Girls drop four games in a row
By Dan Truttschel
Correspondent
The past week wasn’t too kind to the East Troy High School softball team, as the Trojans dropped all four Rock Valley Conference contests.
And there seemed to be a common theme in all four.
The young Trojans struggled to put together consistent efforts in two losses each to Edgerton and Saturday in a doubleheader sweep to visiting Whitewater.
East Troy took its 0-5 overall record into a road contest Tuesday at Big Foot. Results were unavailable by press time.
“Poor defense in two games and part of a third was a big issue,” East Troy coach Greg Prince said. “Inconsistency at the plate is really hurting us as well. Our youth and inexperience really shows up at times.”
In the RVC twinbill Saturday, the visiting Whippets handed East Troy an 18-7 setback in the opener, followed by an 11-2 loss in the second game.
The first game came down to solid offense by the Whippets, but also some defensive miscues that hurt the Trojans, Prince said.
“Whitewater hit the ball well and capitalized on our mistakes,” he said.
Whitewater broke open a close game in the fifth inning with two runs to extend a 5-4 lead to 7-4, before it blew things open with 10 runs in its final two at bats.
East Troy had critical errors in all three frames that hurt its chances, Prince said.
The Trojans finished with seven hits, including two by Morgan McPhail and one each, both doubles, by Vanessa Dingman and Chloe Jakscht.
Anna Foley pitched the first three innings and the last two and allowed 15 hits, 15 runs, two walk and struck out five. Jakscht worked the fourth and fifth innings, and allowed two hits, three runs, three walks and struck out four.
Whitewater jumped out quickly in the nightcap with four runs in both the first and second innings and never looked back.
East Troy had five hits, including two by Jakscht and one each by Kaitlyn O’Connell, McPhail and Lisa Heidelmeier. Jakscht also had a double.
“We had opportunities to do more damage, but didn’t capitalize,” Prince said. “(But) we battled the whole game, never quit or gave in.”
Jakscht worked the first 1 1-3 innings, and allowed six earned runs, six walks and hit two batters. Foley pitched the last 4 2-3 innings, and allowed two earned runs, struck out two and hit two.
Prince said his defense had three errors in the first two innings, but seemed to right the ship the rest of the way.
“We only committed one error (after that),” he said. “It was a much better effort, but we still need to be more consistent.”
Following Tuesday’s game with Big Foot, the Trojans returned to action Thursday afternoon when they hosted Clinton in an RVC matchup.
Tide rolls twice
Edgerton outscored East Troy 27-4 in two five-inning games earlier in the week. The Tide beat the Trojans 12-2 last Thursday and 15-2 last Tuesday.
In the Thursday matchup, East Troy held a 2-0 lead heading into the fourth inning before the wheels came off. Edgerton collected 10 hits and 12 runs after the fourth.
Dingman led the offense with three hits, including a double, while Jakscht had a double.
“We had a much better effort at the plate,” Prince said. “We only had six hits, but we hit the ball hard and swung at much better pitches.”
Foley pitched three innings, and allowed six runs, six hits and struck out one before Donohue relieved her in the fourth and allowed seven hits.
East Troy again held a brief lead in the opener, 1-0 into the fourth inning, before Edgerton erupted for eight in the fourth and seven in the fifth to put the game away.
The Trojans collected just four hits, one each by Foley, Jordan Scheel, McPhail and Kelly Griffa. Foley took the loss, as she allowed 10 earned runs, 12 hits, three walks and struck out two.
