The Oriole varsity softball team is off to a strong start, logging wins against Cadott, Elk Mound, Palmyra, and Manawa this past week.
Taking to the field Tuesday, April 7 at Cadott, the Orioles came away with a 12-0 win against the Hornets to start the season. They then followed this with a 9-1 victory over the Mounders at Oriole Park Thursday, April 9. The team followed up this up with two wins Saturday, April 11 at Poynette High School, the first a 13-0 win over the Palmyra-Eagle varsity Panthers and the second a 4-0 win over the Manawa Wolves, bringing the Oriole’s season record to 4-0 overall thus far.
Orioles varsity head softball coach Kim Goettl reflected on how things are shaping up thus far this year.
“We started the season with our first game being a conference game,” she said. “We took down Cadott and Elk Mound last week. Dannea Wundrow hit it over the fence for the team’s first home run vs Cadott. Followed by Kendall Sikora hitting one out vs Elk Mound on Thursday. The power hitting continued in Poynette with Bailey Sikora and Dannea Wundrow hitting back to back homeruns vs Palmyra. We are a solid team all around. Yes we have the power at the plate but pair that with the short game, speed and a stacked defense lead by Sophomore pitcher Caitlen Ketterhagen who has stacked up 38 strike-outs in 4 games.”
As for the recap, game highlights against Cadott included triples by Gianna Dahm and Caitlen Ketterhagen, the Orioles scoring two runs in the bottom of the fourth on a home run to right field by Dannea Wundrow. Ketterhagen pitched five innings with just three hits and zero runs, with . Bailey Sikora meanwhile lead the Orioles in hits and runs batted in, going three for three at the plate for hits and batted in three runs. Ella Nitz, Kelly Lew, and Ketterhagen all got in hits as well.
On Friday against Elk Mound the Oriole’s Kendall Sikora hit a home run to left field in seventh pitch of the at-bat in the bottom of the first, batting in two runs to put Stanley-Boyd on the board, while a fly ball by Bailey Sikora upped the lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the third.
As for pitching, Ketterhagen pitched four innings with just three hits and one run for the Mounders, who scored in the top of the fourth on a home run to center field. Ketterhagen logged nine strikeouts and zero walks, with Nitz coming in for pitching relief, Nitz then pitched three innings with zero runs and three hits, logging four strikes and walking two.
As for highlights from the win against the Palmyra Eagles on Saturday, Bailey Sikora drove four runs on one hit, also scoring a home run to center field. Dannea Wundrow hit a solo home run to center field as well.
As for pitching Ketterhagen pitched two innings with one hit, striking out five and walking none. Nitz then took over to pitch three innings for the Orioles, allowing zero hits or runs while striking out six.
Closing the recap with Manawa, the Oriole’s Ketterhagen took the day with 16 strikeouts, surrendering two hits and zero runs or walks over seven innings. Leading the Orioles for runs batted in was Neveah Walters, with two runs batted in and a one for 3 record for the day. Walters and Lew each stole multiple bases as well, for a total of four bases over the course of the game.
Playing Bloomer Tuesday after press time at Bloomer, the Orioles face Cumberland on Friday, April 17 at Stanley-Boyd. Game start is 5:00 p.m.