Tigers remain tied for first place

Stratford keeps pace with Edgar

Stratford’s baseball team remains gridlocked with Edgar for first place in the Marawood South Conference this season, following the Tigers’ 3-0 road win against the Marathon Red Raiders on Tuesday.

The Tigers and Wildcats split the regular- season series, which accounts for each team’s lone conference loss. Stratford also beat Abbotsford/Colby, 4-1, on the road Monday. Junior Dillon Kirsch pitched the first six innings to earn the win and junior Cam Daul pitched the final inning to get the save. Dillon Kirsch struck out seven Abbotsford/Colby batters while only surrendering three hits and one walk.

Senior Riley Bauman led Stratford by hitting three for four with two singles and a double, a walk, an RBI and a run scored. Senior Kale Weisenberger walked three times in the victory.

Stratford has a 12-1 overall record this season, while Edgar is 10-2 after a 1-0 non-conference road loss to Mosinee on Monday.

Edgar junior Ashton Schuett was charged with the complete-game pitching loss, even though he only surrendered one run in six innings. He gave up four hits and six walks, while striking out three batters. Senior catcher Kyle Brewster led the Wildcats by hitting two for three with a walk. Senior centerfielder Drew Guden batted two for four and junior Jordan Bunkelman hit a triple in the loss.

The Athens baseball team’s home game against Chequamegon on Mon- day was suspended because of stormy weather, with the Bluejays leading the Screaming Eagles, 6-0. The game will be finished this Thursday, May 27, after the first game concludes in Park Falls.

Athens nipped Spencer, 4-3, in a nonconference road game on Monday. Connor Sheahan earned the pitching win for the Bluejays. Dayne Diethelm, Brooks Kraus, Kody Lepak and Cobie Ellenbecker collected one RBI each in the win.

The Bluejays crushed the Phillips Loggers, 18-4, win five innings at home on Thursday. Junior Cooper Diedrich earned the complete-game pitching win. Kyler Ellenbecker batted two for two with a walk, three RBIs and three runs scored. Dayne Diethelm hit two for three with a walk, two RBIs and four runs scored.

Jake Denzine batted two for two with a walk, two RBIs and two runs scored in the victory against the Rockets. Kody Lepak hit one for three with three RBIs and two runs scored. Connor Sheahan batted two for three with three RBIs and one run scored, while Brooks Kraus was one for three with a walk and two RBIs.

Athens improves its record to 9-4 overall this season. The Bluejays currently have a 5-1 record and are tied atop the Marawood North Conference standings.

Athens softball on a roll

The Athens softball team has impressive recent home wins against Division 3 No. 7 ranked Phillips and Edgar, the day after the Wildcats beat Wisconsin Rapids Assumption, the No. 1 ranked squad in Division 4.

Athens remains in the hunt for the Marawood North Conference championship this season after its 7-6 win against Phillips on Thursday. Athens has a 4-1 North record and Phillips is 6-1 with having played two more conference games than Athens.

Siarra Hart earned the pitching win against Phillips. Elle Gauerke led Athens in batting by going three for four with three RBIs and one run scored. Grace Johnson hit two for four with an RBI and two runs scored. Sophia Coker batted two for three with two runs scored. Shauna Belter hit one for four with a pair of RBIs, while Addison Lavicka was one for three with a pair of runs scored.

Athens then beat Edgar, 7-3, on Friday as Siarra Hart yet again earned the pitching win. Sophia Coker batted a perfect three for three at the plate with an RBI and two runs scored, while Hart hit one for three with three RBIs. Karlin Lipinski led Edgar by hitting three for three with a run scored, while Morgan Streveler was one for three with two RBIs.

Athens head softball coach Craig Diedrich is happy to see his team enjoying its recent success.

“These two wins prove the 2021 Bluejays softball team has what it takes to beat very good teams,” he said. “The Bluejay softball team has made great improvements from its first game this season until now. I pray we continue to improve every game.”

The Bluejays finished their three-game home winning streak with a 15-0 victory against Chequamegon on Tuesday. Siarra Hart pitched a perfect game in three innings by not giving up any hits and striking out six batters. Elle Gauerke batted two for three with a walk, two RBIs and three runs scored. Grace Johnson hit two for three with an RBI and two runs scored. Shauna Belter batted one for two with a walk, three RBIs and two runs scored. Hart hit two for three with a pair of RBIs and a run scored. Athens improves its overall record to 9-7 this season.

Edgar upset No. 1 ranked Assumption, 4-3, on the road Thursday as freshman Makayla Wirkus earned the completegame pitching win. She struck out 11 Royals while only giving up five hits, six walks and one earned run. Wirkus also batted three for three with a walk and two runs scored. Reagan Borchardt hit two for three with three RBIs in the victory.

Wildcats head coach Angela Totzke said it was a huge win for her high school softball program.

“I am incredibly proud of these girls,” she said. “We have been talking all season about being comfortable in uncomfortable situations, and against Assumption we found ourselves in several uncomfortable situations and made great plays. Softball is a team sport and against Assumption showed you never know when it will be your turn to step up. We had several girls step up and make great plays for us against Assumption. Again, I am just so proud of our performance and execution in beating Assumption.”

Edgar currently has a 4-2 record in the Marawood South Conference and the team is 10-4 overall this season.

Marathon’s softball team has lost three straight games since Thursday. Marathon fell, 9-2, in a road game against Auburndale on Thursday as senior Lyndsay Pintor suffered the pitching defeat. Junior centerfielder Jada Prihoda batted two for four with a double and a run scored. Junior Allison Wokatsch and Pintor both doubled and had an RBI.

Red Raider seniors Pintor and Andrea Seymour, and freshman Bridget Salber each smacked home runs in a 10-8 home loss to Neillsville on Monday. Junior Kayla Radtke took the pitching loss for Marathon.

Marathon was edged by Stratford, 2-1, on Tuesday in a game shortened in the sixth inning because of rain. Andrea Seymour took the complete-game pitching loss even though she struck out nine Tiger batters. Bridget Salber doubled for the Red Raiders, who fall to 3-5 in the Marawood South Conference and 6-10 overall this season.

LEAPING CATCH- Marathon junior centerfielder Jada Prihoda grabs an over-theshoulder catch on the first ball hit by an Auburndale player in Thursday’s game. Her younger sister, sophomore Cali Prihoda, is Marathon’s rightfielder.STAFF PHOTO/CASEY KRAUTKRAMER