GAME OF THE WEEK (April 20–26)
TRACK & FIELD:
51st Annual Platteville Hillmen Relays, Thursday, April 20, 3:30 p.m.
Platteville will host the 51st annual Platteville Hillmen Relays today at 3:30 p.m. This year’s field includes the host Hillmen, Belmont, Cassville, Cuba City, Darlington, Dodgeville/Mineral Point, Galena (Ill.), Lancaster, Lena Winslow (Ill.), Potosi, River Ridge and River Valley.
All events are relay events. Field events are composed of two athletes from each team. Their distances are combined to achieve their final placings. In the 3,200-meter run relay, the two runners times are combined to achieve their placings.
The Platteville Relays are dedicated to and in memory of Chuck Thorpe. Coach Thorpe coached track and field at Platteville High School as an assistant and head coach from 1971–91.
This year’s meet is also dedicated to Rosemary Anderson. Anderson was a teacher, forensics coach, mother and wife and avid supporter of the Platteville High School cross country and track and field teams.
On Friday, May 12, 1967, the inaugural Platteville Relays was run near the old Platteville High School (current middle school) on a grass track that had been chalk lined earlier in the day. The Platteville Relays was the brainchild of then head coach Bob Dungay and was modeled after the Prairie Du Chein Relays — the oldest track relay meet in the state of Wisconsin. The first Platteville Relays consisted of two non-relay events, 100-yard dash and the mile run, along with the traditional 880-yard. relay and the mile relay. It also had two three-member shuttle hurdle relays, the 330-year high hurdle relay and the 180-yard low hurdle relay. Each field event, pole vault, high jump, long jump, shot put and discus was made into a relay by adding the best distances of a three-member team.
PREP GOLF: Dick McKichan Platteville Invitational, Saturday, April 22, 9 a.m.
The Platteville Hillmen will host the 17-team Platteville Invitational Saturday morning at the Platteville Golf & Country Club. Attending teams include the host Hillmen, Argyle, Barneveld, Cuba City, Dodgeville, Fennimore, Iowa–Grant, Lancaster, Mauston, Mineral Point, Prairie du Chien, Richland Center, River Valley, Shullsburg, Southwestern, Viroqua and Westby.
PREP BASEBBALL: Potosi (5–4, 2–2 SRC) at Shullsburg/Benton (6–1, 4–0 SRC, #9 in Division 3), Monday, April 24, 5 p.m.
The co-league leading Miner–Zephyrs will put their perfect conference record on the line Monday when coach Ron Kading’s Chieftains come to town. Potosi has picked up the offense in the past week after a sluggish. Jake Eastlick threw a one-hit shutout Tuesday to lead Potosi to a 10–0 victory over Cassville. Senior Hunter Matye struck out five in a no-hitter to lead Shullsburg/Benton to a 4–0 win over Belmont last Tuesday afternoon.
This week’s other key games
River Valley (6–2) at Fennimore (7–0), Monday, April 24, 4:30 p.m.
The SWAL-leading Golden Eagles put their undefeated record on the line Monday against the SWC-leading Blackhawks.
Lancaster (5–2, 1–1 SWC) at River Valley (6–2, 2–0 SWC), Tuesday, April 25, 5 p.m.
The third-place Flying Arrows get a chance to knock of one of the two SWC powerhouses Tuesday afternoon.
Pecatonica (7–0, 4–0 SRC, #1 in Division 4) at Highland (7–0, 4–0 SRC, #7 in D4), Friday, April 21, 4:30 p.m.
The top-ranked East-leading Vikings travel to West co-leading Highland in a Six Rivers Conference crossover doubleheader on Friday afternoon. Both teams come in undefeated. One, maybe both may leave with its first loss of the season.
PREP SOFTBALL: River Valley (6–3, 2–0 SWC) at Platteville (4–1, 2–0 SWC), April 25, 5 p.m.
The leaders of the Southwest Wisconsin Conference meet Tuesday afternoon. Sophomore Emma Wein struck out 14 batters to lead the Hillmen to a 9–2 victory over Lancaster Tuesday. River Valley blanked Dodgeville 5–0 on Tuesday to improve to 2–0 in conference play.
This week’s other key games
Belmont (8–0, 4–0 SRC, #2 in Division 5) at River Ridge/Cassville (6–3, 3–0 SRC), Monday, April 24, 5 p.m.
The undefeated Braves will look to hand River Ridge/Cassville its first conference loss of the season. Belmont sophomore Sadie Wellborn (5-0, 0.36 ERA, 49K, 38.2IP) struck out 11 and twirled a one-hit shutout to lead the Braves to a 6–0 win at Highland on Tuesday.
Mineral Point (3–3, 3–1 SWAL) at Iowa–Grant (7–0, 5–0 SWAL, #9 in Division 4), Monday, April 24, 5 p.m.
The undefeated Panthers will look to take another step toward this year’s SWAL title when they host third-place Mineral Point on Monday.
Iowa–Grant (7–0, #9 in D4) at Belmont (8–0, #2 in D5), Tuesday, April 25, 5 p.m.
Two of the best teams in the area square off in a non-conference game Tuesday at Bond Park. Belmont is the early favorite to repeat as Six Rivers West champion, while coach Deanna Fulton's Panthers are making their case as the favorites in the Southwestern Wisconsin Activities League.
