Westosha bests Union Grove in first place showdown

Westosha Central assistant coach Bryanna Heckel greets sophomore Jenna Kontaxis after she knocked in the game-winning run against Union Grove (Earlene Frederick/The Report).
Westosha Central assistant coach Bryanna Heckel greets sophomore Jenna Kontaxis after she knocked in the game-winning run against Union Grove (Earlene Frederick/The Report).

By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer

In a battle between the top two Division 1 softball teams in the state, everyone knew the Southern Lakes Conference showdown of Westosha Central and Union Grove would be a challenge, but the addition of dueling aces made it a nail biter May 5.

After four scoreless innings between Westosha Central junior Alyssa Hrncar and Broncos’ Brittany Moore, the Lady Falcons posted the eventual game-winning run on a sophomore Jenna Kontaxis run-scoring single, plating senior Elaine Andersen, who drew a leadoff walk.

The 1-0 Westosha Central victory puts them in a first-place tie with the No. 1 ranked Broncos, and avenged a 6-1 early season loss, where Moore struck out 13 Westosha Central hitters April 14.

“This was a typical Grove game, you saw where we were both ranked,” said Lady Falcons’ co-head coach Tom Lampe. “It was one of those game where we survived.”

Lampe told his squad all week to minimize strikeouts, citing Moore’s 13 strikeouts in the first meeting, and Westosha Central responded Thursday, holding Moore to two strikeouts.

“She moves the ball around, she located the ball really well,” Tom Lampe said. “The key in thgis game, we have talked about all week, we can’t strike out.”

Hrncar, meanwhile, outpaced Moore, tossing seven shutout innings for her eighth of the season, striking out three and allowing four hits against the Broncos.

In the first meeting of the season, Hrncar allowed five earned runs on 10 hits, but knew she had to limit her mistakes in the rubber match of the season series.

The Falcons junior allowed a runner in scoring position in the seventh inning, and knew she had to focus on the hitter.

“Just pitch my pitch, and not make any mistakes,” said Hrncar. “When you do against a team like this, it will hurt.”

The Lady Falcons had opportunities early in the game, including the third inning when Carrie Weis got into scoring position with a leadoff double, but was eventually left on base when Kayla Kerkman lined out to Alyssa McClelland.

After Hrncar allowed a Claire Ryan single and stolen base, followed by striking Brooklyn Ottelien with two outs, she was able to get out of the jam, courtesy of a Julia Jester catch in center field.

In the Falcons’ fourth inning, they led off with back-to-back hits, but Moore was able to escape the inning unscathed.

“(Moore) is hard to battle, great movement all around and she can keep you guessing,” Tom Lampe said.

In the fifth inning, Jester had a similar catch with runners on first and second with two outs, snagging a ball to end the Broncos threat.

Andersen, who went 1 for 3, led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a single, followed by a stolen base, and moved to third base on a Kayla Kerkman single, which sent Kontaxis to the plate.

Kontaxis, who battled Moore’s pitches, fouled on off before co-head coach Konnie Lampe set her aside.

“When she hit that foul tip high in the air, I called her over, and told her to relax,” Konnie Lampe said. “Just put the ball in play.”

Kontaxis noted Moore’s rise ball was effective throughout the game.

“It was just about staying calm…I knew her rise ball was working,” said Kontaxis, who finished with a 1-2 game.

Boylen, whose team dropped 13-1 overall, credited Hrncar’s stellar pitching performance.

“Alyssa pitched phenomenally, they played some awesome defense,” Boylen said.

Moore held the Lady Falcons to four hits, walked two, struck out two and allowed one earned run through six innings to receive the loss.

“I don’t care who you are, if you hold that team to one run, you are pretty darn good,” Boylen said.

Westosha Central improved to 13-1 overall, and are tied with Union Grove at 9-1 in the SLC after Thursday’s win.


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