‘Jays win regional, fall in sectional

Big inning lifts Athens over Rib Lake in regional

By Casey Krautkramer

Athens senior centerfielder Elle Gauerke felt the sting of her team losing 4-3 to Thorp in last season’s home regional championship. She didn’t want to be left with the same sick feeling in her stomach after this year’s home section- sectional championship, so she belted a threerun homer in the bottom of the sixth inning to help Athens win the WIAA Division 5 regional championship against Rib Lake.

Rib Lake came within one run of Athens, 5-4, in the top of the sixth innings. Athens then scored 10 runs in the bottom of the sixth inning for a 15-4 win. The 10-run rule went into effect and the game was over in the sixth inning.

Gauerke’s home run was barely fair just inside the left field foul line. She had a huge smile on her face as she rounded the bases before being mobbed by her teammates at home plate.

“It felt amazing,” she said. “At the beginning of that inning I could just feel a rally coming on and everyone was supporting each other. It was my first home run this year. It’s been a rough season hitting for me, but hitting the home run in the regional championship was worth every long practice that was hard on me.”

After the regional title victory, Athens softball players ran toward head coach Craig Diethelm at home plate to get their hands on the regional championship plaque. He was proud of his team’s resolve in continually playing hard to capture the Division 5 regional title against Rib Lake at home this season after losing it by only one run to Thorp last season.

“This group of girls are talented and they’ve done a lot of neat things as athletes this entire school year,” Diethelm said. “I am just very pleased with the effort and the energy that this team competes with every game.”

Athens sophomore Danica Diethelm struck out five hitters during her six innings in the pitcher’s circle to earn the win.

The top of Athens’ hitting lineup came through for the Bluejays against the Lady Redmen. Junior leadoff hitter Addison Lavicka batted three for five with four RBIs and a run scored, junior number two hitter Jazelle Hartwig was three for four with an RBI and four runs scored, number three hitter Gauerke was one for three with three RBIs and two runs scored, junior number four hitter Sophia Coker was two for three with a pair of RBIs and runs scored and senior number five hitter Celina Ellenbecker was two for three with three RBIs and a run scored.

Sectional semifinal loss

The Athens softball team lost, 10-0 in five innings, at Chippewa Falls McDonell in Tuesday’s WIAA Division 5 sectional semifinal. Macks junior starting pitcher Katie Ruff only allowed three hits to the Bluejays. Junior Jenna Handschke, Coker and Lavicka were the only Bluejays to get hits off Ruff.

Athens concludes this season with a 15-8 record while McDonell improves to 18-6. McDonell now plays against Northwood/Solon Springs in the sectional championship at 5 p.m. this Thursday, June 1, at Athens High School.