C/A can’t keep pace with top of Cloverbelt-East

By Nathaniel Underwood

A gauntlet of tough conference foes posed problems for the Colby/Abbotsford softball team as they faced off against the top squads in the Cloverbelt-East over the past week. In a trio of contests against Columbus Catholic, Gilman and Neillsville, the co-op went 0-3 and was outscored 58-7.

Columbus Catholic, 17-1

The Colby/Abby defense was able to hold back the Cloverbelt-East leading Columbus Catholic for the first three innings of their conference matchup on Monday afternoon, but the visiting Dons offense put together a four-run fourth and an eight-run fifth to deal the co-op a 17-1 defeat.

The Columbus lineup gained traction as the game progressed. After pitcher Tatum Bargender and the Colby/Abby defense were able to hold the Dons scoreless in the first inning, the visitors used a pair of walks, three stolen bases, and an error to eke across a pair of runs in the second. It only took Columbus two hits to drive in three runs in the third, but once again Colby/ Abby held, not allowing the situation to get too out of hand.

However, a trio of singles, a double and two errors in the fourth broke things open for the Dons. The more consistent offensive production for the visitors nearly doubled their run total, giving them firm control over the contest with a 9-0 lead.

A leadoff single for Bargender in the bottom half of the frame followed by another single from Audrey Fleischmann gave the co-op runners on second and third with one out. Ella Schreiber then plated Bargender, delivering the third Colby/ Abby single of the inning to get the coop on the board.

The rally ended there, however, and the Dons closed out the game in the fifth. The first seven batters were able to reach safely for Columbus as they went on to pull away for a 17-1 victory.

Bargender, Fleischmann and Schreiber all finished 1-for-2 from the plate.

Gilman, 24-5

After trading blows early, the Gilman Pirates quickly gained the upper hand over the co-op in their Cloverbelt-East conference game last Thursday. A 12-run fourth for the Pirates put the game on ice, leading to a 24-5 defeat for Colby/Abby.

Fielding miscues hindered the co-op defensive efforts as nine errors allowed nine runs to come around to score. The Pirates were able to capitalize upon those mistakes, collecting 14 hits, six of which went for extra bases including two home runs, and drawing nine walks over the four innings of play. While Colby/Abby was able to put together some decent offense themselves, putting up five runs on six hits and three walks, they could not keep up with the firepower of their Cloverbelt conference rivals.

The Pirates notched a trio of runs in the first, but Colby/Abby was able to answer immediately. Singles by Nevaeh Treankler and Tatum Bargender and a walk drawn by Kierslyn Orth set up the table for Audrey Fleischmann, who delivered with a twoout single to drive in a pair of runs. Ella Schreiber then connected for another single to knot the game at 3-3.

Walks and errors issued by the co-op allowed the Pirates to retake the lead in the second, pushing across three runs without a hit. A solo home run to center field by Gilman’s Abby Chaplinski capped a fourrun effort for the Pirates in the inning. A similar story played out in the third as the first three Gilman batters reached without a hit before a double and a single later in the frame allowed the Pirates to take a 123 advantage.

A groundout from Fleischmann and a single courtesy of Schreiber drove in Bargender and Orth in the bottom of the third, but a monster inning for the Pirates ended any hopes of a rally from the co-op. Gilman had their first eight batters reach safely to start the fourth and Chaplinski

See CLOVERBELT GAUNTLET/ Page 17

ENTERING THE WIND UP - Tatum Bargender preps to deliver to home plate during last Thursday’s game against Gilman.

STAFF PHOTO/MATT FREY

MAKING CONTACT - Audrey Fleischmann, left, and Lucia Perez, right, collect a pair of hits during Colby/Abby’s Cloverbelt-East matchup against the Pirates last week. Fleischmann collected a pair of RBIs with her hit in the first inning, the sophomore driving in three of the co-op’s five runs over the course of the contest.

STAFF PHOTO/MATT FREY Cloverbelt gauntlet

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launched her second home run of the contest, this time a three-run bomb to left. In all, the Pirates had eight hits and two walks in the inning and were aided by four errors committed by Colby/Abby, leading to a game-sealing 12run inning.

Bargender pitched all four innings for Colby/Abby. Of the 24 runs surrendered, 13 were earned. She struck out two batters and walked nine.

Schreiber went 2-for-2 from the plate with a pair of RBIs while Fleischmann drove in three runs. Bargender, Treankler, and Lucia Perez also had hits and Bargender and Orth both scored twice.

Neillsville, 17-1

The co-op traveled to Neillsville last Tuesday for a Cloverbelt-East matchup. The hometown Warriors proved a difficult opponent, holding Colby/Abby to just two hits while racking up double-digit runs in their 17-1 victory.

While the co-op was able to hold their foes relatively in check over the first two frames of the contest, giving up three runs in the first and two in the second, the Warriors offense broke open the game in the third by doubling their run total.

The big inning for the home team was not buoyed so much by the bats as it was their patience at the plate and aggressive baserunning. Neillsville needed only one hit to put up five runs in the third, drawing four walks and taking advantage of two hit-by-pitches to set up their six stolen bases in the inning.

A leadoff double from Nevaeh Treankler in the fourth gave Colby/Abby their first hit of the afternoon. The visitors were able to take advantage of that production as Treankler eventually came around to score on a wild pitch by the Warriors. Kierslyn Orth added a single later in the inning but was left stranded at second base.

The single run would be all the co-op could manage the rest of the way, however, as a four-hit, four-walk bottom of the fourth for the Warriors brought in seven runs and put the game out of reach.

Tatum Bargender started the game on the mound for the co-op, giving up 10 runs, nine of which were earned, on six walks and five hits. She also struck out one. Ella Schreiber came on to finish the game, going one inning and giving up seven runs on four hits and four walks.