MEDFORD SOFTBALL - Offense breaks out for Medford in 10-2 pounding of Antigo

MEDFORD SOFTBALL

The Medford Raiders had the offensive breakthrough they’ve been looking for Tuesday, pounding out 17 hits, including four for extra bases in a 10-2 Great Northern Conference win at Antigo.

The top five hitters in the order combined for 13 of the hits, led by a threefor- five outing from clean-up hitter Tori Konieczny, who drove in five runs and hit a three-run homer.

Even more impressive was the fact that Medford did this damage against one of the GNC’s top pitchers, Bethany Lewis, who struck out six and walked two. All 10 of Medford’s runs were earned.

Rylee Hraby worked around five walks, striking out six and went all seven innings for Medford. She allowed five hits and Tristin Arlen’s two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth.

Nine of Medford’s run came in two big innings.

The Raiders stranded two runners in the top of the first but took advantage of their next scoring chance in the third. Hraby was hit by a one-out pitch, Finley Arndt singled and, after a strikeout, Konieczny belted a 1-1 offering, sending it over the leftfield fence for a 3-0 lead. It was the Wisconsin Lutheran College recruit’s first varsity home run.

The inning didn’t stop there. Addison Brahmer singled to left, stole second, went to third on a passed ball and scored on Laney Hraby’s infield hit. Hraby scored on Chelsea Gebauer’s double to right to make it 5-0.

Konieczny singled in Arndt in the fourth. The Raiders put up a four-spot in the sixth to go up 10-0.

That rally started with a one-out infield single by Rylee Hraby. Arndt lined a single to left and Zayleah Leonhardt drilled a double to score Hraby. Konieczny scored Arndt with a sacrifice fly. Singles by Brahmer and Grace Schmidtfranz brought in courtesy runner Jolie Steliga and Gebauer’s single score Brahmer.

Rylee Hraby was three for four, Arndt was three for five, Leonhardt was two for five, Brahmer was two for four and Gebauer was two for four in the win.

Now 7-4 overall, Medford improved to 1-1 in the still very early conference title chase. The Raiders hope to get a home game in with Northland Pines today, Thursday, at 5 p.m. From there, Medford hosts a 4:30 p.m. doubleheader with Rhinelander on Tuesday and then visits GNC-leading Mosinee, the state’s secondranked team in Division 2 on May 1.

Last week’s postponement with Tomahawk will be played in Medford on May 2 before the Raiders get Mosinee again May 5 at home.