HOLMEN — The Holmen High School softball team wasted little time in getting its offense rolling for the WIAA postseason.
The Vikings (17-8) scored at least two runs in every inning and stopped Central 15-4 in a five-inning WIAA Division 2 regional semifinal at Viking Elementary on Tuesday.
Holmen inflicted most of its damage during a seven-run third inning that gave it a 12-3 advantage on the RiverHawks (5-20).
Right fielder Harper Tengblad led off the second inning with a solo home run to left field, and catcher Avalee Euler completed the seven-run third with a two-run homer to left in a game that included six extra-base hits for the Vikings.
“As far as the bats go, we got them going early,” Holmen coach Dan Stuhr said. “I think we could have been a little sharper (in the circle). Gabi (Stuhr) made a couple mistakes, but she has pitched pretty well.”
The victory gets third-seeded Holmen a regional final at home against sixth-seeded Onalaska on Thursday. The Hilltoppers beat Eau Claire Memorial 7-6 in 10 innings on Tuesday.
Shortstop Macy Kline also doubled twice, scored three runs, stole two bases and drove in two runs for the Vikings, who also received two singles, three runs driven in and four stolen bases from second baseman Makenzie Nunemacher.
Euler ended up driving in four runs, and first baseman Kaylee Mosser was 2 for 2 with a double, three runs scored, two knocked in and three stolen bases.
Shortstop Ellie Gillitzer hit a home run and drove in two runs, and pitcher/first baseman Norah Holkup doubled and drove in two runs for Central. Catcher Morgan Pacl also went 2 for 2.
The Vikings now shift their focus to the Hilltoppers. Onalaska and Holmen split two regular-season games with Holmen winning 4-3 at Onalaska, and Onalaska winning 8-3 at Holmen with seven of its runs in the sixth and seventh innings.
“We’ve had two really good games,” Stuhr said. “In the first one was back and forth all the way through when we won there.
“When we played her, we were ahead by a couple runs going to the sixth. We had two chances to get out of (the sixth), but we didn’t make the play. Then we fell apart in the seventh inning, and they took advantage.”
Onalaska 7, Eau Claire Memorial 6 (10)
ONALASKA — The Hilltoppers (18-9) won their fifth game in a row when pitcher Sydney Kraus hit a sacrifice fly to score shortstop Sophia Larkin with the winning run.
Kraus also tied the game with a two-run double in the sixth to complete a 3-for-5 performance than included five runs driven in. Kraus added a second double and a triple during Onalaska’s 12-hit showing.
Kraus struck out 16 batters, walked two and allowed five hits and no earned runs in pitching a complete game.
Center fielder Cayenne Zinnecker was 2 for 4 with three runs scored and two solen bases, and Larkin was 2 for 5.
DIVISION 2
West Salem 9, Ellsworth 0
WEST SALEM — The third-seeded Panthers (20-3) used two-hit pitching from senior Josie Brudos and scored six runs in the first inning to set the tone against the Panthers.
West Salem plays at second-seeded Somerset in a regional final on Thursday.
Brudos struck out 18 hitters, walked two and allowed two singles in the complete-game shutout. She also singled, stole a base and scored a run.
First baseman Madison Elsen and second baseman Brooklyn Haverly-Ghelfi each drove in two runs for the Panthers, who received two hits and two runs scored from shortstop Parker Powell.
Brudos struck out the side in the second, third, fifth and sixth innings.
Altoona 3, Logan 2
ALTOONA — The fifth-seeded Rangers (9-14) tied the game with two runs in the top of the seventh inning, but the Railroaders walked them off on an error in the bottom of the inning.
Logan loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh with singles from Quinn Thompson, Kaia DePaolo and Claire Schmitz before right fielder Cassidy Van Voorhis drew a walk for the first run.
After an out was recorded, third baseman Kenna Streeck hit a sacrifice fly to score DePaolo with the tying run.
DIVISION 3
Adams-Friendship 10, Aquinas 0 (5)
ADAMS — The eighth-seeded Blugolds (8-16) were only able to get one hit against the regional’s top seed.
First baseman Ava Scholze doubled to center field with two outs in the first inning, and Aquinas drew three walks the rest of the way.
DIVISION 4
Melrose-Mindoro 3, Cashton 2
MELROSE — The third-seeded Mustangs (16-5) advanced to a regional final when right fielder Miranda Banse hit a sacrifice fly to score center fielder Kelsey Young with the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Banse drove in two runs for Melrose-Mindoro, which overcame three errors and plays at second-seeded Iowa-Grant on Thursday.
Opal Buchanan struck out nine, walked two and allowed four hits in pitching a complete game for the Mustangs. She also hit a double.
Iowa-Grant 10, Luther 3
LIVINGSTON — The seventh-seeded Knights (4-17) scored once in the sixth inning and twice in the seven against the second seed.
Second baseman Maddie Horvat doubled home a run in the sixth, and shortstop Kaitlyn Van Loon hit a two-run home run in the seventh.
Third baseman Rylee Weber was 2 for 3 and stole two bases for Luther.
