Mounder softball shut out in regional opener
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ARCADIA — On paper it looked to be a good match-up when fifth-seeded Elk Mound visited fourth-seed Arcadia last Wednesday, May 22 for a WIAA Division 3 regional softball semifinal.
The tournament opener for both squads, which had to be delayed a day due to heavy rains, turned out to be just that – a good close contest.
Unfortunately, the Mounders struggled offensively and saw their 2024 campaign come to an abrupt end as they were blanked by the Lady Raiders 3-0.
Elk Mound finished with a 11-9 record. Arcadia (13-7), the second-place finisher in the Coulee Conference, lost 6-1 in the following day’s regional final to top-seed Prescott (17-8), the Middle Border Conference runner-up.
The regional semifinal contest was scoreless through the first three innings of play.
Arcadia broke the deadlock in the bottom of the fourth frame when the Raiders pushed a pair of runs home following back-to-back hits including an RBI double.
The Raiders increased their advantage to 3-0 with a run in the sixth with consecutive doubles.
Elk Mound managed just three hits in the contest. A game-opening single by junior Ellie Schiszik in the top of the first and base hits by junior Jaidynn Sarauer and sophomore Autumn Moquin in the sixth. The Mounders, however, were not able to turn any of those opportunities into runs.
Kiley Fitzpatrick, Arcadia’s sophomore pitcher, picked up the victory. She struck out just four batters, but got the Mounders to ground or fly out 14 times.
Junior Hailey Meyer went the distance for Elk Mound in the throwing circle. Despite giving up only three runs on five hits and striking out eight, Meyer suffered the loss.
The future does look bright for the Mounders who will return their entire starting roster next season.