Elk Mound sweeps Colfax in softball doubleheader to take conference lead
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HEADED TO FIRST— Jenna Goodell (#13) of Colfax attempted to beat the throw to Morgan Radtke (#13) during game two of a double header on Monday evening, April 29. —photo by Amber Hayden
ELK MOUND — The Lady Mounders and Vikings clashed on Elk Mound’s softball field last Monday evening, April 29, in a doubleheader that had implications on the Dunn-St. Croix race.
In a pair of close games, Elk Mound was able to sweep Colfax by scores of 3-1 and 4-0, to overtake Glenwood City for the conference lead. At the time, the Mounders sported a 7-0 conference record (which has since improved to 12-0) while the Hilltoppers have lost just once, a setback suffered at the hands of the Mounders.
Elk Mound’s acting head coach McKayla Brunner explained the Colfax sweep as a pair of defensive wins for Elk Mound as their bats weren’t as hot as they have been in recent games.
Monday’s double feature was just the start of very busy, 7-game week for Elk Mound. Following their doubleheader with Colfax, the Mounders traveled to Plum City on Tuesday, April 30 and emerged a 7-0 winner before returning home to beat Durand 4-0 last Thursday, May 2 and sweeping its second doubleheader of the week with 15-1 and 16-4 triumphs over Boyceville on Friday, May 3. A 4-2 non-conference setback in Arcadia on Saturday, May 4 snapped Elk Mound’s 12-game win streak.
Elk Mound will have another full slate this week as it played Elmwood/Plum City for the second time in less than a week, hosting the Wolves this past Monday, May 6 followed by a key conference game in Glenwood City this Thursday, May 9, a home game against Mondovi on Friday, May 10, a triangular on May 11 against Altoona and Prescott and road games in Pepin and Durand next Monday, May 13 and Tuesday, May 14 to wrap up the conference and regular seasons.
Unfortunately, Colfax’s week of close losses continued as the Vikings fell 6-2 at home to Elmwood/Plum City on Thursday, May 2 and then lost their second doubleheader in five days as they were swept in Glenwood City last Friday, May 3 with the Hilltoppers taking the contests by scores of 6-1 and 6-5.
The Vikings, now 3-8 in conference and overall, kicked off their final week of conference and regular season play this past Monday, May 6, with a home doubleheader, their third in eight days, against Mondovi. Colfax also played yesterday (Tuesday) against Durand in Spring Valley. The Vikings will then close the regular season with a home game against Pepin/Alma this Thursday, May 9 before traveling back to Spring Valley next Monday, May 13 to take on the Cardinals.
The WIAA tournament is set to begin for all teams next Thursday, May 16.
Game 1
Playing as the home team in the first of two games in Elk Mound last Monday, April 29, Colfax drew first blood with a run in the bottom of the first when a wild pitch by Mounders’ hurler Claire Hallum allowed Vikings sophomore Bailey Bradford to score. Bradford had reached first base on a line-drive single to right field.
TAYLOR IRWIN (#2) was able to get the out on Orianna Horel (#18) at second before getting the ball to Colfax’s first basemen Rachel Scharlau to turn the double play. —photo by Amber Hayden
The Vikings held the 1-0 lead until the top of the third inning when the Mounders struck for three runs. That is how the seven-inning contest concluded as neither team was able to plate another run giving Elk Mound a 3-1 triumph in the opening game of the doubleheader.
“Very proud of the continuous efforts the girls bring to each and every game,” said coach Brunner. “We faced a night where our bats weren’t as hot as they have been so we stepped up our game defensively only having one error in ten innings.”
The Mounders trailed by that single run until McKenna Diermeier finally scored for the Mounders in the third frame on a passed ball which also allowed Sophie Cedarblade to advance to third.
Clare Hallum reached first on a fielder’s choice to Colfax second baseman Taylor Irwin who tried to throw out Cedarblade at home plate. Cedarblade was called safe, giving Elk Mound a 2-1 lead. Later in the inning, Hallum scored to make it 3-1 after another fielder’s choice was hit by Issie Hollister.
