Raiders stay unbeaten by putting ball in play
MEDFORD SOFTBALL
Putting the ball in play can be a challenge when facing Lakeland standout sophomore pitcher Saylor Timmerman, but it was the difference in Medford’s 4-1 softball win over the Thunderbirds Thursday afternoon.
After Lakeland freshman Mackenzie Awker tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the sixth inning with a solo homer off Medford ace Martha Miller, the Raiders won it in the bottom half on a bases-clearing, three-base error with two outs to remain undefeated at 14-0 overall and 7-0 in the Great Northern Conference.
The rally started with one out when Zayleah Leonhardt got a ground ball to sneak past the second baseman for a single. A tapper to third by Eryka Seidl was thrown away, allowing pinch runner Addison Brahmer to get to third base. Seidl moved to second on a passed ball and Rylee Hraby walked on five pitches to load the bases.
Timmerman got Huegli to pop out on the infield to give Lakeland a chance to get out of the jam. But the T-Birds dropped Victoria Konieczny’s fly ball to right, allowing all three runners to score.
From there, Miller worked around a leadoff single by Karlin Williams in the top of the seventh to seal the win.
Miller struck out 10 T-Birds, walked none and scattered five hits. Timmerman struck out 11 in her toughluck loss and the walk to Hraby in the sixth was the only one she allowed. Medford had five batters get a hit apiece.
Medford broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth. Huegli poked a base hit to right and went all the way to third on a wild pitch. She scored on another wild pitch. The Raiders threatened to break it open with Konieczny lining a single to right, Madisyn Pilgrim reaching on a fielder’s choice where Lakeland did not get the out at second and Miller reaching on an error on a bunt. That loaded the bases for Finley Arndt.
Arndt’s bunt attempt was popped up. Third baseman Moriah Louis ran in and deflected it. The ball went right to Timmerman for the catch. Medford’s runners had taken off on the deflection and were doubled off second and third for a rally-killing triple play. Awker’s homer led off the sixth and temporarily put momentum into Lakeland’s hands.
Before the fifth, scoring chances were minimal against the ace pitchers. Lakeland left one runner on base in the first and third innings. Medford stranded one in the first, second and fourth innings. Timmerman struck out four batters in the fourth with one, Allie Paulson, reaching on a third-strike passed ball. Lakeland put two runners on after Awker’s homer in the sixth with Ali Timmerman reaching on a dropped third strike and Saylor Timmerman singling. But a strikeout and a groundout got Medford out of the inning.
Lakeland could’ve climbed into conference contention with a win, but the T-Birds instead slipped to 2-3.
Medford’s Monday rematch with Mosinee was postponed due to wintry weather and has been rescheduled for Wednesday, May 10. The Raiders are at Tomahawk today, Thursday, for a 5 p.m. first pitch, and go to Lakeland for that rematch Friday at 5:30 p.m. The Raiders are at Northland Pines May 11 and then go to Antigo on May 12 for a huge rematch with the Red Robins, who Medford narrowly beat 3-2 on April 13. That game at Antigo was changed from its original date of May 9 and will start at 4:30 p.m.
