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Good pitching, good D, but Wildcats get the runs
by Norv and Mary Coblentz · Sports · June 01, 2017


The West Branch Bears softball team lost both games of a doubleheader to Durant at West Branch May 25. Scores were 6-0 and 3-1.


“We played well in the first game,” Bears Head Coach Kevin Kaalberg said. “Our pitchers played really well tonight (at Wilton).

“That’s key for them. If they’re hitting their spots, they’re going to be successful, and I thought they were successful tonight.

“Overall they threw well, and our defense played well tonight. It doesn’t matter to them who we play because number one, they’re having fun. We talked about at the beginning of the season beat the game. It doesn’t matter who you’re playing, you’ve got a game to beat. Whether it’s an at-bat or when you’re in the field, you’re just trying to beat the game. They really hung onto the approach. I know they’re not going to quit.”

The Bears didn’t score in the first game, and Durant didn’t score until the fifth inning.

In the first, the leadoff batter for the Wildcats singled up the middle and stole second base. Taylor Thein caught a ball in shallow center field for the first out. The Bears caught a runner stealing third base, then Luneckas struck out the final batter of the half-inning looking.

DaLana Kron was hit by a pitch to start the bottom of the seventh, but she was caught stealing. The next batter popped out to second base. A strikeout ended the inning with a 0-0 score.

In the top of the second, the first Durant batter grounded out to Nicki Henson at third base. The next batter walked. Luneckas struck out the next two batters for the second and third outs.

In the Bears’ half of the second, Kaylee Montgomery reached on an error. Chloe Pence singled to left field. A strikeout, a force out, and a ground out ended the inning.

Luneckas struck out the first batter in the top of the third. The next batter doubled to left center field. A bunt single put runners at the corners. With the next batter at the plate, catcher Maddy Hatfield caught the runner trying to steal second base, and Luneckas got a strikeout to end the threat.

The Bears were retired in order in the bottom of the third on two groundouts and a pop out.

In the top of the fourth, the Wildcats were retired in order.

In the bottom of the fourth, Pence got a two-out walk, but a fly out ended the inning with no score.

Durant’s bats came alive in the top of the fifth, and they scored five runs on a walk, a single, a passed ball, a walk, a groundout, a walk, a single to center field, a bunt single, a stolen base and an error.

The Bears, with H. Tisinger now in the circle, made an apparent double play, but the umpire called one runner safe. Tisinger struck out the next batter to end the half-inning.

Taylor Tisinger drew a one-out base on balls, and Courtney Jarrett ran for her. Nicki Henson got a bunt single to put runners at the corners. Henson stole second base. A strikeout and a line out ended the inning, and the Bears trailed 5-0.

Durant scored an insurance run in the top of the sixth. The first batter doubled up the third base line. A groundout put the runner at third. A single up the middle scored the run. A fielder’s choice was the second out of the inning. A single was followed by a groundout to the pitcher.

In the bottom of the sixth, the first batter popped out. Montgomery singled to right field. Ally Kroemer ran for Montgomery. Two strikeouts ended the inning.

In the top of the seventh, Durant led off with a single up the middle. An error put runners at first and second. The Bears got a force out at first. A walk loaded the bases. A double play ended the inning when H. Tisinger fielded the ball and threw it home for the force out. Hatfield threw to Montgomery at first for the third out.

The Bears needed runs in the bottom of the seventh, but they didn’t get any. Hatfield led off the inning with a stand-up double to left field. T. Tisinger singled, but Hatfield was caught off base at second. Annika Olson ran for T. Tisinger. An infield fly and a pop out ended the game with a 6-0 score.

“Like I told the coach, they’ve improved a lot,” Durant Head Coach Steve Hopkins said. “They’ve got speed, and they’ve got a lot of youth. We knew it was going to be a challenge. Any time in our conference; we’ve got a tough conference. They run the bases well, they’re very good at the plate. They’re a scrappy team. They made a lot of plays defensively.

“We feel fortunate to get out of here with a couple wins tonight.”

