Raiders down ‘Cats in playoffs
By Casey Krautkramer
Marathon varsity sophomore pitcher Allison Podjaski struck out 14 Edgar batters while only surrendering one hit and no walks in the Red Raiders’ 10-0 home win in five innings during Tuesday’s WIAA Division 4 regional semifinal. Edgar junior centerfielder Brandi Halvorsen was the only player who could muster a hit against Podjaski, meanwhile, four different Marathon players smashed home runs against the Wildcats pitching.
Red Raiders freshman right fielder Brinly Stencil and junior catcher Danica Staus each hit solo home runs in the first inning off Wildcats senior Lucy Kolodziej who was the losing pitcher. Edgar pitchers Kolodziej and sophomore Jorja Knetter gave up five earned runs apiece.
Staus nearly hit for the cycle against Edgar. Besides her solo home run in the first inning, she also had a RBI double in the third inning and a single in the fifth inning. Staus also stole home in Marathon’s five-run third inning highlighted by junior centerfielder Mylee Haehlke’s three-run homer.
Marathon scored three more runs in the fifth inning on sophomore third baseman Ripley Skrzypchak’s RBI double and Podjaski’s two-run homer. The Red Raiders improve their overall record to 15-8 this season. Marathon advances to play at Division 4 No. 1 ranked Stevens Point Pacelli (24-1) at 5 p.m. this Thursday, May 29, in the WIAA Division 4 regional championship. The Cardinals’ only loss this season was 3-2 to the D.C. Everest Evergreens (22-2).
Pacelli moved up to Division 4 this season because of the WIAA’s performance factor after the Cardinals won back-toback Division 5 state championships. Marathon High School math teacher Bob Tess has two daughters, Ava and Ella, on Pacelli’s softball team.
Pankratz no hits Hornets
Stratford senior Laney Pankratz struck out four Cadott batters while not giving up any hits and only one walk in the Tigers’ 12-0 home win in five innings during Tuesday’s WIAA Division 4 regional semifinal. Stratford’s offense, meanwhile, collected 13 hits against Cadott. The Hornets committed five errors compared to none for the Tigers.
Laney Pankratz’s younger sister, sophomore centerfielder Carly Pankratz, batted a perfect three for three in the leadoff spot with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored. Carly Pankratz singled in both the first and third innings and she tripled in the fourth inning.
Stratford scored a run in the first inning on a Cadott error. Tigers junior left fielder Gracie Krummel’s RBI double in the second inning made the score 2-0.
The Tigers scored six runs on five hits in the third inning. Junior first baseman Tria Tubb had an RBI double, a Cadott error scored a run, the Cadott catcher’s dropped third strike scored a run, Krummel had a RBI single while Carly and Laney Pankratz each had RBI singles.
Stratford senior Abbigail Lewerenz and Krummel each drove in two runs. The Tigers improve their overall record to 18-7 this season. No. 1 playoff seed Stratford now plays against No. 4 seed Chippewa Falls McDonell (14-8) in the WIAA Division 4 regional championship at 5 p.m. this Thursday, May 29, at Hilgemann Field.
Tigers down Royals
Stratford’s softball team beat Wisconsin Rapids Assumption, 6-1, in Thursday’s road game to help Auburnale win back-toback outright Marawood South Conference championships. Tubbs earned the pitching win for Stratford by only allowing four hits and one run in seven innings while striking out eight batters and walking three. Tubbs also led the Tigers in hitting by going two for three with a walk and two RBIs.
Bluejays win playoff game
Athens senior catcher Abby Diethelm batted a perfect three for three with three RBIs and a run scored to help the No. 5 WIAA Division 5 playoff seed Bluejays beat the No. 4 Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran Lancers, 9-3, in Tuesday’s road game. Diethelm singled in the fourth inning, tripled in the fifth inning and doubled in the sixth inning of the regional semifinal at Carson Park in Eau Claire.
The Bluejays took a 3-1 lead in the fourth inning on freshman Jaelin
See REGIONAL SOFTBALL/ page 22
PODJASKI STYMIES EDGAR’S OFFENSE- Marathon sophomore Allison Podjaski (15) delivers a pitch in the team’s 6-0 road loss to Medford last Thursday. Podjaski rebounded from the defeat to only allow one hit and no walks in Tuesday’s 10-0 home win gainst Edgar in the WIAA Division 4 regional semifinal. Pictured behind Podjaski in the Medford game is Marathon sophomore shortstop Mayven Schneider (14) and freshman left fielder Rehgan Martin.
SN PHOTO/MATT FREY
CLUTCH PLAYER- Red Raiders junior centerfielder Mylee Haehlke catches a fourth-inning line drive against Medford on Thursday. Haehlke belted a three-run homer in the third inning of Marathon’s 10-0 home playoff win against Edgar on Tuesday.
SN PHOTO/MATT FREY SPORTS
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Switlick’s three RBI double. Athens tallied 13 hits in the game. Senior centerfielder Danica Diethelm, senior first baseman Kyana Janda and sophomore second baseman Autumn Diethelm each collected multiple hits for Athens.
Switlick earned the pitching win. She allowed five hits and three runs in seven inning along with three strikeouts and three walks.
Athens improves its overall record to 7-12 this season and now plays at No. 1 seed Thorp (15-9) in the WIAA Division 5 regional championship at 5 p.m. this Thursday, May 29.
