Mixed results after 5 games in 5 days
Photo by Todd Krysiak / Sauk Prairie Eagle
Sauk Prairie catcher Jeri Blau smacks a three-run triple to the left-field fence in the bottom of the sixth inning May 9 during a 5-run rally that powered the Eagles to a victory over Reedsburg.
By Todd Krysiak/Sauk Prairie Eagle
The Sauk Prairie softball team capped a busy week that featured five games in five days May 9 by defeating conference rival Reedsburg 10-6.
The Eagles (6-10, 4-7 Badger North) were tied 5-5 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning when they scored 5 runs to put the game out of reach of the struggling Beavers (4-10, 1-10 Badger North).
Sauk Prairie pitcher Rachel Endres took the win after sophomore Haley Hunt entered the game with a 5-4 advantage in the sixth inning.
The Eagles gave up the lead in the sixth on an error that could have ended the inning. Instead, the game remained tied as Sauk Prairie came to the plate.
A barrage of hits, including back-to-back bunts that resulted in runners safely reaching base, started a big inning for the Eagles, who finished the game with 14 hits to Reedsburg's 10.
By the seventh inning, the game was essentially out of reach at 10-5.
Sauk Prairie coach Shane Been said he was proud of the way his team handled the long week.
"The girls came back and focused well," he said. "Reedsburg is a young team this year."
The game was one of several make-up games the Eagles played this week due to poor weather conditions earlier in the season.
"We had tremendous performances from our pitchers Haley Hunt and Rachel Endres, who pitched five games in five days," he said. "It's been a challenging year for coaches and players."
Sauk Prairie 4, DeForest 7
The Eagles jumped out to a 4-0 lead over DeForest in the third inning of a road game May 8, but could not hold the lead and lost to the Norskies 7-4.
DeForest quickly climbed back into the game with two runs in the bottom of the third and added single runs in the fifth and sixth before breaking out for three more in the seventh.
The Eagles struggled on defense, allowing 5 errors in the game and were not able to get on the board again after the third inning.
"We jumped out on top and just allowed them to chip away," Been said. "We weren't able to come back."
The Eagles defeated the Norskies 3-2 at home two days earlier.
Hunt took the loss after pitching four innings. Endres provided two innings of relief pitching for Sauk Prairie.
Baraboo 6, Sauk Prairie 3
The Eagles were unable to slow the momentum of the Badger North leading Thunderbirds May 7.
Baraboo (12-5, 10-1 Badger North) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second and never relinquished their advantage.
After closing a 5-0 gap by scoring three runs in the fourth, the Eagles committed three errors in the top of the sixth, allowing three insurance runs to cross the plate for the Thunderbirds.
The Thunderbirds had 12 hits in the game.
Sauk Prairie pitcher Hunt took the loss and Endres pitched in relief.
Sauk Prairie 3, DeForest 2
The Eagles scored all three of their runs in the bottom of the first with two outs and that was all they needed to notch a victory over the Norskies on May 6.
DeForest crept back into the game by scoring runs in the second and third innings, but were unable to catch Sauk Prairie.
"We made some excellent defensive plays and our pitchers were able to hold tough, allowing us to hang on," Been said.
Hunt notched the win and Endres pitched in relief.
The Eagles started the week off with a 4-0 loss to Badger Conference heavyweight Verona on May 5.