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R

Dur. 0 0 0 0 5 1 0 6

WB 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

West Branch stats: Kaylee Montgomery 1-3; Chloe Pence 1-2, 1 walk; Maddy Hatfield 1-3, 1 double; Taylor Tisinger 1 walk; Nicki Henson 2-3, 1 stolen base. Pitching: Kaiya Luneckas pitched four innings and took the loss. She gave up three earned runs on four hits. She walked four and struck out six. Hanna Tisinger pitched three innings. She gave up three runs, one earned, on five hits. She walked zero and struck out one.

Durant-Bennett stats: Ruby Kappeler 3-4, 1 double, 1 RBI, 1 stolen base; Hannah Happ 1 run; Aubrey Werthmann 2-3, 1 run, 2 RBIs, 2 stolen bases, 1 walk; Cathy Ralfs 1-4, 1 RBI; Kathryn Meyer 1-3; Mallory Warner 1-1; Haleigh Carnes 1 walk; Kelly Alexander 1 run, 1 walk; Kira Schulte 1-4, 2 runs, 1 double; Jenna Lawson 1 walks; Paige Werthmann 1 run; Abby Rhodes 1 stolen base. Pitching: Jenna Lawson pitched seven innings and got the win. She allowed three hits, walked two, and struck out six.



West Branch 1, Durant-Bennett 3

Game two at West Branch May 25

The Bears lost their second game. All the scoring was in the first inning.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R

DB 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3

WB 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

West Branch stats: Nicki Henson 1 RBI, 1 walk; DaLana Kron 2 walks; Taylor Tisinger 1-3; Kaylee Montgomery 1-3; Maddy Hatfield 2 walks; Taylor Thein 1-3. Pitching: Kaiya Luneckas pitched four innings and took the loss for the Bears. She gave up three runs, two earned, on two hits. She walked three and struck out three. Hanna Tisinger pitched three scoreless innings. She allowed one hit, walked one, and struck out two.

Durant-Bennett stats: Ruby Kappeler 1 run, 1 stolen base; Aubrey Werthmann 1-4, 1 RBI; Kathy Ralfs 1 run, 1 walk; Kamryn Meyer 1-3, 1 run, 1 homerun, 2 RBIs; Haleigh Carnes 1-2, 1 walk; Kelly Alexander 1 walk; Mallory Warner 1 walk. Pitching: Kamryn Meyer pitched seven innings for the win. She gave up one unearned run on three hits. She walked four and struck out 13.



Williamsburg tourney

May 27

The Bears lost two games at the Williamsburg tourney. Mackenzie Heise hit a double against Union Community.

1 2 3 4 5 R

UC 3 0 1 2 4 10

WB 0 0 0 0 0 0

West Branch stats: Taylor Thein 1-2; Kaylee Montgomery 2-2; Mackenzie Heise 1-2, 1 double. Pitching: Hanna Tisinger pitched five innings and took the loss for the Bears. She gave up 10 runs, four earned, on 11 hits. She walked three and struck out three.

Union Community stats: Kaitlin Holschlag 2-4, 2 runs; Ashley Carey 2-4 1 run, 1 walk; Peyton Parker 2-3, 3 runs, 1 RBI, 1 stolen base, 1 walk; Jordyn Nagle 1-3, 2 runs, 1 RBI; Natalie Tecklenburg 2-3, 2 runs, 1 double, 3 RBIs, 1 walk; Justine Nagle 2-3, 1 double, 1 walk; Emma Peters 1-2; Haylee Keune 1-3, 1 RBI; Hailee Brown 1-3; Kayla Lambe 1-1, 1 RBI. Pitching: Peyton Parker pitched five innings and got the win. She allowed four hits, walked zero, and struck out zero.



In the second game, the Bears lost 8-4 against Willaimsburg.

1 2 3 4 5 R

WB 2 0 2 0 0 4

W’burg 3 0 2 1 2 8

West Branch stats: DaLana Kron 1 run, 1 stolen base, 1 walk; Taylor Tisinger 1-3; Courtney Jarrett 1 run; Kaylee Montgomery 1-3, 1 run, 1 double, 1 RBI; Chloe Pence 1-2, 1 run, 1 double, 1 RBI, 1 walk; Taylor Thein 1-2, 1 triple, 2 RBIs; Maddy Hatfield 1 walk; Lexie Peak 2-2. Pitching: Kaiya Luneckas pitched four innings and took the loss for the Bears. She gave up six runs, four earned, on five hits. She walked four and struck out four. Hanna Tisinger pitched one inning, striking out one.

