By Jason Arndt
Editor
In her first three years, Kira Mickelson admits she had anxiety in the batter’s box, but the Westosha Central softball player has found a sense of calm her senior season.
The calm approach has paid off for the senior middle infielder in back-to-back Southern Lakes Conference contests, starting with her first home run of the season at Waterford April 12.
The next game, against host Wilmot Union April 18, she added her second home run to help the Falcons defeat their cross town rivals 9-4.
Mickelson, whose team improved to 5-0 after the win at Wilmot, went 3-for-3, including two doubles, had four RBI with three runs scored.
Contributions were not limited to Mickelson, however, with senior outfielder Carrie Weis hitting 4-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI.
Mickelson credited a relaxed team for the Falcons’ win.
“As a team, we all just remembered to have fun, in big games like this, people start to freak out,” said Mickelson.
For Wilmot, coach Jennifer Jacobson attributed the loss to base running and fielding miscues, along with a schedule marred by weather-related postponements.
Entering the contest, the Falcons had four games on the field while Wilmot could only muster one.
“There were a few errors and some base running issues that put us in tough situations,” said Jacobson. “This is only our second game played this year, so we are still trying to shake off the rust.”
Lampe concurred, stating the weather has wreaked havoc on the Panthers’ start to the season.
“They just haven’t been on the field a lot, it has been such a crazy schedule,” he said.
Falcons strike first
After two scoreless frames, the Falcons found a rhythm in the top of the third inning, courtesy of a Mickelson two-run double to score sophomore Kayla Kerkman, who singled, and senior Olivia Klean, who advanced on a fielding error.
Following Mickelson’s double, Weis added one of her own, plating Mickelson to cap off Westosha Central three-run inning.
The Panthers cut the lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the third inning, when sophomore outfielder Haley Lamberson, who drew a leadoff walk, scored on a fielding error.
Mickelson sparks fifth
After sophomore pitcher Olivia Kazumura reached on a one out single, Mickelson came to the plate, where she belted her second home run of the season to give the Falcons a 5-1 lead.
Mickelson cited a new approach at the plate for her early season surge.
“I am just trying to see the ball better this year, and in past years, I have just been really anxious and had to remember to stay calm,” said Mickelson.
The surge, according to Falcons’ co-coach Tom Lampe, does not come as a surprise.
“She has been making great contact all season, we knew she could do it,” said Lampe, adding the loss of two power-hitters to graduation gave her an opportunity to shine.
“She has just been overshadowed for many years with Kayla Konwent and Chy Onstad and now she is coming into her own,” he said.
Wilmot cuts lead
The Panthers responded in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring three runs to trim their deficit to 5-4, courtesy of a senior Kalyssa Koehn sacrifice fly and senior Riley Regnier two-run double.
With the bases loaded, Koehn’s sacrifice scored sophomore Madison Zerr, who advanced on a fielding error.
Then, Regnier hit a double to plate senior Taylor Danielson, who reached on a fielding error, and junior Montana Platts, who singled.
Platts, a third baseman, batted 2-for-4 to lead the Panthers.
The Panthers’ rally, according to Mickelson, was expected.
“They are a really good team, we have a lot of respect for them as a team. We knew they were going to be one of our tough opponents coming in,” she said.
Falcons break game open
Clinging to a one-run lead, the Falcons scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning, courtesy of a several singles.
With Weis at the plate, and two runners on base, the senior outfielder hit a single to score Olivia Klean, who singled herself.
Sophomore Becca Edwards, the next hitter, then doubled to score Mickelson, who walked, and Weis, who notched the eighth run on an overthrow.
Sarai Roberts, a senior outfielder, capped off the four-run seventh inning with a single to plate Edwards.
Mickelson, citing the loss of recent graduates, said each player knows they play a crucial role in this year’s success.
“I feel like in the past, we really looked at Kayla, but now that we lost her, we all kind of had to step up as a team,” said Mickelson.
Picking up the win for the Falcons was Kazumura, who tossed seven innings, walked two, struck out four and allowed four unearned runs on six hits.
For the Panthers, senior Sarah Hutchinson took the loss, allowing nine runs (six earned) on 14 hits, walked two and struck out five through seven innings.
Despite the loss, Jacobson knows the team is capable of competing the rest of the season, including a rematch at Westosha Central next month.
“I keep telling the girls to keep their heads up and that we are only going to get better,” she said.