By Tim “Shoe” Sullivan

Johnny & The Bootleggers cruised to two easy wins Thursday night at Iverson Park as the second season of the Portage County Women’s Fall Softball got underway.

The Bootleggers only needed three innings to knock off Two Harps, 28-1, and in their second game of the night, they dispatched Star Struck, 30-2, in four innings. The opening night also saw Rookie Royals win by forfeit over Morey’s Bar.

The first game of the season was pretty much over after the first inning when Johnny & The Bootleggers jumped out to a 13-1 lead. Two Harps scored their only run when Kari Stanczyk singled and scored after a pair of errors. The winners pounded out eleven hits in the bottom of the first. Hailee Fuller walked and doubled, Liz Morrison singled twice, and the winners got singles by Cheyenne Hahn, Stacey Zarecki, Kayla Keepers, Kara Sleeter, Chelsey Vidal, and Nicole Ihrcke. Shortstop Mak Lee also crashed a couple of homers and added another one later.

“Maybe the rain hurt Two Harps,” said onlooker Tom Riske. “I brought the umbrella out a couple of times. On the other hand, that Bootlegger team sure has a bunch of good hitters.”

Johnny & The Bootleggers scored 15 more runs in the bottom of the second as everyone in their lineup had at least one hit. Cheyenne hahn and Dana Krug socked doubles while Mak Lee went deep. The game was called due to the time limit after the Harps batted in the third.

TWO HARPS BATTING STATS: Kari Stanczyk: single, run; Emily Schnese: single.

JOHNNY & THE BOOTLEGGERS BATTING STATS: Hailee Fuller: walk, two singles, double, three runs; Liz Morrison: four singles, three runs; Cheyenne Hahn: two singles, double, three runs; Mak Lee: three home runs; Kristin Felts: two singles, run. winning pitcher; Dana Krug: single, double, two runs; Stacey Zarecki: two singles, three runs; Kayla Keepers: three singles, three runs; Kara Sleeter: two singles, two runs; Chelsey Vidal: two singles, two runs; Nicole Ihrcke: three singles, three runs.

Rookie Royals won the second game of the night by forfeit as Morey’s only showed up with seven players. League Commissioner Erin Laffe explained: “Nobody likes forfeits, but we had no choice. It’s right there in the rules. Teams are allowed one red flag player per game, but ONLY one. Morey’s were a couple short. We let both teams bat a couple times in a scrimmage.”

Johnny & The Bootleggers (who were Graffiti’s when they won the league last year), overwhelmed Star Struck, 30-2, in the final game of the drizzled evening. Star Struck struck first with a run in the top of the first due to singles by Readie Meyer and Karli Homann. The winners countered that with six runs in the bottom of the inning. Hailee Fuller doubled, Liz Morrison, Mak Lee, and winning pitcher Kristin Felts singled, Stacey Zarecki walked, and Kayla Keepers blasted a grand slam home run to center.

Star Struck got their second run of the game when Sarah Gray scored following singles by Chelsey Zarecki, Bri ODonnell, and Misty Howland. Johnny & The Bootleggers then really dropped the hammer with 11 more runs in the second and 13 in the third. The key hits in the two huge rallies were home runs by Hailee Fuller and Mak Lee and doubles by Fuller and Nicole Ihrcke. Hailee Fuller had a monster game with three doubles, a triple, and a home run. The winners pounded out 31 hits to Star Struck’s eight.

STAR STRUCK BATTING STATS: Readie Meyer: single, run; Stephanie Lynne: single; Karli Homann: two singles; Chelsey Zarecki: two singles; Bri Odonnell: single; Misty Howland: single.

JOHNNY & THE BOOTLEGGERS BATTING STATS: Hailee Fuller: five hits; Liz Morrison: two singles, double, three runs; Cheyenne Hahn: walk, two singles, three runs, almost led off first base; Mak Lee: homer, double, single, three runs; Kristin Felts: four singles, two runs; Dana Krug: double, single, four runs; Stacey Zarecki: walk, three singles, three runs; Kayla Keepers: grand slam homer, two singles, three runs; Kara Sleeter: single, run; Chelsey Vidal: three singles, two runs; Nicole Ihrcke: single, double, two runs. Home Runs: Fuller, Keepers, Lee.

NOTE: The 2017 NFl season started prior to the third game as the Kansas City Chiefs blasted New England in Foxboro.

LEAGUE RECORDS: Johnny & The Bootleggers: 2-0. Rookie Royals: 1-0. Star Struck: 0-1. Two Harps: 0-1. Morey’s: 0-1.

NOTE: The PCWSL is proudly sponsored by “Keys” and The Outfit bar, located on the Downtown Square.