Wildcats Squeak By Waterloo

On May 8th, the Belleville softball team hosted Lake Mills and won, 8-5.
“Took us a bit to get it going, but once it did everyone jumped in,” commented Coach Connie Wunschel.
Lake Mills took the early lead in the top of the first, but the Wildcats came back with two runs at the bottom.
“Led off by Cassidy Heller with a single to left, followed by a base hit to right by Alli Kowalski to move Cassidy to 3rd. Alli then stole 2nd, and Jillian Michaels hit a ground out to score Cassidy and move Alli to 3rd. Callie Everson then hit a hard one to their short stop that she couldn’t handle to score Alli,” explained Wunschel.
Lake Mills scored again in the third, but then the Wildcats held them scoreless until the sixth inning.
“Meanwhile, our bats came alive in the bottom of them fifth as we batted through the lineup. Started with Ella Campbell reaching on an errant throw by their short stop, base hit by Cassidy to center and Alli reached on an error to load the bases. Jillian hit a grounder to force Cassidy out at 3rd, but Ella scored. Bailey Legler then followed with a base hit to load the bases. Abby Winterburn came in to pinch hit and had a double to the fence to score both Alli and Jillian. Freshman Josalyn Vorpahl entered the game to have a nice base hit to right to score Bailey, and make the score 6-2,” said Wunschel. “In the bottom of the sixth we scored two more runs, started by a walk to Ella, a base hit to right by Cassidy and another RBI base hit by Alli to score Ella. Jillian then hit another fielder’s choice grounder to short to score Alli.”
At the top of the seventh, Lake Mills scored three runs to make the score closer, but Belleville held on to their lead for the victory.
Starting at pitcher was Maddie Weber, who went six innings striking out three, walking one and gave up two runs on five hits. Cassidy Heller took over to finish out the last inning and faced seven batters, striking out one, walking one and giving up two hits and three runs, one of which was earned.
Cassidy Heller was 3-4 at bat with two runs scored. Alli Kowalski was 2-4 at bat, with two runs scored, one stolen base and one RBI. Jillian Michaels scored one run and had three RBIs. Abby Winterburn, Callie Everson and Josalyn Vorpahl all had two RBIs.
On May 9th, the team headed to face Marshall and lost, 2-10.
“I thought we hung tough against Marshall all the way,” said Wunschel. “First inning was a bit shaky on the defensive side, and then we settled in. We put the ball in play real well, but they made the plays.”
After taking the lead in the first inning, the Wildcats didn’t score their second run until the bottom of the sixth.
“With two outs, Anna Nolden walked on a great 8 pitch at bat, to which Leah Blask then smoked an RBI double down the right field line to score Anna from 1st,” said Wunschel.
The starting pitcher for the game was Maddie Weber, who pitched for five innings giving up seven runs on 10 hits. She walked six and struck out three. Cassidy Heller took over in the sixth, facing seven while giving up three runs on three hits.
On May 11th, Belleville headed to Columbus and lost, 0-11.
“Yet another ranked team. These guys are good. We were outmaneuvered by very strong pitching as she had a one hitter against us and only gave up one walk, while striking out six. We could not make an out,” said Wunschel. “The game started with their lead off hitter slamming a triple to right center. We got the #2 batter out, but that was followed by another triple to right to score a run. The next batter had an RBI base hit. The next batter then forced the runner out at 2nd for the second out, and I thought we could get out of it, but they proceeded to get a walk, and then we had an error on a dropped third strike that would have gotten us out of the inning, but they had two more hits - a double that scored three runs. They scored three more in the second, with us having three errors in the inning to help them out. We did shut them down in the third, but they pushed the final two runs across in the fourth.”
The game was over in five innings.
Cassidy Heller started on the mound, pitching for three innings and facing 23 batters. Heller gave up nine runs on nine hits while striking out one. Maddie Weber took over in the bottom of the fourth, facing seven, walking two and striking out one.
Callie Everson had the team’s only hit of the game.
On May 12th, the team hosted Waterloo, winning 7-6.
It was a “crazy finish, winning in the bottom of the seventh,” said Wunschel.
Waterloo took an early 4-0 lead in the game, before Bailey Legler hit a double to right center.
“Bailey was moved to 3rd on a sacrifice bunt by Brianna Halverson and scored on an error on Callie Everson’s hit to short stop. We then scored two more in the bottom of the third to make the score 3-4. Cassidy Heller led off with a walk, Alli had a base hit, both girls moved up a base on a passed ball. Two outs later, Brianna had a long fly ball to left center for a 2 RBI double,” said Wunschel. “We again scored in the fourth, and had a chance to score more…with one out Maddie Weber reached on a bunt, by an errant throw by the covering catcher. Gracie Samon then went in to run for Maddie. Gracie moved to 2nd on a passed ball then Ella walked. Cassidy had a base hit up the middle to fill the bases and Alli followed with an RBI single to score Gracie. Still, with bases loaded, Ella was forced out at home on a hit back to the pitcher and our next batter struck out to leave the bases loaded. We left nine runners on base. So with the score 4-4, the top of their order was up in the top of the sixth. Waterloo’s Cassie Renforth then hit a two RBI home run over the fence to have them take the lead 6-4. Now the stage is set. We need a run to tie, and two to win.”
“Brianna leads off with a bunt. She beats the throw to 1st for a base hit, but the ball was missed by the 1st baseman, and Brianna gets to 2nd. Leah Blask then blasts a double over the center fielder’s head to score the run. Leah Hanna enters as a pinch runner for Blask. Hanna gets to 3rd on a passed ball, but on a ground ball by Callie Everson to short Hanna ends up in a pickle between home and 3rd. While she ends up getting out, Callie got herself to 2nd to again put a runner in scoring position. During Maddie’s at-bat, runner is able to move to 3rd on another passed ball. Maddie strikes out, but did her job getting the runner closer to home. With two outs, Ella comes up and on the second pitch she sees hits a grounder to 2nd, which is a for sure out at 1st, but the fielder throws home. The catcher did not seem ready for the throw, and our runner squeaked by her for the win. Had the fielder thrown to 1st, there would have been another inning to be played. What a wild one!” exclaimed Wusnchel.
Cassidy Heller was 1-2 at bat with one run scored. Alli Kowalski went 3-4 with one run scored and two RBIs. Brianna Halverson was 2-3 at bat with one run scored, a double and two RBIs. Halverson, Leah Blask and Bailey Legler all hit doubles.
Information regarding the Wisconsin Heights game on May 13th was unavailable at press time.
The Wildcats played at Luther Prep on May 15th, hosted Wisconsin Heights on May 16th, play at New Glarus on May 18th and host Wisconsin Dells on May 19th.