Hrncar cruises to sixth shutout with ease

Alyssa Hrncar, shown here in a game last season, logged her sixth shutout of her junior season in Friday's win against Burlington. Hrncar struck out 10 Demons
Alyssa Hrncar, shown here in a game last season, logged her sixth shutout of her junior season in Friday’s win against Burlington. Hrncar struck out 10 Demons.

Westosha Central extends win streak to 10

By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer

While Alyssa Hrncar cruised to another shutout, the Westosha Central batting order got the job done, where they scattered 11 hits en route to a Southern Lakes Conference win against visiting Burlington.

Hrncar, who entered Friday’s contest with five shutouts, tossed seven scoreless innings, struck out 10 and allowed six hits that yielded a 9-0 win Friday.

The Lady Falcons improved to 12-1 (8-1 SLC) and extended its winning streak to 10 games.

Westosha Central co-head coach Tom Lampe noted Hrncar’s location was instrumental in Friday’s win.

“The key for her always is to throw the ball inside and she did a nice job,” Tom Lampe said. “She made her pitches work, work.”

Senior catcher Kayla Konwent, who walked four times, said Hrncar started heating up in the third inning.

Hrncar (9-1) allowed two of her six hits in the first inning, and hit Lady Demons’ Alexandria Naber to start the second inning, before striking out the side.

“She had pretty good command over her pitches,” Konwent said. “Especially towards around the third inning, she made it pretty difficult for them to hit them.”

Offensively, Westosha Central scored a run in the first, twice in the third, and three runs in both the fourth and sixth innings.

After a Hrncar single to start the Lady Falcons’ first inning, a Konwent walk, junior Kira Mickelson singled home Hrncar to put Westosha Central ahead 1-0.

Konwent walked to open the third inning, followed by an Onstad fly out before Mickelson advanced on a fielding error to put runners in scoring position.

With Olivia Klean at the plate, Burlington pitcher Danielle Koenen threw a ball that deflected off the catcher’s mitt, leaving home plate open for a Mickelson run.

Following an Elaine Anderson (2-3) leadoff double and Kayla Kerkman single to open the fourth inning, Jenna Kontaxis came to the plate where she singled in Andersen, giving the Lady Falcons a 4-0 lead.

Kerkman, who went 3 for 4, scored on a Koenen wild pitch. Chy Onstad plated Kontaxis on a sacrifice fly.

Despite a wild pitch and passed ball, Burlington coach Greg Calivia did not believe it rattled Koenen.

“I don’t think she ever feels rattled, she gives us everything she’s got every time she pitches,” Caliva said. “I think we made a couple mistakes on the field and that hurt us.”

But, Josie Klein – the Lady Demons’ leading hitter (2 for 3) – relieved Koenen in the sixth inning.

However, Westosha Central added three more, starting with an Olivia Klean single, knocking in Konwent, who led off with a walk in the sixth inning.

Klean, along with Carrie Weis capped off the sixth after freshman Rebecca Edwards punched in a single, plating both.

To Koenen’s credit, Tom Lampe said the Burlington hurler and Demons’ defense forced the Lady Falcons to deviate from the team’s customary strategy.

“We didn’t do it our usual way, where our big boppers did all the work,” Tom Lampe said. “We had to spread the wealth around.”

Burlington dropped to 6-3 (4-3 SLC) after Friday’s loss.


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