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GC softballers exterminate Crickets, plucked by Cardinals

EMILY HILL

BIG HIT — Senior Emily Hill slugged this pitch for hit to score a run during Glenwood City’s 4-2 home win over Fall Creek in last Wednesday’s Division 4 regional softball contest. —photo by Missy Klatt

By Missy Klatt

GLENWOOD CITY – The sun was shining and the dust was flying as the Lady Hilltoppers hosted the Crickets of Fall Creek in the second round of regional playoffs on May 23rd. Both the Toppers and the Crickets who were seeded #4 & #5 respectively, had first round byes. With a lot of good competition, this was a fun game to watch especially since the Toppers won 4-2.

Delanie Fayerweather got things started in the bottom of the first inning when she walked and later scored to put up the first run of the game. In the top of the second the Crickets went three and out. The Toppers tried to get something going in the second but left two stranded at the close of the inning.

During the top of the third the Crickets were challenging the Toppers. With one out and the bases loaded, the Crickets popped out with a foul to the first baseman. The runner on third then attempted to score. However Coach Schutz challenged saying the runner left the bag too early. The ref agreed and she was called out, creating a double play and the third out of the inning.

First up for the Toppers in the bottom of the third was Fayerweather. She was once again walked. Emily Hill then came up and hit a long double to drive in Fayerweather. Hill then advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a fielder’s choice to first. Two more quick outs at first gave the Toppers a 3-0 lead.

Jenesa Klinger

TOPPERS’ senior shortstop Jenesa Klinger prepared to catch this pop fly in last Wednesday’s WIAA Division 4 regional softball game played in Glenwood City. The Toppers defeated Fall Creek 4-2. —photo by Shawn DeWitt

Innings four and five were both quick with no scoring by either team. With two outs at the top of the sixth, the Crickets finally got on the board when they scored two runs. With two more runners on base the Toppers were finally able to end the inning and stop the Crickets from scoring further.

With one out in the bottom of the sixth, Cortney Lawson hit a nice double and then advanced to third on a passed ball. She then scored on a Maggie Wallin single to give the Toppers their last run of the game.

With two in the top of the seventh it looked like the Toppers had this game in the bag but the Crickets weren’t quite done as Luen-Johnson doubled. Wallin then struck out their next batter with three pitches to end the game.

GLENWOOD CITY 4, FALL CREEK 2

Fall Creek……………………0 0 0 0 0 2 0 – 2
Glenwood City…………….1 0 2 0 0 1 x – 4

GC (AB-R-H): Voeltz 3-0-0, Klinger 3-0-0, Fayerweather 1-2-0, Hill 3-1-1, Oehlke 3-0-0, C. Lawson 3-1-1, Wallin 2-0-1, B. Lawson 3-0-0, Britton 2-0-0.

Thorp

The following afternoon, the Toppers headed to Thorp for a game that was originally scheduled to be played on Friday afternoon. They moved the game ahead due to impending storms. In a heart breaker the Toppers lost to the Cardinals of Thorp 6-7, knocking them out of the playoffs.

The first three innings resulted in goose eggs on the board even though the Toppers tried to get things going in the second with singles from Maddie Oehlke, Maggie Wallin and Andi Jo Britton. Finally in the top of the fourth Oehlke was walked and then later scored off a double by Wallin. Unfortunately one run was all they were going to get as they left two runners on base. The Cardinals then countered with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning to tie the score at one.

The top of the fifth was a big inning for the Lady Hilltoppers as they scored three runs off of three hits including a two run double from Cortney Lawson. The Cardinals then added one more run in the bottom of the fifth. With a 4-2 lead going into the sixth, Andi Jo Britton and Mariah Voeltz crossed the plate thanks to a double by Emily Hill. The Toppers were now leading 6-2. Unfortunately the Cardinals came back in the bottom half of the inning with four runs to tie the game at six.

Andi Jo Britton

GOOD HUSTLE — The Toppers’ senior first baseman Andi Jo Britton ran into foul territory to make an out during Glenwood City’s 4-2 home win over Fall Creek in last Wednesday’s regional softball playoff game. —photo by Missy Klatt

After the Toppers failed to score in the top of the seventh, the Cardinals started the bottom of the inning with a single. The Hilltoppers dug deep and got the next two batters out but the next Cardinal came to the plate to hit an RBI double knocking in the go ahead run and ending the game.

Coach Matthew Schutz summarized the game and the season with the following:   “It came down to the last out before possible extra innings.  My girls played an amazing game, laying down the bunt several times and running it out, and then others like Emily Hill and Cortney Lawson getting the big hit to drive in two runs each.  Maggie and Maddie pitched a heck of a game against a team that pounded the ball on us two weeks ago.  We were up, but they battled back and it just took one pitch and a nice hit to drive in the winning run. It will go down as two of the best playoff games of my career.  Amazing defense against both Fall Creek and Thorp and doing what they had to on offense to put pressure on Thorp with their bats.  I am so proud of how well the team has played all year.  They were in every game, except Pepin, this season.  So proud to have had the opportunity to work with such a great group of girls and especially five amazing seniors [Andi Jo Britton, Mariah Voeltz, Jenesa Klinger, Cortney Lawson and Emily Hill].  This is only the second time I’ve had five starting seniors and they were great leaders on and off the field.  They will be truly missed.  We have a lot of work to do next season to fill those shoes.”

GLENWOOD CITY 6, THORP 7

Glenwood City…………….0 0 0 1 3 2 0 – 6
Thorp…………………………0 0 0 1 1 4 1 – 7

GC (AB-R-H): Voeltz 4-1-1, Klinger 3-1-1, Fayerweather 4-1-1, Hill 3-0-1, Oehlke 2-2-1, C. Lawson 4-0-2, Wallin 4-0-2, B. Lawson 3-0-0, Britton 2-1-1. 

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