The winning ways continued for the NRHEG softball team, which completed a 4-1 week by taking down three opponents for the championship in Saturday’s Hayfield Invitational.
The Panthers ran their record to 10-3 for the spring under first-year head coach Coy Hupfeld. They’re 6-2 in the conference.
WEM 8, NRHEG 7
NRHEG got five runs in the first inning, all with two outs, but struggled to get the bats going afterward at Waterville Tuesday, May 5.
“WEM did a great job in battling back and taking the lead,” said Hupfeld.
Grace Johns did a terrific job of getting on base throughout the game. Alyssa Esplan got a key double that drove in two. Anna Lundberg also drove in two on a base hit late in the game, but WEM was able to hold on.
Esplan was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored, Torrie Stencel 2-for-3 with a triple. Contributing one hit each were Rachel Collins, Kaylie Camerer, Jade Peterson, Johns and Lundberg. Camerer doubled.
Lundberg took the pitching loss, giving up six earned runs on nine hits, with eight walks and two strikeouts.NRHEG 7, Maple River 2
The Panthers bounced back against the Eagles Thursday, May 7 at Legion Field.
Maple River capitalized on an error in the top of the first and made some great baserunning plays in order to get the first two runs, but NRHEG bounced back six in the bottom half with the 2-8 hitters all reaching with consecutive hits.
“We played terrific defense behind Lundberg's stellar pitching performance,” said Hupfeld.
Lundberg allowed no earned runs through seven innings, surrendering six hits while walking two and striking out one.
Collins snagged a line drive and tagged the runner out at third to stop a potential comeback by Maple River in the fifth. Camerer made a terrific hustle play at shortstop to get the batter at first base.
Alyssa Esplan had one of the biggest singles in the first to keep the inning alive.
Kelli Harrington, Anna Stork and Alyssa Esplan collected two hits each. Adding one apiece were Collins, Camerer, Peterson, Johns and Lundberg. Camerer drove in two runs.
NRHEG 6, Kenyon-Wanamingo 0
Lundberg was again stellar on the mound, allowing only four hits and one walk for the shutout in the opening round at Hayfield.
After a quiet first two innings, NRHEG pushed four runs across with a couple of power doubles by Camerer and Harrington. With the lead, the Panthers never faltered and Kenyon-Wanamingo never really threatened.
Esplan went 3-for-3 with three RBIs, Collins 3-for-4 with a run, Harrington 2-for-4 with two runs and one RBI. Adding one hit each were Camerer and Johns.
NRHEG 9, New York Mills 2
The Panthers were victorious against a rarely seen opponent in the semifinals at Hayfield.
According to Hufpeld, NRHEG stole the lead early and never looked back. The game started with Harrington doubling on the first pitch and Esplan homering on the second pitch.
“Those two would continue to reach base throughout the game and really helped us dominate the game,” said Hupfeld.
Lundberg battled out of some tough innings to keep the lead comfortable.
“The key to this victory was our defense,” said Hupfeld. “We were able to make the plays we needed to and even some that looked improbable. Grace Johns made a terrific diving catch on a foul ball which helped end a run by New York Mills.”
Esplan had a 3-for-3 game, driving in three runs and scoring three. Harrington was 2-for-3 with three runs and one RBI, Stork 2-for-4 with an RBI. Camerer, Peterson, Lundberg, Stencel and Collins contributed one hit apiece.
Lundberg scattered 13 hits through seven innings, giving up two earned runs while walking two.
NRHEG 5, Hayfield 4
The Panthers brought home the tournament crown by edging the hometown team in an exciting championship game.
“This game was tense throughout as both teams played tremendously,” said Hupfeld.
Trailing 3-1, Stencel had a key single that ended with her on third after an errant throw. That jolted the offense and gave the Panthers more confidence at the plate.
Ryann Hagen also had a terrific game by hitting Stencel in on a sacrifice fly, and drove in the tying run in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings
In the bottom of the eighth with two outs and the scored knotted 4-4, Peterson hit a ground ball to the third baseman, but the first baseman was not able to haul in the throw in the dirt which Alyssa Esplan to score from second and end the game.
Stork was the lone Panther with more than one hit, going 2-for-4 with an RBI. The other hits went to Harrington, Esplan, Camerer, Stencel and Hagen, who drove in two runs.
Lundberg gave up two earned runs in eight innings off 11 hits and two walks. She struck out four.