Joel Karnick
The Butternut Mercer Pioneer softball traveled up to Port Wing last night to take on the South Shore Cardinals in a Northern Lights conference matchup. The Pioneers got off to a fast start with a lead off Home Run by Jersey Polencheck. After a Lizzie Pritzl walk, Josie Wegner collects an RBI single to score Pritzl to give the Pioneers a 2-0 advantage early. After a shut down inning on defense, the offense gets right back to it, scoring 3 more in the 2nd inning thanks to a few walks and defensive miscues and then another 3 in the top of the 3rd highlighted by a big 2 out triple by Kalyee Schloer. Josie Wegner solid through 4 innings on the mound only allowing 1 base hit and no runs as the Pioneers have a 8-0 lead after 4 complete. A rare quiet inning offensively for the Pioneers and the Cardinals rally a bit in the bottom of the 5th inning on 4 walks and a couple fielder’s choice hits and an error to plate 4 runs but Jersey Polencheck comes in to get back to back strikeouts to end the inning and stays in to finish up the game. Butternut Mercer scores 2 more runs in the 6th and 7th innings and South Shore plates a run in the 6th for a final score of 14-5. Polencheck added 2 doubles to go with her home run and Josie Wegner with 3 hits and 4 RBI’s to lead the Pioneer attack. “I thought we played pretty solid all around tonight. Josie did a good job pitching to earn her second win of the season and the defense made some really nice plays out there, especially Jenny Klopatek at third and Anya Brandenberg played a flawless first base. Big offensive night for Jersey, Josie, and Kaylee.” – Coach Glenn Wegner
Up next for the Pioneers is a trip up to Bessemer on Wednesday for a non-conference matchup, will host Mellen on Thursday to wrap up the regular season, then off to Flambeau for a Regional matchup as the number 6 seed. “I think we match up well for that game. We played them earlier in the season and played them pretty tough. Just had one bad inning that cost us, so we will be ready”- Coach Glenn Wegner
