By JIM LUTGENS

Sports Editor

It didn't start out so well for the NRHEG softball team at JWP Monday.

But it ended great.

The Panthers trailed 4-0 after two innings, but they plated three runs in the third, seven in the fourth and five in the fifth en route to a 16-8 Gopher Conference victory.

"Coming off a tournament this past weekend, we knew we had to bring a lot of energy in this game right from the start," said NRHEG coach Kaylie Camerer. "We did right away on the on both the defen- sive and offensive sides of the ball."

Olivia Berg led the Panthers' 12- hit attack, going 3-for-4 with two runs. Isabel Stadheim went 2-for-3 with two runs, Faith Nielsen 2-for-4 with four RBIs, Izley Boerner 2-for- 5 with two RBIs, Tayler Schmidt 2- for-5 with two runs and one RBI. Addie Stadheim also hit safely. Isabel Stadheim stole three bases. Preslie Nielsen drove in two runs, scored twice and walked twice.

Faith Nielsen went the distance in the circle for the Panthers, allowing seven earned runs on 11 hits, with five strikeouts and four walks.

"Faith pitched a great consistent game and our defense stepped up behind her," said Camerer. "We made great heads-up plays all game and Payton Bunn had a great diving catch in the outfield. At the plate we needed to stay aggressive and we had two big innings where we stayed disciplined at the plate, when we put the ball in play we made their defensive work, and we took advantage of their mistakes while on the basepaths."

It was, according to Camerer, one of the Panthers' best complete games this season.

"We will look to keep the same energy for the remainder of the season," said the coach.

The Panthers hosted Hayfield Thursday, April 25.

The visitors made themselves right at home.

The Vikings overcame a 4-2 first- inning deficit to defeat the Panthers 17-5 in five innings.

"Hayfield is a good hitting team and did a good job finding the gaps in our defense and hitting them," said Camerer. "Our bats are starting to come alive the deeper we get into the season, but tonight was just not our night. Coming back this week we need to focus on staying mental- ly tough within the flow of the game."

The Panthers totaled seven hits against Hayfield, two by Erin Peterson and one each from Isabel Stadheim, Berg, Faith Nielsen, Addie Stadheim and Schmidt. Addie Stadheim tripled. Faith Nielsen was the lone NRHEG player to drive in a

run. NRHEG struck out four times and drew one walk. Each team had four errors.

Nielsen started in the circle and took the pitching loss. She gave up six earned runs on eight through three innings, fanning five and walking five while surrendering two home runs. Boerner pitched the final two innings.

The Panthers played three games in a tournament at Caswell Park in Mankato on Saturday. They sandwiched a victory over New London- Spicer between losses to Cleveland and Madelia.

Cleveland handed the Panthers an 8-1 loss in game one, when NRHEG stranded 11 baserunners.

Faith Nielsen had two hits and one RBI, with one hit apiece by Preslie Nielsen, Addie Stadheim, Chloe Stork and Schmidt. Faith Nielsen, who doubled, pitched the first five innings and took the loss.

Against NLS, the Panthers plated 

three runs in the first and one in the second and held on for a 4-2 triumph.

Isabel Stadheim and Berg had two hits each, Preslie Nielsen, Boerner and Peterson one each. Faith Nielsen drove in two runs. Berg and Preslie Nielsen doubled.

Boerner pitched seven innings for the win, finishing with five strike- outs and three walks.

The Panthers were shut out by Madelia 5-0. Faith Nielsen had two hits, Stenzel one. Faith Nielsen and Peterson pitched.

"After getting rained out Friday night, we pushed one game for a total of three on Saturday," said Camerer. "Defensively, all tournament we were making great plays and little mental errors. We moved people around and asked players to step into the positions they have not yet played this season. I thought the girls handled those changeups well. Offensively, we are making solid contact with the ball throughout the game. We just need to find a way to string hits together down the lineup and keep momentum on our side from inning to inning. Overall, we improved and gained experience from the weekend that will help in the last half of the season."