GILMAN SOFTBALL - Pirates have no trouble with Blackhawks to close out conference play

GILMAN SOFTBALL

The Gilman Pirates took care of business before Thursday’s storms rolled in, defeating winless Owen-Withee 19-2 in four innings to wrap up Eastern Cloverbelt Conference.

The Pirates scored eight runs in each of the first two innings to build a 16-1 lead. Owen-Withee got a run in the third to extend the game one more inning before Gilman ended it via the 15-run rule in the fourth.

With the win, Gilman clinched third place in the conference at 7-5. The Pirates are 11-9 overall heading into their regular-season finale today, Thursday, at Phillips.

Gilman’s first-inning offense included six walks, a hit batter and and Owen-Withee error that allowed two runs to score. Kayleigh James and Kenlyn Kroeplin had hits in their second at-bats of the inning.

Leading 8-1, Gilman head coach Brian Phelps already began substituting in the second and the reserves helped produce another big inning. Olivia Szemraj drew a leadoff walk and was tripled in by Reece Weir. Alison Krizan and Mylie Stephens drew bases-loaded walks. Weir’s second hit of the inning drove in a run and the last run scored on an error on a ball hit by Paige Daley.

Stephens was hit by a pitch in the fourth and scored on Szemraj’s triple. Errors on balls put in play by Weir and Lila Altamirano closed the scoring.

Scarlett Stuner pitched the first inning getting three strikeouts while allowing an unearned run and a hit. Norah Noonan struck out six over the final three innings. She allowed two walks, a hit batter and an unearned run.

Gilman had games with Clayton-Turtle Lake and Colfax canceled during the week. The Pirates drew the third seed in their half of the sectional bracket and will host sixth-seeded Prairie Farm Tuesday in a regional semifinal. The winner is likely to visit second-seeded Rib Lake for the regional final on May 29.