Softball loses three, still looking for a win
By Michael S. Hoey
Correspondent
The Badger High School baseball team lost twice last week. The Badgers lost to No. 2-ranked Janesville Craig at home 10-0 on April 25.
Craig took a 3-0 lead in the first inning off of Badger starter Angelo Camalieri and never looked back. While Craig held Badger scoreless over seven innings, the Cougars scored two in the third, once in the fourth and fifth and three more times in the seventh.
Mason DuMez had two of Badger’s four hits. Badger struggled defensively with four errors. Austin Kraus, Connor Wright and Sam Carlson each had two hits for Craig (9-2). Luke Malmanger had three RBIs.
The Badgers (3-8, 2-5 Southern Lakes Conference) suffered a 25-0 loss at Burlington on April 26. Again held scoreless, the Badgers were outhit 19-5. Burlington (7-2, 5-1 SLC) scored twice in the first but took complete command in the second and third, scoring 19 total runs in those two innings. The Demons added four more in the fourth and won the game in five innings. Philip Kutsch had two of Badger’s five hits to lead the offense. The re-match with Burlington scheduled for April 28 was postponed.
Softball has tough week
The Badger softball team fell to 0-12 (0-9) with losses to No. 1-ranked Union Grove, Elkhorn and Milton.
The Badgers lost at home to Union Grove 25-0 on April 25. A recurring theme for the Badgers this year has been struggling in the first inning, and this game was no exception as the Broncos scored 12 times in the top of the first and added eight more in the second while Badger was held to one hit total by Madison Hunt for the game compared to 26 hits for Union Grove. Union Grove (12-0, 8-0) got homeruns from Brooklyn Ottelein, Claire Ryan, Alli Trudeau and two from Alyssa McClelland.
Badger lost 7-2 at Elkhorn on Friday. The Badgers took a 1-0 lead in the first but the Elks answered back with three in the bottom of the frame to lead 3-1. Badger crept to within one with a single run in the fourth but Elkhorn (4-8, 3-5) scored two in the fifth and two more in the sixth to ice it. Julia Melson had three hits for Badger. Cayleen Ryan was walked three times and scored a run.
The Badgers lost the first game of a double-header at Milton 6-0. The Badger offense managed just two hits by Kiley Johnson, one of them a double. Milton (5-8) scored twice in the third, three times in the fourth and once in the sixth.
Badger was a half inning away from its first win in the second game of the double header before rain stopped play. Badger led 9-7 at the end of four but the field was deemed unplayable and the game ended before it was official. Badger got two more hits from Johnson and two from Ryan, Hunt and Suzie Condos. Johnson had another double and four RBIs.
Win, loss and tie
The Badger soccer team defeated Janesville Parker on the road 4-2 on April 26. Badger got three goals from Brittany Gestrich, two unassisted and one on a penalty kick, and another from Lexie Wescott with an assist by Nichole Ritzman. Badger outshot Parker 23-5 and 16-2 on shots on goal.
Badger played Wilmot (2-2-2, 0-0-1) to a scoreless tie at home on Thursday. Badger outshot the Panthers 14-2 and 9-0 on shots on goal but could not find the net. Badger (5-3-2, 0-0-1) lost to Whitewater (4-3-1) at Whitewater 1-0 on Friday.
