Wolves win two RRC games
before losing to Big Lake 2-0
Posted 4/26/02

Call it an early-season test between two teams with the same 2002 season goal: a berth in the state tournament.

And, while his team lost to Big Lake 2-0 in a non-conference game Friday at Big Lake, Milaca Softball Coach Randy Johnson was far from disheartened.

"I thought it would be a close game and it was," said Johnson. "We were in the game and weíre not discouraged by the final score. Overall, we played a pretty solid game."

Big Lake pitching ace, sophomore right-hander Kayte Klesk, picked up where she left off against the Wolves last May when she hurled the Hornets to a 1-0 victory in nine innings in the Section 6AA, Sub-Section 18 championship game. Both teams advanced to the section meet but Milaca lost to Minnewaska 1-0 in 15 innings and Big Lake went on to the state tournament.

Klesk allowed two hits in last yearís sub-section win over Milaca as she out-dueled Milaca ace Angela Vedders, who was a junior.

Last Friday, Klesk again limited Milaca to a pair of hits as she bested Vedders and fellow senior Micki Dillon, who shared pitching duties.

"Klesk is tough," said Johnson. "She throws fast and hard and she has a great riser.

"However, we were making better contact over the last two or three innings. We just have to be a little more patient at the plate and lay off her riser when itís out of the strike zone."

Klesk struck out 10 and walked just one as she boosted her season record to 4-0.

Senior Rose Keimig and junior Chelsey Coffee each had a single to account for Milacaís two hits.

Dillon, a right-hander, started for Milaca and allowed two hits and three walks while striking out four over three innings.

Big Lake used a triple by Amanda Wojnowiak and a Milaca error to score both of its runs in the bottom of the third inning. Just one run was earned.

Vedders, also a right-hander, pitched the final three innings, allowing two hits and no walks while fanning three.

"Both Micki and Angela pitched well," said Johnson.

Earlier last week, Milaca opened Rum River Conference play by stopping Pine City 11-0 Tuesday, April 16, at Sod Park in Milaca before trimming Mora 12-0 Thursday, April 18, at Mora.

Milaca, 3-1 overall, hosts Princeton in a conference game today (Thursday) at 5 oíclock.

The Wolves are scheduled to play in the eight-team Morris Area Invitational Saturday at Morris. The Wolves meet Chokio-Alberta in the first round at 10 a.m. on the Wells south diamond.

In other first-round games at 10 a.m., Sebeka faces Willmar,

Morris Area meets Foley and Bertha-Hewitt faces Marshall. The consolation semifinals in the single-elimination tournament are at 11:30, with the championship semifinals at 1:15 p.m. The fifth and seventh place games are at 2 p.m., with the third place and title games at 3 p.m.

"There are several good teams in the tournament, so it should be a good test for us," said Johnson.

Milaca travels to Sauk Rapids Tuesday, April 30, at 5 p.m. The Wolves will make up a game against Foley postponed by the weather April 11 by hosting the Falcons in a doubleheader Thursday, May 9, starting at 4 p.m.

Milacaís game at Chisago Lakes Monday, April 22, was postponed and tentatively re-scheduled for Monday, April 29.

Milaca 11, Pine City 0

Vedders pitched a one-hit shutout, retiring the Dragons in order over the first four innings. She struck out seven and walked one.

Milaca pounded 10 hits with senior first baseman Katie VanHeel, senior catcher Kacee Biederman, Coffee and sophomore Sadie Hemmerich collecting two hits each. Hemmerich filled in at shortstop for senior Ashley Sikkink, who was ill.

Senior second baseman Sara Rhoda and senior right fielder Joyce Mehrwerth each had a single.

Milaca took a 2-0 lead in the second inning, then broke the game open with three runs in the fourth, two in the fifth and four in the sixth.

Milaca 12, Mora 0

Vedders and Dillon combined on a one-hit shutout.

Vedders notched the win, allowing one hit and no walks while striking out six over five innings. Dillon held Mora hitless over the final two innings as she struck out three and didnít allow a walk.

Keimig slugged a double and a pair of singles to lead Milacaís 14-hit attack. She drove in three runs.

Biederman also drove in three runs as she collected a double and a single and Hemmerich had a double and a pair of runs-batted-in.

Sikkink and VanHeel each had a pair of singles, with Sikkink scoring four runs and VanHeel scoring three.

Milaca broke a scoreless tie with two runs in the top of the third inning before scoring four runs in the fourth and one more in the fifth. The Wolves closed the game out with two runs in the sixth and three more in the seventh.