Chris Caporale, sports@wolfrivermedia.com
Leader Photo by Chris Caporale Shawano Community High School second baseman Alli Raddant attempts to tag a runner in Denmark’s four-run seventh inning Friday. Denmark won, 7-2.
Leader Photo by Chris Caporale Shawano Community High School center fielder Hannah Hein tries a diving catch in the outfield but could not come up with the ball during Shawano’s 7-2 loss to Denmark at home Friday.
Visiting Denmark’s four-run seventh inning, aided by a Shawano error, sealed a 7-2 victory over the Hawks on Friday.
Trailing by one run going into the final inning, Shawano counted on freshman Emilee Bastar to pitch her third inning of the day.
Denmark’s Taylor Wochenske opened the seventh with a single, before an error and two more singles plated the first run of the inning for a 4-2 Vikings lead. After Shawano turned a double play with the bases loaded, Denmark added two runs for a 6-2 lead. Pitcher Taylor Ullman hit a home run over the temporary fence at Martzke Park for the final run of the game.
“They had the top of the order coming up in that last half-inning, so we were very fortunate to get a little bit of a nicer lead going into the seventh,” Denmark head coach Mike Vakselis said.
Ullman sent the Hawks down in order in the bottom of the frame to end the game and finish a complete game.
Shawano tallied its only runs when Saige Henning hit a fly ball to center field with the bases loaded in the second inning. As Denmark’s Jayden Laurent made the catch running toward the fence, she flipped over the plastic fence. Kristina Wynos tagged up and scored, and Hannah Hein also advanced because Laurent went out of play.
“We’ve had a lot of base runners, just haven’t made the key hit,” Shawano head coach Kevin Isaacson said. “Saige did that today, and we get a couple more people with runners on base, it’s going to be a fun rest of the season.”
Hein, the starter for the Hawks, pitched over four innings without allowing a run in the first three.
After Hein walked the first batter of the fifth inning and threw two balls to Abby Metz, Isaacson made the switch to Bastar.
A Metz walk, Hawks error and a wild pitch enabled the Vikings to tie the game. Leah Hansen grounded into a fielder’s choice, putting the visitors ahead, 3-2.
“They learned that little things win big games,” Isaacson said. “A walk here, a fielding play there can be the difference in a big game. So, that’s what we’re trying to emphasize.”
Bastar gave up four hits, all in the seventh inning. Hein allowed six hits and one walk.
In the opening inning, Denmark hit four singles but could not score after Laurent was caught stealing by Shawano catcher Brandi Gueths and Hansen was thrown out at the plate by Kristina Wynos.
Freshman shortstop Bayleigh Laabs and Raddant each caught hard line drives as well.
“I did think we did have a whole lot of athletic plays on defense,” Isaacson said. “That was impressive.”
Henning, Alli Raddant, Erin Cerveny and Sarah Petry each had two hits for the Hawks. Shawano had three base runners in the final three innings but could not plate any more runs.
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Denmark 0 0 0 0 3 0 4 7 10 1
Shawano 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 8 2