St. Croix Central softball suffers first two losses

• Shelby Thomley

St. Croix Central senior Shelby Thomley (4) makes solid contact during last Thursday’s loss to Spring Valley-Plum City.

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After two non-conference wins to start the season, the St. Croix Central softball team went up against two of the top programs in the Dunn-St. Croix Conference and suffered their first two losses of the season.

The Panthers were stung in an 11-5 loss at Elk Mound last Tuesday. That was followed by an eight inning 3-2 loss to the newly combined Spring Valley-Plum City cooperative team.

The loss to the co-op team was damaging because none of the runs the Panthers allowed were earned. Five errors were crushing for the Panthers, none more than two errors in the eighth inning. SV-PC got a one-out walk, but retired the next batter with no damage. On the next two plays the Panthers committed errors, allowing the winning run to score.

The Panthers outhit SV-PC 8-3 in the game. Kali Lawrence and Kalli Armagost both had two hits to lead the Panthers. Central got its first run in the opening inning when Kelsey McKenna singled, scoring on Armagost’s double.

SV-PC tied the game in the top of the fifth, but the Panthers quickly retook the lead in the bottom of the frame. Jessa Klinger led off the Panther fifth with a walk, moved up on Lawrence’s sacrifice bunt and scored on a wild pitch.

Kelly Harrington gave a pitching performance worthy of a win on Thursday. She allowed three hits and struck out nine, while walking two and not allowing an earned run.

Harrington was uncharacteristically wild in the Panthers’ loss to Elk Mound, walking 10 batters. Five errors by the Panther defense compounded the problem. The Mounders scored three times in each of the first three innings to take charge in the game.

The Panthers didn’t back down, recording 13 hits in the loss. Armagost led the way with three runs and Hailey Rock singled twice and scored both times. Shaylyn Lyksett and Shelby Thomley each drove home two runs.

The Panthers’ game scheduled for Monday at Elmwood was postponed due to inclement weather. It has been rescheduled for May 22.

The busy schedule continues for the Panthers on Thursday with a home game against Glenwood City. On Monday the Panthers play at Boyceville. They return home on Tuesday for a non-conference game against Ellsworth, one of the Middle Border Conference leaders.

Tags: sports, panthers, softball, prep