Elk Mound softballers nip Panthers, gain split in Altoona Invitational
Beside their nailbiting victory over rival Colfax last Thursday, the Elk Mound softball team played three other contests including a conference game and a weekend triangular.
The Lady Mounders scored four late runs in a tight game against Mondovi last Tuesday, May 8 at home to earn a 6-2 win.
Elk Mound then split its games at the Altoona Triangular this past Saturday. Altoona won the opener 6-2 but the Mounders rebounded to take a 4-3, 11-inning win over Prescott in the second game.
Durand
Elk Mound had the bats swinging early and often when they welcomed Durand to town last Tuesday.
The Mounders collected 12 hits in the 6-2 win over the Panthers on May 8.
Sophie Cedarblade had three hits including a double and Allison Lindquist and Hailey Blaskowski also doubled and finished with two hits each to lead the Mounders’ offense.
Sophomore Clare Hallum threw all seven frames to grab the win after holding Durand to four hits and two runs and finished with eight strike outs.
Altoona Triangular
Saturday was an exciting day of softball for the Mounders according to Coach Samantha Stelter after the team showed what it is capable of doing.
Despite falling 6-2 to Altoona, a great offensive team, and struggling to get timely hits, Elk Mound never let up until the final out said Stelter.
The Rails collected 11 hits from Clare Hallum, who suffered the loss, but the Mounders collected eight hits with Hailey Blaskowski going 2-for-2.
Elk Mound scored a run in the first and its other in the seventh.
The Prescott contest was a defensive battle.
“Both sides made some huge defensive plays and that, combined with strong pitching is what kept the game going for 11- innings,” said Coach Stelter.
“The game was intense and well played by both teams.”
Elk Mound found itself trailing 3-1 with two outs in the seventh and final inning of regulation.
With one out, Blaskowski reached on an error. After the second out, Kaylie Solberg and Orianna Horel came up with consecutive singles that resulted in two runs and a tie game.
It took until the 11th frame to decide the outcome.
That’s when Prescott looked to push a run home but a huge double play turned by Sophie Cedarblade would jump start the Mounders’ offensive.
With two outs, Morgan Radtke singled and scored the winning run on back-to-back errors by the Prescott defense.
“I am incredibly proud of what these girls accomplished Saturday,” concluded Stelter.
After throwing six innings in the first game, Clare Hallum threw all 11 frames against Prescott to get the win. She gave up 11 hits and three runs and had three strike outs.
Allison Lindquist had three hits including a triple with Radtke and Blaskowski each chipping in with two hits.