Elk Mound held a 5 to 3 advantage in hits over Colfax, who also committed a pair of fielding errors.
In the circle, Elk Mound’s Clare Hallum took the win after she gave up just those three hits to Colfax and struck out four batters. Colfax’s Jozie Buchanan took the loss as she gave up five hits and finished with a one strikeout and no walks.
ELK MOUND 3, COLFAX 1
Elk Mound.….….….……0 0 3 0 0– 3
Colfax….…..….….….…..1 0 0 0 0 – 1
Elk Mound (3) AB-H-R: McKenna Diermeier 3-1-1, Sophie Cedarblade 3-1-1, Hailey Blaskowski 3-0-0, Clare Hallum 3-1-1, Abby Curry 3-1-0, Issie Hollister 2-0-1, Morgan Radtke 1-0-0, Hannah Larson 2-0-0, Kallee Rhude 2-1-0. Total 22-5-3.
Colfax (1) AB-H-R: Bailey Bradford 2-1-1, Marissa Harmon 1-0-0, Jozie Buchanan 2-0-0, Kaitlyn Field 2-1-0, Taylor Irwin 2-1-0, Anna Geissler 2-0-0, Tori Hill 2-0-0, Jenna Goodell 2-0-0, Rachel Scharlau 2-0-0. Total 17-3-1.
Pitching: Elk Mound — Clare Hallum 5 IP, 3 H, 4 K, 0 BB, 1 R (1 earned); Colfax — Jozie Buchanan 5 IP, 6 H, 1 K, 0 BB, 3 R (0 earned).
Game 2
After allowing Colfax just three hits and a run in the opening game, Mounders’ ace Clare Hallum returned to the throwing circle in last Monday’s night cap and held the Vikings’ offense scoreless on just two hits as she led the Mounders, with help from the tough defense, to a 4-0 victory.
“Clare continues to pitch great games on the mound and each girl continues to provide something for the team to,” explained coach Brunner. “Whether it be a base hit, a great play or support in and out of the dugout.”
A pair of runs in the first and second innings were more than enough to lift the Mounders, who had just four hits themselves, to the win.
Hallum also contributed on offense with a hit that brought home McKenna Diermeier in the first inning and allow Sophie Cedarblade to advance to third. Cedarblade in turn stole home on a passed ball.
Diermeier also hit a home run in the second inning with Kallee Rhude on base to plat the Mounders’ other two runs.
Colfax struggled throughout the game as Marissa Harmon and Kaitlyn Field were the only two to have hits in the first and fourth innings but were left stranded on base.
Tori Hill and Jenna Goodell were the only batters to be walked by Hallum in the second and fifth innings with no way of getting around the bases.
ELK MOUND 4, COLFAX 0
Elk Mound.….….….……2 2 0 0 0– 4
Colfax….…..….….….…..0 0 0 0 0 – 0
Elk Mound (4) AB-H-R: McKenna Diermeier 2-1-2, Sophie Cedarblade 1-0-1, Hailey Blaskowski 2-0-0, Clare Hallum 2-1-0, Issie Hollister 1-0-0, Abby Curry 2-0-0, Morgan Radtke 2-0-0, Orianna Horel 2-2-0, Kallee Rhude 2-0-1. Total 16-4-4.
Colfax (0) AB-H-R: Bailey Bradford 3-0-0, Marissa Harmon 2-1-0, Jozie Buchanan 2-0-0, Kaitlyn Field 2-1-0, Taylor Irwin 2-0-0, Anna Geissler 2-0-0, Tori Hill 1-0-0, Jenna Goodell 1-0-0, Rachel Scharlau 2-0-0.
Pitching: Elk Mound — Clare Hallum 5 IP, 2 H, 2 K, 2 BB, 0 R; Colfax — Anna Geissler 1 IP, 0 H, 1 K, 3 BB, 2 R (1 earned), Jozie Buchanan 3 IP, 4 H, 0 K, 0 BB, 2 R (2 earned).