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PAGE 22 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - APRIL 20, 2011
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Softball roundup /from Page 18
zie went 1 for 3 with three RBIs and Lauren Finch went 1 for 2 with two RBIs. Cole, Hoffman, Schweiger and K Casey each had one hit apiece. – Marty Seeger
St. Croix Falls 6, Webster/Siren 3 SIREN – The Saints softball team used a five-run second inning to defeat the hosting Tigons of Webster/Siren on Thursday, April 14, with the Saints staying ahead for a 6-3 conference win. The win was the first of the season for the Saints, who were coming off a big loss to Grantsburg two nights earlier. St. Croix Falls tagged Tigon starter Abby Mitchell for six runs in the contest, but were kept in check for the rest of the game by reliever Siiri Larsen, who struck out six Saints in relief. The Tigon batters managed just four hits off Saints' hurlers Alexis Erickson and Natalie Sempf, who pitched 3 and 4 innings respectively. The Saints had a huge night at the plate by first baseman Stephanie Melin and sec-
Softball from page 15
Turkey, so they will be working on the basics and the fundamentals more than in years past. But Hansford knows the conference is pretty evenly matched, meaning nobody can slide through a game. “We won’t overlook anyone,” she said. The Vikings have several key returning players, including pitcher Cori Schmidt. She’ll be tossing to Vanessa Neumann this season, instead of Alex Lonetti, and Krysta Laqua takes over for an injured Maria Miller at first base. But they have several returning players in Frankie Knuf and outfielders Lauren Domagala and Tara Anderson. Frederic rolled up a strong 14-4 overall record last season, which included an 8-2 mark in conference play. Hansford thinks their strengths will continue to be on the mound, with Schmidt and her supporting cast. “One of our biggest strengths this year should be pitching,” Hansford said, adding that she was “hoping to hit well. We’re working to have a winning season.”
Unity softball The Eagles have a new head coach in Unity alum Chad Stenberg, who has nonetheless been a longtime volunteer youth coach. Stenberg and new assistant coach Deb Grams are hoping the Eagles can be more aggressive at the plate, as well as on the base paths. “I would like us to improve every week and become fundamentally sound,” he said, “so we can make a run in the tournament at the end of the season.” Stenberg thinks everyone they play is a key opponent this year, “We can’t look past one team,” he stressed. “We have to continue to get better every week and look past no one.” The Eagles have four key returning players in seniors Marisa Hacker, Jessica Kutina, Kathryn Zahler and Crystal Donahue. “We have some real good athletes on this team,” he said. “It’s my job to make them good ballplayers. If we come together as a team and do the little things right, I think we will be tough to beat.” Stenberg believes that 90 percent of the game is mental, and he thinks that if the squad can gain the confidence in themselves, they should have no problem competing. “The girls have to believe in the team and themselves,” he said. “Without both, we will struggle. If we get over that hurdle we could be pretty good.” The Eagles finished 4-11 overall last season, and 4-6 in West Lakeland Conference play, and Stenberg admits it remains a tough conference, but like most other coaches, he realizes there are no sure things. “Anyone can be beaten on any given night,” he said. “That’s why they
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ond baseman Jessica Larcom, who each tallied three hits. They also played strong defense and were able to keep the hosting Tigons from tying the contest in the fifth inning, when they scored two runs, but also stranded three players on the third out. St. Croix Falls was able to keep their opponents in check to hold on for the victory, 6-3. – Greg Marsten
Frederic 18, Luck 4 FREDERIC – The Frederic Viking girls took advantage of walks and ran up a big conference win over the rivals Luck Cardinals on Thursday, April 14, winning by an 18-4 margin after a sloppy first few innings for the Cards. While the Cards had their moments, the Vikings had quite a few, and strung them together to lead the whole way. Cori Schmidt earned the victory for the Vikings, and gave up just five hits and two earned runs. She was helped by some stellar field play at times, and the score was aided by a rough couple of innings for the Luck girls to start.
play the game! I think it will be an exciting year for the Unity girls and the coaching staff.” St. Croix Falls softball Now starting her third year as head coach, St. Croix Falls' Stacie Hoff and assistants Anna Parsons and Jen Ellefson are concentrating heavily on their pitching rotation, trying to help their defense by keeping their opponents looking. "Our pitching has been one of our main components," Hoff said. "We've been working very hard on it this spring." Losing eight seniors to graduation definitely is a struggle, but Hoff thinks it's not as bad as it sounds, "I do have four returning starters this year," she said. Hoff and crew are relying heavily on the battery of Natalie Sempf and veteran catcher Alicia Chelberg, who is not only solid behind the plate but a clutch hitter. They are also banking on the glove skills of Jessica Larcom, who she said is "one of our better defensive players." Coming off a 7-14 overall record, with a 4-6 West Lakeland Conference tally, the Saints are hoping to improve and make their mark in the late season, especially with so many early weather postponements. "It's really just exciting to be able to play actual outdoor softball!" Hoff joked, noting how her team was not alone in having very little actual field time before their first games, saying you can only learn so much in the gym. Hoff is happy to get some of her other returning players back, such as Alexis Erickson, who she thinks may be a real break out player. "But really, we lost a lot of players - eight out of our 19 from last year. We'll need to work hard." She thinks the conference will be Grantsburg's to lose and said a surprise squad this year might be Unity, who she said was impressive and "doing very well with their new coach. They're cruising early ... But really, between us, Frederic, and Unity, I think we're going to be pretty evenly matched," she said.
