By Nick Beversdorf
Reporter
Hatchet varsity softball had one win and three losses this past week, starting with a win over Wittenberg/Birnamwood on Tuesday (May 17). The final score was 11-1 with Tomahawk generating nine hits and committing three errors.
W/B started with one run at the top of the first but Tomahawk answered with five runs at the bottom. They would get another run in the third and five more in the fourth before the game was called in the fifth.
Top hitters for Tomahawk include Mikhayla Kleich (3H, 2R, 3RBI, 1SB), Jordyn Kaminski (2H, 4RBI) and Rachel Dallman (1H, 1R, 3RBI, double). Dallman pitched for two innings, striking out two, walking three, allowing zero hits and one run. Courtney Theiler pitched the remainder of the game, striking out one, walking none, allowing four hits and no runs.
“Not our best performance of the year but solid enough to get a win,” comments head coach John Larson. “When you face a team that has not had a lot of success you can’t play down to their level. In order to have success come tournament time, ‘consistency’ will be vital. If you have great focus and effort, the rest of it will take care of itself.”
The next game last Thursday saw Tomahawk lose to Mosinee with a final score of 5-3 with Tomahawk making seven hits and committing two errors.
After a scoreless first Tomahawk took the lead with two runs at the top of the second. Mosinee responded with two at the bottom to tie things up. Tomahawk got another run at the top of the third to regain the lead. They held the one-run lead until Mosinee made three runs at the bottom of the sixth.
Top hitters include Danielle Kurth (2H, 3RBI, 2 doubles), Alex Bellile (2H, 1BB) and Briana Oenning (1H, 2R, 1SB). Dallman pitched the whole game, striking out three, walking two, allowing 10 hits and five runs-four earned.
“For the second time this season we played better than Mosinee for most of the game,” adds Larson. “Key word is ‘most’ of the game. In tight games you have to be at your best for seven innings. Looking back this game came down to a couple of plays we didn’t make.”
The next day the lady Hatchets had a doubleheader against Antigo, both of which ended in Hatchet losses. The first game ended with a final score of 3-1 with Tomahawk mustering three hits and committing three errors.
Antigo started strong with a run in the first and second innings. Tomahawk got a run in the third but Antigo would get another run in the sixth.
Top hitters include Taylor Shilts (2H, 1R, double) and Dallman (1H, 1BB). Dallman pitched the whole game, striking out five, walking two, allowing six hits and three earned runs.
“Solid game for the Hatchets, it really came down to a pitching battle. Both teams were limited, combining for nine total hits in the game. Antigo came up with two big hits-solo home runs in the first and sixth innings. Those two hits would prove to be the difference. We made solid contact all game and hit the ball hard but everything was right at them. We just couldn’t find any green.”
The second Antigo game ended with a final score of 6-4 with Tomahawk making seven hits and committing one error.
Again, Antigo started off strong with two runs in the first and another in the second. Tomahawk would get a run in the second but Antigo would respond with two more in the third. Tomahawk got another run in the bottom but again Antigo responded with a run in the fourth. Tomahawk would start to accumulate runs with one in the sixth and one in the seventh but it wasn’t enough to reach Antigo’s six runs.
Top hitters include Kurth (2H, 1RBI, 1BB, double), Oenning (2H, 1R) and Dallman (1H, 1R, 1RBI, 1SB). Dallman pitched the whole game, striking out five, walking three, allowing 11 hits and six runs-five earned.
“This was another tough loss for the Hatchets in GNC play. In this game the long ball by Antigo would prove to be the big blow. Two-run home runs in the first and third innings powered Antigo to the win. The Hatchets played very solid defense, continue to make solid contact hitting the ball hard and get solid pitching performances. We have to learn how to win the close game and stay consistently sharp in all phases of the game for seven innings.
“It is now tournament time, new season and everyone is 0-0! We need to win now or wait to try again next year.”