The Hatchet softball team split a pair of double-headers last week to improve to a 4th-place 7-5 in the GNC.
But Lakeland collected its first win of the season by pulling a huge 10-8 upset in Thursday’s WIAA regional opener.
“It was a very disappointing way to end the season,” THS coach John Larson said. “Lakeland came ready to play. Defensively, we struggled, committing big errors. Credit Lakeland, they hit the ball very well and did not have an error.”
After the T-Birds grabbed a 4-0 lead, THS knotted it in the bottom of the 3rd. But Lakeland added 2 in the 4th, 1 in the 5th and 3 in the 6th while holding the hatchets to 1 in the 5th. Tomahawk broke free for 3 in the bottom of the 7th but it was too little, too late. Alex DuPlayee (11 H, 5 W, 3 K, 10 R, 4 ER in 7 I) took the loss. DuPlayee (3-4, 3B, 3 RBI), Stephanie Welke (3-4, 2 R) and Stephanie Schoone (3-4, 3 R) had the lion’s share of 10 THS hits.
Conference wrap-up
The Hatchets ran split double-headers on back-to-back days, facing runner-up Rhinelander and 6th-place N. Pines both days.
Tomahawk lost to Rhinelander 4-0 and 12-0, while beating Pines 13-3 and 13-6.
The first Pines’ game lasted just five innings before DuPlayee (2 H, 3 W, 3 K, 3 ER in 5 I) won. An 8-run 5th keyed it. Ashley Berg (4-4, 2 RBI), DuPlayee (2-3, 3B, 2 RBI) and Welke (2-4) paced the 10-hit attack.
“We put it all together,” Larson said.
The Hodags scored 2 in the 2nd and 2 more in the 6th to win. DuPlayee (3 H, 4 W, 2 K, 4 R, 2 ER in 6 I) “pitched very well,” Larson said. “The difference was Rhinelander came up with clutch hits.”
Berg had the only THS hit.
THS led just 7-6 through 5 innings on Wednesday, but added 2 in the 6th and 4 in the 7th.
“The Hatchets pounded out 14 hits,” Larson said.
Sydney Myre (3 H, 2 W, 6 K, 6 R, 1 ER in 7 I) picked up the win. DuPlayee (3-5 3 R), Maggie Gudinas (2-4), Sami Kleich (2-4) and Welke (2-5, 3B, 2 RBI) paced the hitting.
An 8-run 4th boosted the Hodags to a 5-inning triumph. DuPlayee (11 H, 7 W, 2 K, 12 R in 5 I) lost. Welke (2-3) and Alicia Kurth (1-3) combined for all the hits.
“Simply put, Rhinelander was better in every phase of the game,” Larson said.