Luck softball New Cardinal head coach Wayne Dickinson moves from three years as the Cards baseball coach to a first year softball coaching. He replaces Ashley Close, who now works at the Webster School District and is an assistant for the combined Webster/Siren program. "We'll try some different things, see what works," Dickinson said, noting that he is not afraid to try some new positions for players, and give more of the squad a chance to play. The Cardinals are coming off a 3-14 overall record last year, with a 3-7 mark in the West
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Frederic’s Lauren Domagala made an amazing catch in right field on an otherwise surefire extra base hit by Luck’s Camille Marsten. – Photo by Greg Marsten
Frederic scored eight runs in the first inning, four more in the second and another 5 runs in the third, while the Cards managed all of their runs in the second inning.
Vikings Lexi Domagala and Kendra Mossey each had two hits, and scored five runs between them in the win.
Lakeland. While they have quite a few returning players, they also have a gaggle of young talent to groom, including several young pitchers to assist ace Maia Lehmann. Luck has only a few upperclassmen this season: Jade Schrock, Morgan Denny and Gena Pearson, the latter two can also expect some innings on the mound. Their roster is full of freshman and sophomores, including ace catcher Avery Steen, who can make an impact with both her glove and her bat. Expect the Cards to work hard on fundamentals and to try several pitchers, including sophomore Jaimee Buck and rookie freshmen hurlers Jillian Klatt and
hard-throwing Abbie Otlo. Like all local teams that don't have a domed stadium, the Cards were hampered by early season Mother Nature cancellations, postponements and the subsequent heavy makeup schedule to follow, a schedule that allows for little down time for injuries or recoveries, which is where having so many pitching arms may be an advantage. But being young, they can also expect to be plagued by walks and a lack of playing time without a true JV program. And this season will go down as the last for the Cards as a stand alone squad, with the program combining with Frederic in 2012.
LEADER SPORTS SCOREBOARD BASEBALL
West Lakeland Standings Team Conf. Overall 2-0 4-0 Grantsburg Pirates St. Croix Falls Saints 2-1 3-2 2-1 1-2 Luck Cardinals Unity Eagles 1-1 2-3 0-2 1-3 Frederic Vikings Siren / Webster 0-2 0-3 Scores Thursday, April 14 Grantsburg 6, Unity 2 Luck 7, Frederic 4 St. Croix Falls 20, Siren/Webster 2 Friday, April 15 Washburn at Luck (postponed) Spooner 24, Siren/Webster 4 St. Croix Central at St. Croix Falls (postponed) Monday, April 18 Unity 6, Luck 5 Grantsburg 5, Hayward 4 Tuesday, April 19 St. Croix Central 20, Luck 2 Unity 10, Shell Lake 5 St. Croix Falls 4, Frederic 3 Upcoming - (Subject to change) Thursday, April 21 5 p.m. Frederic at Grantsburg Luck at St. Croix Falls Monday, April 25 3:30 p.m. Luck at Grantsburg (doubleheader) Unity at St. Croix Falls Tuesday, April 26 4:30 p.m. Grantsburg at Pine City Frederic at Webster Thursday, April 28 5 p.m. Unity at Cameron Webster at Frederic Grantsburg at Northwood Shell Lake at St. Croix Falls
TRACK & FIELD
Upcoming - (Subject to change) Thursday, April 21 4:15 p.m. Meet at Somerset (Luck) Tuesday, April 26 4:30 p.m. Meet at Frederic High School (Frederic, Grantsburg, Luck, Siren, St. Croix Falls, Unity, Webster) Thursday, April 28 4:15 p.m. Meet at St. Croix Falls (St. Croix Falls, Unity, Webster, Siren, Luck)
GOLF
Upcoming - (Subject to change) Tuesday, April 26 4 p.m. Meet at St. Croix Valley Golf Course
(Frederic, Grantsburg, Luck, St. Croix Falls, Siren, Unity, Webster)
Wednesday, April 27 9 a.m. Meet at Barron (Grantsburg and Luck) Thursday, April 28 4 p.m. Meet at Frederic
(Frederic, Grantsburg, Luck, St. Croix Falls, Siren, Unity, Webster)
SOFTBALL
West Lakeland Standings Team Conf. Overall Grantsburg Pirates 2-0 4-0 Unity Eagles 3-1 3-1 Frederic Vikings 2-1 3-1 St. Croix Falls Saints 1-3 1-3 Luck Cardinals 1-2 1-4 Webster / Siren 0-2 0-3 Scores Thursday, April 14 Grantsburg 11, Unity 1 Frederic 18, Luck 4 St. Croix Falls 6, Webster/Siren 3 Friday, April 15 Grantsburg 11, New Richmond 1 Saturday, April 16 Unity at Osceola (postponed) Hayward at Grantsburg (postponed) Monday, April 18 Turtle Lake/Clayton 12, Luck 6 Unity 9, St. Croix Falls 6 Tuesday, April 19 Frederic 18, St. Croix Falls 12 Unity 23, Luck 2 Upcoming - (Subject to change) Thursday, April 21 5 p.m. Frederic at Grantsburg Luck at St. Croix Falls Monday, April 25 3:30 p.m. Grantsburg at Luck (doubleheader) Tuesday, April 26 4:30 p.m. Grantsburg at Pine City 5 p.m. Bruce at Luck Unity at St. Croix Falls Frederic at Webster Thursday, April 28 5 p.m. Webster/Siren at Frederic Grantsburg at Northwood Shell Lake at St. Croix Falls 5:30 p.m Cameron at Luck
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