Falcons fall to Bradford

By Dan Truttschel ~ Sports Correspondent

The opposition may not completely believe it, but the Westosha Central softball team actually showed a human side last week.

And by that, it means the Falcons, the state’s top-ranked Division 1 team, lost for the first time this spring Friday afternoon.

The honor of breaking Central’s season-long win streak belongs to Kenosha Bradford, as it handed the Falcons a 4-1 non-conference loss.

Central closed the regular season at 17-1 overall and 14-0 in the Southern Lakes Conference. The Falcons clinched the SLC title outright earlier in the week.

“We learned some things about ourselves (Friday),” Central co-coach Tom Lampe said. “We’ll adjust and be ready in the future.”

Bradford took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning and built the advantage to 3-0 in the fourth. Central pushed its only run across the plate in the fourth inning on a throwing error by the Red Devils that scored Taylor Bergles.

The Falcons’ rally began with back-to-back singles by Brittney Blazich and Bergles with nobody out. Blazich was thrown out at home on an infield hit by Kayla Konwent, but Bergles scored when the throw to third sailed into the outfield.

Central was held to just two hits by Bradford standout pitcher Makenzie Walker, who struck out 10.

“She was the best pitcher we’ve seen all year,” Lampe said. “Although I never like to lose a game, I tip my hat my hat to her. She had a great performance.”

For the Falcons, Miranda Page pitched a complete game and took the loss, as she allowed seven hits, four earned runs, three walks and struck out one.

Page got the nod in place of Central standout pitcher Sarah Fonk, who was given a night off from the pitcher’s circle.

“Miranda threw a great game for us,” Lampe said. “I couldn’t ask for more from her. We just didn’t give her the run support.”

Central drew the top seed in the regional tournament and hosted either Burlington or Stoughton in a regional final contest Thursday. The winner of that matchup will advance to the sectional tournament, beginning next Tuesday, May 28.

 

Falcons outslug Broncos

Central led from start to finish at Union Grove May 16, but it took a five-run fifth inning to put the game out of reach in a 9-5 SLC victory.

Fonk earned her 11th win of the spring, as she allowed nine hits, five runs, a walk and struck out 11 in seven innings of work. All five of Union Grove’s runs charged to Fonk were unearned.

Central led 3-0 after the first inning, thanks to three Union Grove errors. The Broncos rallied to cut the lead to 3-2 after the bottom of the inning, but the Falcons scored four unanswered runs to give themselves some breathing room.

Bergles had two hits, including a home run in the fifth inning, three runs scored and drove in two. Kayla Konwent added two hits and two runs scored, while Larkin Langston and Maggie McMullin each drove in two.

McMullin’s two RBI came in the third inning – and at a key moment, Lampe said.

Central opened the week with a pair of 10-0 SLC wins over rival Wilmot last Monday and Tuesday afternoon.

In the game Tuesday, Central scored six runs in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back. Konwent belted her ninth homer of the year to highlight the frame.

Blazich had three hits, two runs scored and an RBI, followed by Sarah Fonk with two hits, including a double, and two RBI. Konwent had two hits, including a double and a homer, two runs scored and three RBI, while Hailey Spoerl and Liz Fonk both had two hits and a run scored.

Sarah Fonk picked up the win, as she allowed four hits and struck out three in five innings of work.

Fonk was the story in the first game of the week, as she twirled a five-inning perfect game against the Panthers. She fanned 11 Wilmot batters.

 


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