EDITOR'S NOTE: The Swnews4u.com Athlete of the Week is a web-only feature that will publish each Thursday or Friday throughout the calendar year.
By Jason Nihles, The Platteville Journal / Fennimore Times / Boscobel Dial
Kyree Fischer, So., P, Richland Center softball
RICHLAND CENTER — Sophomore Kyree Fischer tossed a pair of perfect games to lead Richland Center to a pair of non-conference wins over Wauzeka–Steuben last Thursday and Royall on Monday afternoon.
Fischer fired a five-inning perfect game, and Jaycee Gander had two hits and four RBI to lead Richland Center to a 10–0 non-conference win over Wauzeka–Steuben in last Thursday's season-opener. Fischer, who as a freshman led the Hornets on a postseason run to the WIAA Division 3 sectional semifinals a year ago, faced the minimum 15 batters, striking out 13 including the first 10 she faced.
No Wauzeka–Steuben player reached reached base in the game, as only two visitors put the ball in play on ground outs to second baseman Aubrey Kohlstedt and one on a comebacker to Fisher.
Meanwhile, the homestanding Hornets struck for two runs in the first inning and tacked on four in the second. Another four-run outburst in the bottom of the fourth turned the game into the run rule contest. Richland Center started quickly as leadoff hitter Ella Clements and Regan Schoepp reached and crossed the plate on a Gander single.
The home team broke the game open with a four runs in the second inning. With the bases loaded, Fischer smashed a pitch off the fence in left field for a two-run double, and Gander followed with another run-scoring hit.
Fischer was just as good again in Monday's 5–0 victory over Royall. She struck out 16 of the 21 batters she faced and hit a two-run double off the left centerfield fence in the bottom of the third to give the Hornets an early 2–0 lead. She also had another hit in the win.
Fischer and the Hornets will face Mauston Monday before opening SWC play Thursday, April 9 against River Valley.
HONORABLE MENTION (in alphabetical order):
Bethany Daugherty, So., Cuba City girls track and field
Daugherty won the girls' triple jump (34'6"), the 200 (26.62 seconds) and the 400 (1:04.09) at last Saturday's Inside Out High School Meet at UW–Platteville.
Madison Knuckey, Fr., Southwestern track and field
Knuckey won the girls' 1,600-meter run (5:37.77) and teamed with senior Lily Hoppman, and sophomores Avery Han and Maci Reichmann to win the 4x800 relay (11:08.39) and place second in the 4x400 relay (4:43.78) at the Tri-State Small Schools Invitational Saturday, March 21 at UW–Platteville.
