EM softball nips Durand-Arkansaw in playoff opener, loses to Prescott

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Elk Mound’s run in the 2023 WIAA Division 3 softball playoffs lasted just two games.

While errors plagued the Lady Mounders in both of its regional contests last week, they were able to overcome their faux pas in a home win over Durand-Arkansaw but not against a tough Prescott squad on the road a few days later.

Despite committing four errors, Elk Mound was able to withstand a seventh-inning comeback by Durand-Arkansaw, who had seven errors of its own, thanks, in part, to a three-run home run by Lauren Garnett to post a tight 5-4 win in the Tuesday, May 23 regional semifinal game played on the Mounders’ home field.

It was the Mounders’ third win over the Panthers this season. 

Unfortunately, two days later in Prescott, Elk Mound committed another half dozen fielding errors and collected just two hits and a single run in a season-ending 8-1 loss to the Cardinals in the regional championship.

Prescott, 20-5, advanced to face Baldwin-Woodville, who it shared the Middle Border Conference title with this year, in a sectional semifinal showdown on Tuesday while Elk Mound finished the 2023 softball campaign with a 13-4 record.

Durand-Arkansaw

In a game that featured nearly as many errors (11) as hits (13), Elk Mound was able to hold off a late rally by visiting Durand-Arkansaw to escape with a 5-4 win in a Division 3 regional semifinal softball game played Tuesday, May 23.

Elk Mound broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the third inning when Lauren Garnett launched a Panther pitch over the center-feild fence with a pair of runners on the bases for a sudden 3-0 advantage.

Durand-Arkansaw took a run back in the top half of the next inning to make it 3-1.

Then, in their half of the sixth, Elk Mound scored what turned out to be a pair of game-winning runs.

The Panthers threw a scare into the Mounders when they plated three runs in their final at bat in the top of the seventh before Elk Mound pitcher Hailey Meyer finally retired the side to end the contest.

Garnett had an outstanding game at the plate as she collected three of Elk Mounds’ six hits highlighted by her third-inning, three-run dinger. Jaidynn Sarauer had a double and Alexa Severson and Alexis Joachim each had a single to account for the Mounders other three hits.

Meyer, who was in the throwing circle for all seven innings, got the victory as she allowed four runs on seven hits, struck out seven Panther batters and did not issue a walk.

Prescott

The Mounders knew they had their hands full when they traveled to Prescott Thursday, May 25 for the regional championship game against the Cardinals, co-champs of the Middle Border Conference and winners in 19 of their 24 contests this season.

Third-seeded Elk Mound needed a near flawless performance from its defense and some firepower from the offense if it was going to knock off Prescott, the second seed.

Unfortunately, the Mounders got neither.

After committing four errors in a one-run, home win over Durand-Arkansaw two days earlier, Elk Mound had six against the Cardinals with just two hits in an 8-1 loss in Prescott.

Elisabeth Beskow had a double and scored Elk Mound’s only run while Lauren Garnett, the heroine of Tuesday’s win, singled for the team’s other hit.

Haily Meyer once again threw a complete game but took the loss this time around as she allowed eight runs on ten hits with three strikeouts and a pair of walks in seven innings inside the throwing circle.