LG earns 2 victories over NG on softball field Loses to Spencer

The Loyal-Greenwood (LG) softball team defeated Neillsville-Granton (NG) twice in the last couple of weeks, coming back to win their first game after it was delayed and showing their consistency by winning the second game as well.

The first game began at Neillsville on April 16. After scoring two runs in the first inning, LG scored another two runs in the third. However, NG picked up a run in the second and then pumped the gas in the bottom of the third, picking up five more runs, leaving it 6-4 NG heading into the fourth. LG responded with four runs in the fourth, while NG had just one. That left the score at 8-7 heading into the fifth inning, LG now ahead. However, in the fifth inning, NG kept LG from rounding the bases and picked up one more run to tie the game.

The teams were tied 8-8 heading into the sixth inning when lightning was spotted and they were forced to delay the game. They continued their game at 4:30 p.m. at Loyal last Friday, a cold and blustery afternoon.

“We scored 11 in the top of sixth and then held them,” wrote LG coach Greg Brock in an email.

NG did not pick up any more runs in the sixth and LG went on to win 19-8, a decisive victory compared to the back-and-forth battle seen at Neillsville 10 days prior.

LG scored 19 runs off of five hits, while NG scored eight runs off of 10 hits. LG committed three errors while NG had six.

Earning the win for LG was Reese Clintsman, who pitched five innings. She allowed eight runs on nine hits, striking out six and allowing three walks. Madelyn Suda was the relief pitcher, with one inning pitched. She allowed one hit.

Clintsman had two hits, while Liv Lucas, Karsyn Penk and Lizzie Lindner each had one. Scoring runs for LG were Madison Stieglitz, Mya Rueth and Tiffany Mitte, each with three; Tysen Lindner and Suda with two; and Neela Baehr with one.

Clintsman and Lucas each hit a double. Stieglitz and Penk each stole a base. LG had nine runners left on base.

On the NG side, Klarissa Canfield took the loss as pitcher, allowing 19 runs on five hits, with 14 walks and seven strikeouts.

Sydney Subke, Canfield and Keltie Schoen each had two hits. Danielle Bobak, Shylah Walk, Mindy Dix and McKendy Barth each had one. Walk and Canfield scored the most runs, with two apiece. Subke, Bobak, Emerson Ormond and Barth each scored one.

Canfield hit a double and Schoen had a triple. Walk and Canfield each stole two bases. NG had seven runners left on base.

After a brief intermission, the teams moved on to their regularly scheduled game last Friday. Although they got the win, it certainly would not be a walk in the park for the LG girls. NG was the first to score, putting up one run in the first inning, while holding their opponent scoreless. Neither team crossed home plate in the second. In the third, NG seemingly came alive, scoring nine runs. LG did not quite match that, mustering just seven runs. That left LG trailing 10-7 heading into the fourth inning.

Strong pitching and fielding by LG kept NG from scoring at all in the fourth and fifth innings. However, LG got their bats going and scored five runs in the fourth to take the lead, followed by eight runs in the fifth to put themselves up 20-10, calling into effect the WIAA rule

Please see LG softball, page 14

CHEYENNE THOMAS/STAFF PHOTO LG softball,

from p. 11 that states a regular-season softball game will end when after five innings a team is 10 or more runs behind and has completed its turn at bat.

LG got the win despite committing more errors than NG, with 4 to NG’s 3. LG had 20 runs on just three hits, while NG had 10 runs off of six hits. LG’s three hits came from Tysen Lindner, Lizzie Lindner and Liv Lucas. NG had two hits from Subke, and one each from Canfield, Schoen, Walk and Barth.

Scoring runs for LG were Lizzie Lindner, Suda, Penk and Autumn Zvolena, each with three; Tysen Lindner, Mitte and Lucas with two; and Stieglitz and Rueth with one.

On NG’s side, Subke and Canfield each had two runs while Ormond, Schoen, Walk, Bobak, Dix and Barth had one.

Suda pitched the win for LG, allowing one run on three hits. She didn’t give up any walks and struck out four. Baehr pitched in relief, allowing nine runs on three hits. She walked seven and struck out two.

Spencer game LG faced another challenge last Thursday when traveling to Spencer to take on the Rockets. After one inning of play, Spencer was up 4-3. By the time the teams were two innings in, that lead had increased to 7-4, but it was still arguably anybody’s game. However, over the next four and a-half innings, Spencer added on three runs while LG only scored two. That left the final score at 10-6 in the Rockets’ favor.

Earning the win for the Rockets was Berklie Ireland. She pitched all seven innings, allowing six runs on seven hits, with six walks and six strikeouts.

Scoring runs for the Rockets were Hailey Rucker with two, Ema Schultz with two, Emma Nieman with two, and Ireland, Keely Schuh, Alexa Weber and Olivia Schreiner with one each. Nieman and Ireland doubled. Schultz stole a base, as did Olivia Schreiner. Spencer had eight players left on base.

Suda took the loss for LG, pitching four and two-thirds innings. She allowed three runs on three hits, walking three and striking out four. Penk pitched in relief, allowing seven runs on three hits. She walked five and struck out one.

Rueth scored two runs for LG while Tysen Lindner, Lucas, Penk and Zvolena each scored one. Mitte hit a double. Rueth, Lucas and Tysen Lindner stole a base. LG had eight players left on base.