 p.m. this Thursday, May 19.
Tigers rebound
Stratford’s softball squad rebounded from Thursday’s 3-1 home loss to Edgar by beating Rib Lake, 10-5, on the road Friday.
Freshman Laney Pankratz struck out seven Lady Redmen batters to earn the pitching victory. Senior third baseman Megan Wiese led the Tigers with three RBIs. Senior first baseman Delaney Dennee and freshman catcher Emma Roeper added two RBIs each in the win.
Pankratz was charged with the pitching loss in Stratford’s 2-1 non-conference defeat at Wausau East on Monday. She also took the pitching defeat in the team’s 10-0 home loss to Wisconsin Rapids Assumption on Tuesday.
Stratford currently has an 8-10 overall record this season. Stratford plays a home WIAA Division 3 Regional quarterfinal against Arcadia at 5 p.m. this Thursday, May 19.
