SPASH Softball Goes 2-1 In Chi Hi Invitational
Brandon Lang
centralwisconsinsports.net
A number of the best teams in the state met at the Chippewa Falls Invitational and SPASH girls’ softball was among the elite.
They lost their first game against the home team Chi Hi 3 – 1 before defeating La Crosse Central 10 -6 and Wilmot Union 4 – 1.
The Panthers met the Chippewa Falls Cardinals in their own tournament, where they defeated them 5 – 2. This time it was the Cardinals turn to claim victory.
Shelby Crank was on point for the Cardinals, giving up her only run of the game when Jordan Kawlewski drove in Maggie Gruber in the fifth. She allowed five hits, no walks and five strikeouts.
SPASH’s Aubrey Drohner was tasked with dueling Crank, and she stayed right with her through most of the game. It was tied until the top of the seventh when Chippewa Falls was able to score two runs that ultimately decided the contest.
The Cardinals’ Gretchen Arneson showed off the lumber going 2-4 with two RBI and a run scored.
SPASH was led offensively by Payton Gaber who went 2-3.
Once they lost to Chippewa Falls, their next matchup was against La Crosse Central. SPASH found their bats and put 10 runs on the board after struggling in game one.
Shaylee Kluck was called on to pitch for the Panthers and though she wasn’t perfect, she got the job done. Kluck allowed six runs on eight hits and recorded two K’s, two walks and gave up a home run.
It took a couple of innings but the floodgates opened in the third and fourth for SPASH. They were down 2 – 1 entering the third before scoring two runs in the frame and five in fourth to tally their 10 runs.
SPASH was in the mood to play a lot of girls, with 15 different players coming to the plate overall.
Ally Miklesh was impressive, going 2-2 with three runs scored and a walk for the Panthers. Gaber had another good game, going 3-3 with an RBI, Kluck helped her own cause with a 2-4 effort and Hailey Ehr made the most of her one at-bat with a two RBI double.
In their final game of the invitational, SPASH went up against Wilmot Union, who gave the Panthers their first loss earlier in the season. This time SPASH was up to the task and avenged their previous defeat.
Drohner was back pitching for SPASH and carried over her good pitching from game one. She gave up eight hits but didn’t allow them to hurt her team as only one run crossed and she fanned five.
SPASH made their baserunners count as they only totaled five hits but were able to score four runs.
Gaber finished off her great Saturday going 2-3; Pavelski and Miklesh shared a stat-line, each going 1-2 with one run scored.
Wilmot’s Justine Schattner performed very well going 3-4 with an RBI.
After the invitational SPASH sits at 20-3 on the year. Their next game is on Tuesday at home in a revenge game against Merrill, who beat them in their previous matchup.
SPASH vs Chippewa Falls
WP: Crank LP: Drohner
2B: (SPASH): Miklesh, Gruber; (Chippewa Falls): Roshell
SPASH vs La Crosse Central
WP: Kluck LP: Kramer
2B: (SPASH): Ehr, Pavelski; (La Crosse): Obert
HR: (La Crosse): Kappauf
SPASH vs. Wilmot Union
WP: Drohner LP: Hutchinson
2B: (SPASH): Pavelski
2B: (Wilmot): Schattner