Critics silenced, as Knights sneak past the Hilltoppers
By Ginna Young
It was a couple of action-packed days for the Cornell-Lake Holcombe softball program, as they ended their regular season, then faced off with the first challenge of the post-season.
May 21 vs. Flambeau conference (L 12-2)
The Knights played host to Flambeau, in the final game of the season, but offense was at a premium for the home team, while the Falcons racked up runs throughout the match. At the close of the game, Flambeau walked away the victor, 12-2.
That left the Knights’ overall record at 8-9 and 7-5 in the East Lakeland Conference.
“Flambeau hit the ball really well and we couldn’t string anything together offensively,” said coach Andy Lorenzen.
Senior Candice Spaeth was on the mound for the Knights, going five innings, allowing 11 hits, 12 runs and striking out 4.
Coming up with 2 hits each for the Knights, were Spaeth and senior Richelle Raether, while seniors Alyssa Bowe and Izzy Schwingle, and sophomore Kyleigh Mercer all had a hit.
May 22 vs. Glenwood City Regional (W 14-12)
With no time to rest, the No. 10 Knights were off to No. 7 Glenwood City, for the first round of Regional action.
“The girls fell into their roles at the plate, had great approaches and our hitters hit, driving in runs,” said Lorenzen.
The Knights got out on the board quickly, driving in six runs in the first inning, but the Hilltoppers answered back with five of their own in their side of the inning. The Knights added another run in the second inning, but Glenwood City tied it up, 7-7, with two runs in the bottom of the second inning.
Glenwood City went on to bring in a lone run in the third inning, to take a one-run lead, but the Knights tied it up again, with a run in the fourth inning. Neither team scored in the fifth inning, but the Knights saw a run cross the plate in the sixth.
With a 9-8 lead going into the seventh inning, the Knights were determined to add to that lead and knocked in five more runs. The Hilltoppers weren’t going down without a fight and had four runs cross the plate, but it wasn’t enough and the Knights held on, to claim a 14-12 win, advancing them onto the second round of Regionals, May 27, at No. 2 Colfax.
“I am very proud of our girls, for how they played last night,” said Lorenzen. “It wasn’t perfect, but we had key timely hits by everyone on the team.”
Spaeth was again at the helm, lasting all seven innings, giving up 14 hits, 12 runs, 4 walks and punching out 3 batters.
Offensively, junior Faith Heinzen and sophomore Chloe Irwin had 3 hits, while Bowe, Raether, Spaeth, senior Bralee Schroeder and Michelle Butler all had a hit.
“What an ecstatic feeling,” said Lorenzen. “Everyone played us off at the seeding meeting, even though we were 7-8 at the time. There were one-win and three-win teams that were seeded higher than us, because we play in the East Lakeland Conference. Well, we showed them last night.”
