The Bluejay and Hatchet softball teams each put on a one-game hitting clinic when the squads met in Tomahawk on Friday.
Merrill pounded out a 10-run third inning in an opening 14-4 triumph in five innings, then Tomahawk responded by out-hitting the Jays 10-2 in the second game for a 7-3 win.
“In both games we were flat and I’m not sure why,” MHS coach Dave Brandvold said. “After looking at how we played, I am very glad we came out with at least one win. Tomahawk plays a solid brand of softball. They play everyone tough.
“We didn’t do anything well in Game 2 and lost in all three phases of the game. When you play a lot of games, sometimes those days just happen.”
The Bluejays cut loose in that third inning starting with Chelsey Dorgan’s RBI double and Aly Brandvold’s 2-run two-bagger. After two outs, Merrill came up with Brianna LaMonica’s RBI double, Kaylin Byer’s two-run homer and Dorgan’s 3-run homer, her 4th round-tripper of the year.
“Merrill just pounded the ball in the third inning, scoring 10 runs on nine hits,” THS coach John Larson said. “Five of those hits were for extra bases. Mallory (Christianson) did a nice job mixing up her pitches, her location was good; Merrill just had one heck of an inning.”
Tomahawk did score four in the bottom of the 5th but Merrill cut it off there to end it early.
Brandvold (9 H, 2 W, 4 K, 4 R, 0 ER in 4-1/3 I) picked up the win and Megan Pehlke (0 H in 2/3 I) closed it out.
Christianson (11 H, 12 R, 10 ER in 3 I) took the loss and Kaitlin Doughty (3 H, 4 W, 2 K, 2 ER in 2 I) took over.
The Bluejay offense was paced by LaMonica (4-5, 2B), Byer (3-4, HR), Dorgan (2-4, HR, 2B, 3 R, 3 RBI), Brandvold (2-4, 2B, 3 RBI) and Krueger (2-3, 3 RBI). Tomahawk’s Doughty hit 2-2, and Kendall Nelson, Kacey Iwen and Saydee Juedes all went 2-3.
Tomahawk rallied from a 3-0 deficit in the second game with a 4-run 3rd bolstered by a 3-run Juedes homer.
“This was a great bounce-back win,” Larson said. “The Hatchets played well in all phases of the game. We came up with big hits when we had runners in scoring position.”
Doughty’s two-hitter (4 W, 4 K, 3 R, 2 ER in 7 I) stymied the Jays. Nelson (2-3), Iwen (2-3), Kelsey Paramore (2-4), Zehner (HR, 3 RBI) and Stephanie Welke (3B) pushed the Hatchet offense.
Brandvold (10 H, 5 W, 2 K, 7 R, 2 ER in 6 I) took the loss and Pehlke (2 W in 1 I) relieved.
Shooting the Rapids
The Bluejays collected a wild 13-10 triumph in Rhinelander on Saturday in a doubleheader reduced to a single contest by rain. They trailed 10-7 with two outs in the 6th when they broke free for 6 runs.
“That was a non-conference game but it meant everything to us to win it in the manner that we did,” Brandvold said. “We had all kinds of adversity and could have laid down easily, but the girls didn’t quit.
“This was a tough week. Point can and has beaten everyone in the area, and Tomahawk and Rhinelander have beaten many good teams. To come out of here 2-2 and 14-6 at this point of the season in pretty good.”
Merrill hitting was led by LaMonica (3-4, 2B), Byer (3-4), Krueger 2-4, 2-2B, 3 RBI), Brandvold (2-4, 3B), Emily Heckendorf (2-4, 2B), Jessica Deering (2-4), Dorgan (HR) and Kelsey Messerschmidt (3B) pushed MHS to 16 hits.
Pehlke (14 H in 7 I) picked up the W.
Red Robin relapse
The Hatchets closed out a .500 GNC campaign with Monday’s 7-4 loss to 8-4 Antigo.
“We struggled at critical times,” Larson said.
Christianson (11 H, 2 W, 3 K, 7 ER in 7 I) took the loss. Iwen (2-4, 2B) had half of the THS hits.
Tomahawk fell to 9-11 on the season and 6-6 in the GNC with the loss.
Getting the Point
The 18-1 Panthers-ranked 2nd in the state-pulled out a 6-0 win last Tuesday, scoring 4 in the 1st inning.
“We did nothing with our bats but we had a slow start with our defense and that cannot happen,” Brandvold said. “(Kelly) Franks is a great pitcher and I am glad we won’t see her again unless we would make the big dance in Appleton.”
Franks pitched a 3-hitter. Pehlke (8 H, 2 W, 2 K, 6 R, 2 ER in 7 I) was saddled with the loss.
T-Bird on a platter
The Hatchets crushed Lakeland 17-0 on Thursday.
“Our best overall game of the year,” Larson said.
Christianson’s 2-hitter (0 W, 6 K in 5 I) helped end it early. Iwen (3-4, 2B), Christianson (3-4), Juedes (2-2, 3 RBI), Paramore (2-4, 2B, 3 RBI) and Schoone (2-4) powered the blow-out that featured 9 runs in the 3rd and 8 in the 4th.
Soaring over Eagles
Tomahawk pulled out 15-9 and 12-2 triumphs over Northland Pines last Tuesday. Trios of runs in the 6th and 7th innings broke open a tied first game, made that way through 8 THS errors.
“Offensively, the Hatchets were on fire,” Larson said. “Defensively, it was not one of the Hatchets’ best performances.”
Zehner (4-4, 2-2B, 4 RBI), Iwen (3-4, 4 R, 4 RBI), Paramore (2-4, 3 R), Cassi Silvernale (2-4), and Nelson (2-5, 3 R) helped Tomahawk reach 15 hits. Christianson (10 H, 3 W, 3 K, 9 R 3 ER in 7 I) picked up the victory.
THS knocked out 16 hits in the nightcap, scoring 4 in the 4th, 5 in the 5th and 1 in the 6th to stop it early.
“It was a nice all-around win for the Hatchets,” Larson said.
Christianson (5 H, 0 W, 2 K, 2 R, 1 ER in 6 I) won.
Juedes (3-3), Christianson (2-3, 2B, 3 RBI), Iwen (2-4, 3B), Shelby Rabus (2-3), Zehner (2-4), Silvernale (2-4) and Nelson (3B) boosted the big ‘O.’