Oconto Falls’ bats stymied by Lux-Casco in softball clash

Panthers post just 3 hits
By: 
Morgan Rode
Sports Editor

The Oconto Falls High School softball team was unable to get its offense going in a North Eastern Conference game against Luxemburg-Casco on May 17 in Oconto Falls.

The Panthers posted just three hits in the 7-0 setback.

“Our team just needs to learn how to battle back. When people get down in the count, we need to learn how to battle back,” said Oconto Falls’ Taylor Ash on what made hitting so tough in the game. “She throws probably the hardest we’ve seen so far, so we just have to compete with that and try to stay up with her.”

After keeping the visitors off the scoreboard in the top of the first inning, Oconto Falls got the bottom half off to a strong start when Kyndra Staidl doubled off the left-center fence. Staidl then stole third base with still no outs.

The scoring opportunity was wasted though, as a strikeout and popup gave Lux-Casco two outs in the inning before a sharp line drive by Ash was caught in right field.

After going down in order in the second, the Panthers got a one-out single from Jamesen Engel in the third. Staidl replaced Engel after a fielder’s choice, but a popup ended the inning.

Oconto Falls didn’t put another runner on base until the seventh inning, striking out five times between the fourth and sixth frames. The Panthers struck out 10 times in the game.

In the seventh, Ashlyn Allen led off with an infield single before Ash flied out to deep center. Allen eventually moved to third base, and then McKayla Goebel walked with one out and then stole second, giving the Panthers their best scoring chance yet.

Like the rest of the contest, Oconto Falls was not able to cash in on the opportunity, as a strikeout and popup ended the game.

“I feel like our heads weren’t completely in the game tonight,” said Staidl. “We were just really excited to hit the ball, so we were just really ahead of it and then our head wasn’t even on the ball.”

Staidl and Allen each stole two bases in the contest.

Lily Kurek suffered the loss in the circle for the Panthers after pitching all seven innings.

Kurek surrendered 11 hits and seven walks, but struck out four batters to avoid any big innings.

Lux-Casco scored single runs in the second, fourth and fifth innings, while plating two runs in the third and sixth. Four Oconto Falls’ errors led to two unearned runs.

“We just need to minimize our mistakes. We make mistakes and everyone gets down on themselves,” said Ash. “We just need to keep hitting hard, it’ll come eventually for us. It’s hard to win with no hits.”

Ash and Staidl each added that a positive from the contest was that the team fared a bit better than the previous showing against Lux-Casco. The teams met back on April 27, with Lux-Casco winning 8-0. Oconto Falls had just two hits in that contest, with Lux-Casco using a six-run sixth inning to break the game open.

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