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MCDONALD'S SWNEWS4U CO-GAME OF THE WEEK (Prep Volleyball): Richland Center Invitational
Hornets overwhelm foes to win own invitational
Jaden Johnson
Richland Center's Jaden Johnson helped the Hornets go 5–0 to win last Saturday's Richland Center Invitational.
Published: Sep 30, 2022, 6:23 PM

MCDONALD'S SWNEWS4U.COM CO-GAME OF THE WEEK (Sept. 21–28)
VOLLEYBALL: Richland Center Invitational

By Erik Olson, The Richland Observer

Hornets go a perfect 5–0 and win all 10 sets to win own six-team Richland Center Invitational.

RICHLAND CENTER — The Richland Center Hornets sailed through a six-team RC Invitational Saturday and improved their overall record to 21-7.

Coach Jamie Johnson won 10 straight sets in the tournament - none by fewer than seven points.

The coach agreed that his much taller team was a heavy favorite in the tournament. He pointed out that the tournament afforded him to give his entire roster to see some action. “We worked on some things and we used several different combinations,” he said

The Hornets swept two sets each from Seneca, Cochrane-Fountain City, Riverdale, Highland and Necedah. 

The Hornets overcame Seneca’s early lead and prevailed, 25-15 and 25-18. Aliyah Ruhland registered eight kills and Kenna Monson four. As a team, the Hornets hit .186. Ezra Cosgrove had seven digs and Ava Shannon and Kayla Gander each six. The Hornets had only one receiving error.

The Hornets topped Cochrane-Fountain City, 25-18, 25-13. Despite hitting .093, Monson had siven kills and Ruhland five. Jaden Johnson recorded 16 digs and Cosgrove eight. Gander dished out eight assists and Shannon six.

The Hornets topped Necedah, 25-18 and 25-14. Ruhland had six kills and Monson five. The Hornets hit .091, but had five aces with only one serving error. Cosgrove totaled 11 digs and Gander seven. Shannon produced six assists. 

The Hornets handed Riverdale 25-18 and 25-10 setbacks as Johnson and Monson each had six kills. Johnson had eight digs while Carley Mieden and Cosgrove each had six. Shannon handed out 14 assists and Gander seven.

The Hornets hit ..383 in win over Highland, 25-11 and 25-13. Kailey Hockerman tallied a set-hit seven kills while Monson had six. The Hornets did not have a service error. Johnson was credited with nine digs, Cosgrove eight, Ellie Rynes seven and Shannon seven. Shannon led the team with 14 assists.

The Hornets compete in an eight-team tournament at Lodi Saturday starting at 9 a.m.

Teams competing include Belleville, Catholic Central, Cuba City, Laona/Wabeno, Markesan, Wisconsin Heights, and host Lodi as well as the Hornets. 

On Tuesday, the Hornets will have a key rematch with Dodgeville here at the RCHS fieldhouse. The match figures to be a key match in the quest for the SWC title. The Hornets defeated the Dodgers earlier at Dodgeville.
MCDONALD'S SWNEWS4U GAME OF THE WEEK (WIAA D4 Baseball): No. 8 Boscobel 1, No. 1 Seneca 0
Boscobel knocks off #1-ranked Seneca en rout to first baseball regional title in 26 years
Boscobel celebration
Teammates mob senior pitcher Landon Haessly (third from right) after he struck out the final batter in a 71-pitch complete game, 1–0 shutout upset victory over No. 1 seed and #1-ranked Seneca last Tuesday, June 3. - photo by Wendi Stitzer
Updated: Jun 11, 2025, 5:12 PM
Published: Jun 11, 2025, 5:07 PM

MCDONALD'S SWNEWS4U.COM GAME OF THE WEEK (June 3–10)
WIAA D4 Baseball: No. 8 Boscobel 1, No. 1 Seneca 0

By Jason Nihles, Bosocbel Dial / Fennimore Times / The Platteville Journal

Boscobel knocks off #1-ranked Seneca en rout to first baseball regional title in 26 years
SENECA — The Boscobel baseball team was on top of the world last week. Coach James Marks’ Bulldogs shutout No. 1 seed and #1-ranked Seneca 1–0 in a WIAA Division 4 regional semifinal — behind an masterful pitching performance from senior Landon Haessly — then beat No. 5 seed De Soto a day later to win the program’s first regional title in 26 years (1999). 

