‘Cats down Cards, lose to Tigers

By Casey Krautkramer

Edgar senior right fielder Grasci Yonker has provided the pop in her bat this season that the Wildcats needed in their hitting lineup. Sophomore second baseman Jorja Knetter and sophomore shortstop Isabella Kaiser got on base to begin the first inning against Newman Catholic on Friday, setting up Yonker’s three-run homer. The Wildcats scored five runs in the first inning and 10 runs in the second for a 17-2 home win in three innings against the Cardinals.

Yonker was primarily on Edgar’s junior varsity squad last season before receiving a few plate appearances toward the end of the spring on the varsity team. She has belted a team-leading four home runs this season.

“Just being able to put the ball in play I feel is very important because it helps out the team tremendously,” she said.

Edgar head coach Kevin Brown is pleased with Yonker’s progression at hitting the softball this season.

“She’s got a lot more confidence and she’s become a lot more coachable about correcting the weaknesses she had in her swing,” he said. “She has listened and done what she needs to do while also putting in the time and work and you can see the benefits of it. She brings something to our team that we need in the middle of the batting order which is a big bat that any time she comes up to the plate she can hit the ball out of the park.”

Yonker batted one for two with three RBIs and two runs scored in the big win against Newman Catholic. Junior centerfielder Brandi Halverson was three for three with two RBIs and two runs scored. Knetter hit two for two with a walk, two RBIS and two runs scored. Kaiser walked twice and scored three runs. Junior first baseman Ella Baumgartner batted two for two with a walk, two RBIs and two runs scored.

Edgar senior Lucy Kolodzeij was the winning pitcher. She struck out five Cardinals batters while only giving up one hit, four walks and two runs in three innings.

Tigers softball beats ‘Cats

Stratford’s varsity softball team downed Edgar, 8-3, on Tuesday at home. Knetter’s RBI single gave Edgar a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Stratford scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning on sophomore centerfielder Carly Pankratz’s solo home run. Junior shortstop Gracie Schmidt had a two-RBI single and junior left fielder Gracie Krummel’s RBI groundout gave the Tigers a 4-1 lead.

Alyson Kolano hit a solo home run in the top of the second inning for the Wildcats. Stratford scored two runs in the bottom of the third inning on senior catcher Emma Roeper’s RBI double and Schmidt’s RBI single. Stratford junior first baseman Tria Tubbs belted a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Tigers senior Laney Pankratz earned the complete game pitching win. She struck out nine Wildcats batters while giving up six hits, one walk and three earned runs of which two of them were earned. Knetter pitched the first four innings and was charged with the loss.

Stratford improves its overall record to 11-5 this season while Edgar falls to 9-4. The two teams play each other in Edgar at 4:45 p.m. this Thursday, May 8.

Schuett tosses no hitter

Edgar senior pitcher Leyton Schuett threw a no hitter on Friday in the team’s 13-0 home win in five innings against Newman Catholic.

The Wildcats received great production from the top and middle of their batting order against the Cardinals. Edgar senior second baseman Lucas Stahnke hit two for four with a double and two runs scored. Senior shortstop Jase Apfelbeck was one for four with two RBIs and two runs scored. Senior centerfielder Dakota Ellenbecker batted one for two with an RBI and four runs scored.

Edgar sophomore third baseman Sawyer Weiland hit two for three with an RBI and a run scored. Junior catcher Gavin Mauer was one for four with an RBI and run scored. Senior first baseman Fletcher Weiland batted two for three with three RBIs.

Tigers no hit Wildcats

Stratford’s varsity baseball team beat Edgar, 2-0, on Tuesday at home. Tigers junior starting pitcher Drew Gage and junior reliever Brady Berg combined on a no hitter. Gage struck out six Edgar batters while not giving up a hit and only walking three batters in his six innings on the mound. Berg struck out two batters while not surrendering a hit and walking one hitter during his inning of relief.

Apfelbeck was the losing pitcher despite striking out five batters and only giving up five hits, two walks and two earned runs in six innings.

Stratford senior centerfielder Jack Tubbs, junior shortstop Riley Spindler, junior first baseman Jaegar Ormond, junior left fielder Jack Remus and freshman right fielder Matthew Schoenfuss collected one hit apiece. Gage and Ormond had one RBI each.

The Tigers improve their record to 8-2 overall this season while the Wildcats sit at 10-4. The two teams will tangle again at 4:45 p.m. this Thursday, May 8, in Edgar.

SCORING IN HUGE SECOND INNING- Edgar senior third baseman Alyson Kolano rounds third base to score on junior first baseman Ella Baumgartner’s RBI single in the bottom of the second inning to give the Wildcats an 11-2 lead. Edgar scored 10 runs in the second inning for a 15-0 advantage. STAFF PHOTO/CASEY KRAUTKRAMER

Grasci Yonker