WWIB/WOGO Podcasts
WWIB/WOGO Podcasts
In their conference finale, the Lady Cards (17-7, 13-1 Big Rivers Conference) surrendered two leads to the young and talented Huskies (12-11, 5-9 BRC), who twice came back to tie, but Chi-Hi scored a late run in the 6th and shut the door in the 7th to garner the win and season sweep.
Senior pitcher Willa Risinger capped off the win with two strong innings of relief. Junior third baseman McKenna Benish went 3-for-3 on the night, while junior DP Laney Henkelmann and senior catcher Lauren Shepherd each picked up a pair of hits, with Henkelmann driving in two and Shepherd bringing in the winning run.
Some clutch hitting in the 6th and stellar defense in the bottom of the 7th, combined with the 10-strikeout pitching of Willa Risinger, propelled the Chippewa Falls(16-7, 12-1) to a 4-1 win over Eau Claire North(9-9, 5-7) and their 19th Big Rivers conference championship in the past 27 years.
Chippewa Valley This Week
Kimberly(15-7) rode a game-winning HR from UW-commit, Sophie Hermus, to a 2-0 win over Chippewa Falls(14-7) in the first game of the day, despite a great pitching performance from the Cards' UW-Eau Claire commit, Willa Risinger.
In game two Delaney Bero two-hit Watertown(11-8) and the Cards(15-7) rode Gracie Amundson's 2nd-inning RBI single to a 2-0 win of their own.
In a winner-take-all battle for the conference crown, the Lady Macks (15-6-1, 12-2 Western Cloverbelt Conference) grabbed two runs early against the Orioles (16-1, 13-1 WCC), but struggled to garner base runners during the remainder of the contest.
Stanley-Boyd broke through with a 5-run inning in the fourth to take the lead for good, and McDonell's late comeback bid was stymied.
Junior Lizzy Leibrandt laced a 2-run double in the first, for one of the Lady Macks' four hits on the night.
Battling with one of the top teams in their conference, the Lady Macks (15-5-1, 12-1 Western Cloverbelt Conference) went back and forth with the Blackhawks (16-6, 9-3 WCC), and withstood a late comeback in a marathon Game 1, walking it off in the 9th.
In Game 2, McDonell jumped out to several leads, but Bloomer chipped away to stay close, then exploded for six runs in the sixth to split the doubleheader and the season series.
Juniors Kelsey Bremness and Lizzy Leibrandt each totaled 5 hits on the day, while Bremness went all 9 innings in the circle in Game 1, striking out 6.
Chippewa Valley This Week
In a possible playoff preview, the Lady Cards (12-6) gave up a lone early run to the Timberwolves (13-3), and that proved to be the difference, as Chi-Hi struggled to garner baserunners against University of Wisconsin commit Anna Wall.
In the second game of the day, the Cardinals were able to get a few more aboard against the Evergreens, but could not capitalize, with a late homer by Everest proving to be the difference.
Against Tomah, senior pitcher Willa Risinger came into the game in relief in the third and proceeded to strike out a dozen Timberwolves, while junior pitcher Delaney Bero started her first game of the season against D.C. Everest and went the distance, striking out 11 along the way.
In a possible playoff preview, in Augusta against a state-ranked opponent, the Lady Macks (13-4, 11-0 Western Cloverbelt Conference) grabbed two runs early against the Beavers (13-2, 10-0 Dairyland - Large Conference), and were able to hold their opponent at bay for the rest of the contest.
As both pitchers found their groove, offense was hard to come by, but fireworks in the fifth and seventh helped McDonell pull away for good.
Junior pitcher Kelsey Bremness not only twirled a complete game shutout, she also hit a pair of homers and drove in 5 runs. Freshman Taylan Hanson collected three hits from the leadoff spot, and also swiped three bases.
Willa Risinger's nine strikeouts led the way as Chippewa Falls (11-4, 8-1) defeated New Richmond (7-4, 7-2), 9-3.
After scoring two runs in the 3rd, including one on an rbi single by Laney Henkelmann, the Cards plated another run in the 4th, one in the 5th, and five in the 6th, including two more on a double by Henkelmann. The Cards go for the season sweep over the Tigers at New Richmond on May 7th.
In another non-conference bout, this time on the road, the Macks (7-7, 2-6 Western Cloverbelt Conference) were locked in a pitchers' duel with the Warriors (0-7, 0-4 Eastern Cloverbelt Conference), as both teams only plated one run through the first five innings.
After a pitching change to start the 6th, McDonell made the most of their opportunities at the plate, pushing across five runs in the final two innings to create separation and earn the road win.
Senior pitcher Cael Holm of the Macks went the distance with a complete game, scattering six hits, allowing just a single run, and walking only one while striking out 13. Fellow senior Karson Galvez drove in two big insurance runs with a double late in the contest.
Chippewa Valley This Week