Haessly sat down 15 of the final 17 batters he faced to hold the Potosi/Cassville (10–13) scoreless the final five innings (and finished with eight strikeouts) in Boscobel’s 5–3 regional quarterfinal victory Thursday, May 29. 

Last Tuesday, Haessly was even better, striking out four while walking just one in a brilliant 71-pitch five-hit shutout to lead the No. 8 seed Bulldogs (13–12) to a 1–0 upset victory over No. 1 seed and #1-ranked Seneca (21–3).

“Landon has been locked in on the mound for us thus far through the playoffs, with an ERA of 0.50 and opponents batting average of .184,” said Marks. “Landon gives us a chance to win ever time he steps on the mound the kids trust him he is a leader and a competitor. If there was a kid that deserved something special like this it’s him!”

The Royals’ Jack Gallagher matched Haessly pitch-for-pitch, striking out 12 and allowing six hits in 6 1/3 scoreless innings. But Gallagher reached the 100-pitch limit after striking out Anderson for the first out of the seventh inning.

Loos was hit by the second pitch by reliever Dawson Davidson, and Bryar Wayne followed with a single.

Loos then stole third, and junior Tyler Miller laid down a perfect squeeze bunt to scored Loos, who just beat a behind the back flip from Davidson to score the game-winning run.

“The suicide squeeze is something I work on with our team,” said Marks. “I’m a firm believer in bunting and small ball and scoring runs when you can in the top of the seventh was no different. We needed to run, lead off batter Cameron Loos got on, then Bryar came up and got another single. So, with runners on my best bunter at the plate, the boys already knew what I was thinking, Cam was able to steal third base on the first pitch to set up the suicide squeeze which him and Tyler Miller executed perfectly to give us a run.”

Haessly allowed a leadoff single to Hagensick, but struck out Konichek before junior catcher Jarren Weahkee threw out Hagensick attempting to steal second. Haessly then struck out Swiggum to end the game and complete the upset. 

“Beating Seneca was such a surreal moment,” said Marks. “It’s hard to explain the feeling of such excitement and support from the fans and the players. I knew going into the game that it was going to be a tough one. Seneca, obviously the number one team in Division 4, has had a very impressive season and I’m close with some of there players and know what kind of athletes they brought to the table. For us to battle through all seven innings  and keep the energy was amazing and unforgettable.”

The Bulldogs' season ended this Tuesday with a 9–2 loss to No. 6 seed Highland in a D3 sectional semifinal at Blair–Taylor High School.

In a year drought-snapping achievements, last week’s regional title was Boscobel’s first since the Bulldogs advanced all the way to the 1999 Division 3 state championship game behind future MLB draft pick Craig Molldrem, and future UW–Platteville standouts Ryan Von Haden and Jason Watson.

Boscobel recorded its first 10-win season since 2010 this year and was justly rewarded with its first home playoff game since 2011 — a 5–3 first-round win over Potosi/Cassville Thursday, May 29.

WIAA Division 4 Regional Semifinal
No. 8 Boscobel 1, No. 1 Seneca 0
(from Tuesday, June 3 @ Seneca)
Boscobel...000 000 1 —  1  8  1
Seneca.......000 000 0 —  0  5  1
Leading hitters — B: Cam Loos 1x3 (R, SB), Bryar Wayne 4x4 (SB), Tyler Miller 2x2 (RBI, 2BB, SB), Gage Wayne 1x3; S: Konichek 2x3.
W — Landon Haessly (4–4, 7IP, 5H, 0R, 4K, 1BB). L — Davidson (0.2IP, 2H, 1ER, 2K, 0BB).