Williamsburg stats: Brittni Gilbert 2-2, 3 runs, 1 double, 1 RBI, 3 stolen bases, 1 walk; Amaleah Weldon 1-3, 1 run, 1 RBI; Kortni Gensley 1-2, 1 run, 1 double, 1 RBI, 1 stolen base, 1 walk; Jill Holub 1-3, 1 RBI; Breanna Nail 1 RBI; Aubray Walters 1-3, 1 run. Pitching: Shianne Lindsay pitched 3 2/3 innings and had no decision. She gave up four earned runs on five hits. She walked three and struck out one. Charley Geguzis pitched 3 1/3 hitless and scoreless innings and got the win.



West Branch 2/1, Wilton 14/8

May 22 at Wilton

The Bears dropped both games in their season-opener. In the 14-2 loss, DaLana Kron hit a double and knocked in a run. Chloe Pence was 2-2 at the plate with a double. Maddy Hatfield and Courtney Jarrett scored the runs. Nicki Henson was 2-2 at the plate. Mackenzie Heise had the RBI in the 8-1 loss. Jarrett scored the run.

1 2 3 4 5 R

WB 0 2 0 0 0 2

Wil. 0 3 2 9 x 14

West Branch stats: Dalana Kron 1-2, 1 double, 1 RBI; Lexie Peak 1-2; Chloe Pence 2-2, 1 double; Maddy Hatfield 1-2, 1 run; Courtney Jarrett 1 run; Nicki Hensen 2-2. Pitching: Hanna Tisinger pitched three innings and took the loss for the Bears. He allowed eight runs, three earned, on six hits. She walked two and struck out two. Kaiya Luneckas pitched 1/3 inning. She gave up six runs, four earned, on one hit and five walks.

Wilton stats: Alexis Maurer 1-3, 1 run, 1 stolen base; Chloe Wells 2-2, 2 runs, 1 double, 1 walks; Amanda Fowler 1 run, 1 RBI, 1 walk; Emily Lange 1-3, 2 RBIs; Allison Bosten 1=3, 2 runs; Kalie Milder 1-2, 1 run, 1 RBI, 1 walk; Alexis Walker 1-2, 2 runs, 1 RBI, 2 stolen bases, 1 walk; Falloyn Grunder 1 RBI, 3 walks; Karlie Schull 1-3, 1 run, 1 RBI; Annabel Grings 1 run; Shelby Oien 3 runs, 1 stolen base. Pitching: Falloyn Grunder pitched all four innings and got the win. She gave up two earned runs on six hits. She walked zero and struck out two.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R

WB 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1

Wil. 3 1 3 0 1 0 x 8

West Branch stats: DaLana Kron 1-4; Lexie Peak 1-4; Taylor Thein 2-4, 1 stolen base; Kaylee Montgomery 1 walk; Courtney Jarrett 1 run; Chloe Pence 1-3; Mackenzie Heise 1 RBI; Annika Olson 1-3; Nicki Henson 1-3. Pitching: Kaiya Luneckas pitched four innings and took the loss. She gave up seven runs, four earned, on seven hits. She walked seven and struck out one. Hanna Tisinger pitched two innings. She gave up one run on two hits.

Wilton stats: Alexis Maurer 1 RBI, 1 stolen base; Chloe Wells 1-3, 1 double, 1 walk; Amanda Fowler 3-3, 2 RBIS, 1 walk; Emily Lange 2-4, 1 run, 1 homerun, 1 RBI; Allison Bosten 2-4; Alexis Walker 1 run, 1 walk; Regan Scarboro 1-1, 2 runs, 1 walk; Regan Scarboro 1-1, 2 runs, 1 walk; Falloyn Grunder 1-2, 1 run, 1 walk; Katie Schult 1-2, 1 RBI, 1 stolen base, 1 walk; Kalie Milder 1 run; Shelby Oien 2 runs, 1 stolen base. Pitching: Chloe Wells pitched seven innings and got the win. She allowed one unearned run on seven hits. She walked one and struck out five.