By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer
A Kira Mickelson grand slam for Westosha Central in the top of the third inning broke the century mark in runs scored through eight games, but came at the expense of host Wilmot Union Thursday.
The Lady Falcons, who plated 40 in last weekend’s tournament, shut out Wilmot 10-0 to stretch its scoreless streak to 34 innings dating back to Westosha Central’s sole loss of the season at Union Grove.
The Falcons, who improved to 4-1 in the Southern Lakes Conference after Thursday’s win, outscored opponents 106-8 in nine games (8-1 overall).
Alyssa Hrncar, who notched her fifth win, tossed six innings, walked none, struck out six and allowed three hits.
“Alyssa had her usual day; get the opponent to put the ball in play and let her defense make plays,” said Falcons’ co-head coach Tom Lampe.
Hrncar and Lady Panther junior Sarah Hutchinson, who has endured a season of highs and lows, waged in a pitcher’s dual until the third inning when Hutchinson walked the bases loaded for Mickelson.
Mickelson, a junior shortstop, belted a shot over the left-center field wall, plating Hrncar, senior catcher Kayla Konwent and senior third baseman Chy Onstad.
The grand slam was Mickelson’s fourth home run, tying Onstad and Konwent for the team lead.
“Kira has been a clutch performer for us all season. She tends to get overlooked because of all the other hitters but she has been this consistent all season.” Lampe said.
Two innings later, after a Konwent walk, Onstad connected on her first of two home runs of the game and propelled the Lady Falcons to a 6-0 lead.
In the sixth, following a Konwent sacrifice fly to score Kayla Kerkman, who reached on a single, Onstad belted her second to send Hrncar and sophomore Jenna Kontaxis home.
Onstad finished with a 2-for-2 performance at the plate, where she knocked in five runs.
The Lady Panthers’ top of the order of senior Sam Schloegl along with juniors Kalyssa Koehn and Riley Regnier tried to ignite the offense, but was held to one hit each.
Koehn, hitting a robust .548 through nine games, hit a one-out single in the first inning and subsequently stole her first base of the season.
But, after a Regnier fly out and Hayli Richards strikeout, she was left on base.
Hutchinson gave the Lady Falcons a scare in the fifth when she hit a home run that was reversed on appeal, citing a misstep on first base.
“That’s a tough one for Sarah. She should have had a home run and ruined the shut out but I am proud of our bench that they kept themselves involved in the game. I’m proud of their focus,” Tom Lampe said.
The Lady Panthers attempted another rally in the sixth inning when Schloegl hit a one-out single, but was called out on a Koehn fielder’s choice.
Regnier followed up with a single, pushing Koehn to third base, but was left on base when Hrncar struck out Richards to end the game.
Hills and valleys for Lady Panthers
Wilmot held a 2-3 Southern Lakes Conference record entering its game against Westosha Central, following a series of let downs, including difficult losses to Burlington April 14 and Delavan-Darien April 12.
The Lady Panthers had 5-4 lead against Delavan-Darien entering the seventh inning, but could not hold on after the Comets added the tying run, forcing the contest into extra innings.
In the eighth, the Comets tacked on four runs to defeat Wilmot 9-5.
Koehn gave the Lady Panthers a 1-0 edge with a first-inning solo home run off Delavan-Darien’s Jennah Speth, who finished with 13 strikeouts, walked two and allowed five runs on eight hits.
The following inning, senior catcher Alyssa Horn knocked in Taylor Danielson for the second run.
After the Comets posted a three-run third inning, Wilmot rallied in the sixth inning, which included a Danielson two-run home run to give Wilmot a 5-4 lead entering the final frame.
But, the Comets forced extra innings with a run in the seventh inning, and followed with four more in the eighth.
The Lady Panthers bounced back the following night with a 10-0 shutout of host Waterford, where Richards tossed a five-inning no-hitter.
Richards, who struck out five and walked four, was the second Wilmot pitcher to post a no-hitter.
Hutchinson threw the first no-hitter in the 23-0 drubbing of Lake Geneva Badger to open the season.
Offensively, Regnier went 3-for-3, including two doubles and a home run, driving in four runs.
Koehn chipped in with a two-run triple, and went 3-for-3 at the plate with three runs scored.
However, the Lady Panthers endured a tough loss April 14 at Burlington, where Wilmot erased a 4-3 deficit with a five run seventh inning.
The Demons responded with five of their own in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat Wilmot 9-8.
Regnier, who is batting .630 through eight games, went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored against Burlington.
Richards went 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored.
At the Western Kenosha County Invitational last weekend, the Lady Panthers won two of three games, and outscored opponents 12-9 that included a 5-1 victory against Beaver Dam, where Hutchinson fanned 11 hitters and allowed six hits through seven innings.
In the 5-1 win against Beaver Dam, Koehn went 2-4, collected a double, and scored twice.
Richards hit 1-4 with a double and two RBIs versus Beaver Dam.
Lessons learned for Central
According to Tom Lampe, Olivia Klean needed more time on the mound, noting the junior was put into a tough position in last year’s state tournament following an injury to Hrncar.
“We got caught at state last year when (Hrncar) had the blown up knee, and we really didn’t give (Olivia) a lot of fair chances on the mound,” Lampe said. “We were kind of putting her in rough spots at the state tournament giving her the ball… but we got through it.”
The decision has paid off, with Klean holding opponents scoreless in her last three appearances, including a flawless performance in the Lady Falcons’ 10-0 shutout of visiting Waterford April 19.
Klean held the Wolverines to one hit, struck out two and walked two through five innings.
In Klean’s first two appearances, she fanned 14 hitters and allowed two earned runs on eight hits through 10 innings.
Lampe emphasized the junior’s experience as a freshman, where she compiled an 11-1 record.
“The year before, she was 11-1 as a starter for us…and Alyssa was 27-4 so we just decided to give Olivia more time on the mound,” Lampe said.
Additional work for Klean equates to more efficiency for Hrncar, who held opponents scoreless in five consecutive games, including a 3-0 defeat of No. 2 ranked Kaukauna April 18.