Softball results: Helander home run highlights Laker win, Arrows split, Silverstreaks fall

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A two-run homer by Julie Helander highlighted a four run inning for the Lakers, giving them their winning edge in a 10-6 victory over Paynesville Thursday afternoon.

The two teams were tied at six apiece heading into the top of the fifth, when Jillian Hendrickson earned a leadoff walk. Helander then smashed a home run to give Minnewaska a two-run lead.

Mady Phillips followed that performance with a single, and, with one out, Allyssa Engfer added a single to put two runners on for Minnewaska.

A single by Lexi Amundson brought in both runners and gave the Lakers a four-run lead.

Both Minnewaska and Paynesville added solo runs in the seventh before the Lakers claimed the win.

Phillips got the win for Minnewaska as she went the distance, scattering 14 hits and striking out two along the way.

GAME SUMMARY

MINNEWASKA 020 340 1 10-14-4

PAYNESVILLE 101 300 1 6-12-3

PITCHING (ip-h-r-er-bb-so) – Mady Phillips (W) 7-14-6-4-0-2; Megan Shaefer 4-7-5-4-0-3; Brooke Wuertz (L) 0.2-4-4-4-1-0; Kayla Schaefer 2.1-3-1-0-1-2.

MINNEWASKA – Kaylyn Oberg 1-3, 1 rbi; Brook Winter 1 rbi; Jillian Hendrickson 1 run; Julie Helander 4-4-1 run, 2 rbi, home run; Bridget Opdahl 2 runs; Mady Phillips 2-3, 1 run; Courtney Schmidt 2-4, 2 runs, 2 rbi; Allyssa Engfer 3-4, 1 run, 2b, 1 rbi; Taylor Noetzelman 1 run; Lexi Amundson 3-4, 1 run, 2 rbi.

PAYNESVILLE – Sam Dahl 1-5, 1 run, 2b; Kayla Schafer 2-4, 2 runs; Brook Wuertz 2-4; Brianna Stang 2-4; Allie Stanger 2-4; Megan Schaefer 2-4, 1 run; Kayla Reiman 2-4; Jessica Solum 1-4, 1 run.

ASHBY SPLITS

The Ashby softball team overcame an early deficit to beat Ortonville 9-5 last Thursday night.

The Arrows were down 3-0 going into the bottom of the fourth inning when they erupted for five hits and five runs. Ortonville got two back in the sixth, Paige Nelson limited the damage by turning a double play to end the inning.

The Arrows scored twice in the bottom of the sixth and never looked back. Jeannette Evavold led a 12-hit attack by Ashby with three hits and an RBI. Cassandra Jordan went 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Amber Sundal was 2-for-4. Meg Roley, Madison VanSanten, Emily Elliot, Paige Nelson, Abbi Ras and Bailey Funkhouser all added a hit apiece.

Sundal finished with the win on the mound by scattering eight hits. She struck out three and walked one.

hla 9, ashby 8

A two-run bottom of the seventh by Hillcrest Lutheran Academy upended Ashby 9-8 Tuesday in Little Eight Conference softball action.

The Arrows started strong, taking an 8-4 lead after three innings as they scored three runs in the first, one in the second and three in the third.

The Comets came back with a run in the fifth, and added two more in the six.

With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, things fell apart for Ashby as a clutch hit drove in two runs and gave Hillcrest the win.

Meg Roley went 2-for-3 at the plate for the Arrows, driving in four runs, while Amber Sundal was 2-for-4 with one double. Paige Nelson also had a hit.

Nelson went the distance on the mound as well, walking just four while striking out three.

“I was really proud of Paige as she worked the ball around the plate and took command of every pitch she threw,” said Ashby head coach Kandace Norby.

“The girls played their hearts out all day. Their poise and determination both behind the plate and in the field should be commended.”

LONG PRAIRIE-GE 9, OSAKIS 7

The Osakis softball team dropped its second game of the season in a 9-7 game against Long Prairie-Grey Eagle last Thursday night.

The Thunder scored early and held on late to drop the Silverstreaks to 6-2 in the Prairie Conference and 7-2 overall. Osakis scored once in the top of the first before LPGE scored two in the bottom half of the inning.

Both teams put up runs over the next three innings. The difference came in the fact that LPGE limited the damage to just one run in each of those innings for Osakis. Long Prairie-Grey Eagle scored twice in the third and three times in the fourth to take a lead it never relinquished.

“We were unable to get the big hits when we needed them,” head coach John Stigman said. “Long Prairie, on the other hand, got those big hits every time they needed them. Hats off to them for their ability to come through in the clutch. We just couldn’t get that big hit and couldn’t stop them from getting it as well.”

Sabrina Zimmel has been limited from the circle since spraining her ankle against Eagle Valley on April 24. She took the loss after going five innings and allowing seven earned runs. Zimmel allowed eight hits and three walks, while striking out five.

Alex Anderson led the Osakis offense with a four-hit night. She added two runs and an RBI from the leadoff spot. Tonya Hetland went 2-for-3 with a triple and Janna Juntunen was 2-for-3 with a double and a triple.

GAME SUMMARY

OSAKIS 111 103 0 – 7 12 3

LPGE 212 301 X – 9 9 3

OSAKIS PITCHING – Zimmel – L, 5IP, 8H, 7ER, 3BB, 5SO; Lauren Silbernick – 1IP, 1H, 0R

OSAKIS HITTING – Anderson – 4-4, RBI, 2 runs; Hetland – 2-3, 3B; Juntunen – 2-3, 2B, 3B; Rachelle Rajdl – 1-4, RBI; Dani Chisholm – 1B; Alida Hovey – 1B; Silbernick – 1B

Tags: osakis sports, minnewaska sports, ashby sports, sports, silverstreaks, lakers, arrows, softball