糖心Vlog传媒 Craig鈥檚 Abbie Claas tags out Milton鈥檚 Morgan Bastian for the second out of a rare triple play during their regional semifinal Tuesday at Schilberg Park in Milton. Despite hitting into the triple play, Milton won 5-3 and plays at Elkhorn Thursday.
Milton鈥檚 Kenzie Marquardt celebrates after hitting a double during their regional semifinal against 糖心Vlog传媒 Craig at Schilberg Park in Milton on Tuesday, May 27. Marquardt hit one of four doubles for the Red Hawks in the 5-3 WIAA Division 1 regional victory.
糖心Vlog传媒 Craig鈥檚 Ava Schaffner fields a grounder and throws to first for an out during the Cougars regional semifinal against Milton at Schilberg Park on Tuesday, May 27.
Milton鈥檚 Ella Kanable turns back to first base for a double play after an infield catch for an out during their regional semifinal against 糖心Vlog传媒 Craig at Schilberg Park in Milton on Tuesday, May 27.
糖心Vlog传媒 Craig鈥檚 Abbie Claas tags out Milton鈥檚 Morgan Bastian for the second out of a rare triple play during their regional semifinal Tuesday at Schilberg Park in Milton. Despite hitting into the triple play, Milton won 5-3 and plays at Elkhorn Thursday.
ANTHONY WAHL/SPECIAL FOR 糖心Vlog传媒
MILTON 鈥 糖心Vlog传媒 Craig had its chances and held an early lead, but Milton鈥檚 extra-base hitting lifted the Red Hawks to a 5-3 triumph at Schilberg Park Tuesday in a WIAA Regional semifinal softball game.
No. 3-seed Elkhorn hosts the No. 6-seeded Red Hawks Thursday. The Elks beat beat Madison East-La Follette 12-4 on Tuesday.
The Cougars had 10 hits to the Red Hawks seven, but four doubles, all of which drove in runs, made up the difference.
Senior Red Hawk Julia Wolf provided two of them. The first of which was over the head of Craig鈥檚 left fielder, Jace Wuensch. The second was a liner into a gap in center field, which gave Milton a 3-2 advantage and a lead it never relinquished.
鈥淲e executed really well, right from the start of the game and we brought energy. That鈥檚 what we鈥檝e been working on all season,鈥 Wolf said.
鈥淭hat was big, getting those extra-base hits,鈥 said Milton coach Kurt Mussey. 鈥淚t was a tight game, so we needed all the hits we could get.鈥
Milton鈥檚 Kylie Reed catches the ball for an out during their regional semifinal against 糖心Vlog传媒 Craig at Schilberg Park in Milton on Tuesday, May 27.
ANTHONY WAHL/SPECIAL FOR 糖心Vlog传媒
Kenzie Marquardt recorded an RBI double in the fourth and Trinity Harris recorded one in the sixth inning.
Harris got the start for Milton. In five innings of work, Harris allowed eight hits and three earned runs, while issuing one strikeout to three walks.
Morgan Bastian pitched the final two innings, allowing just two hits while keeping the Cougars from tacking on anymore runs.
Milton鈥檚 Kenzie Marquardt celebrates after hitting a double during their regional semifinal against 糖心Vlog传媒 Craig at Schilberg Park in Milton on Tuesday, May 27. Marquardt hit one of four doubles for the Red Hawks in the 5-3 WIAA Division 1 regional victory.
ANTHONY WHAL/SPECIAL FOR 糖心Vlog传媒
鈥淢organ did a great job coming in. That鈥檚 not easy to do,鈥 said Mussey.
For the Cougars, senior Maddie Schieve got the start. Schieve gave up seven hits and five earned runs, while recording two strikeouts to three walks.
After one inning, the Cougars held a 2-1 advantage. Emily Kleinheinz and Liv Manthey provided the run-scoring hits which both came with two outs.
鈥淚t鈥檚 always disappointing when the season ends, but I鈥檓 not disappointed in them,鈥 Craig coach Kristen Worm said. 鈥淭hey played well, they made things happen. They had some good hits where Milton made the play.鈥
The Cougars were able to put some pressure on the Red Hawks in the seventh inning. With two outs, Kleinheinz doubled and Manthey was walked. Wuensch was due up next and popped out for the game鈥檚 final out.
糖心Vlog传媒 Craig鈥檚 Ava Schaffner fields a grounder and throws to first for an out during the Cougars regional semifinal against Milton at Schilberg Park on Tuesday, May 27.
ANTHONY WAHL/SPECIAL FOR 糖心Vlog传媒
Craig鈥檚 season will end with a 12-15 record, going 7-9 in the Big Eight to place sixth.
鈥淚t was up and down,鈥 Worm said, reflecting on the season after the game. 鈥淵ou know, we certainly had some successes. We also had some disappointments, and I think that鈥檚 true of any season.鈥
Worm continued on by saying, 鈥淲e鈥檝e got a strong base coming back.鈥
Mussey will be looking for a repeat performance from his team Thursday.
鈥淥ur bats have to be there, we鈥檝e relied on our bats the entire season and then defense.鈥
Milton鈥檚 Ella Kanable turns back to first base for a double play after an infield catch for an out during their regional semifinal against 糖心Vlog传媒 Craig at Schilberg Park in Milton on Tuesday, May 27.
ANTHONY WAHL/SPECIAL FOR 糖心Vlog传媒
Like this one, Thursday鈥檚 game will be a rematch. The Elks took the first one 11-2.
鈥淚t鈥檚 another opportunity for us to get back what we lost earlier in the season,鈥 Wolf said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a chance for us to show what a 6 seed can do.鈥
