GAME OF THE WEEK (April 28–May 4)

BASEBALL: 

Belmont (7–2, 6–0 SRC, ranked #6 in Division 4) at Pecatonica (10–1, 6–0 SRC, ranked #2 in D4), Thursday, April 28, 4:30 p.m.    

     The Six Rivers West-leading Braves will travel to Six Rivers East-leading Pecatonica Friday for a Six Rivers Conference crossover doubleheader between a pair of top-6 ranked teams in Division 4. The sixth-ranked Braves and first-year head coach Alan Seabrooke improved to 6–0 in league play with a 12–2 six-inning victory over fourth-ranked Highland Tuesday afternoon. Belmont defeated Cassville 4–3 behind an 18-strikeout performance from senior Quinn Cushman. Fellow senior Nick Willborn tossed a five-inning no-hitter last Friday to lead Belmont to an 11–0 game two win over Monticello to complete the doubleheader sweep.

     Second-ranked Pecatonica is 10–1 on the season and a perfect 6–0 in Six Rivers Conference games, including an 11–6 win at Barneveld on Tuesday and a 16–0 victory at Albany on Monday. Coach Jim Stroman’s Vikings swept Cassville on Friday, 18–15, 18–0, and have won seven straight games since a 13–6 loss to SWAL-leading Darlington on April 14.

Riverdale (5–4, 3–1 SWAL) at Darlington (7–2, 4–0 SWAL), Thursday, April 28, 4:30 p.m.    

     The SWAL-leading Redbirds are scheduled to host second-place Chieftains today at 4:30 p.m. Darlington remained unbeaten in conference play with a 10–1 victory at Iowa–Grant on Tuesday and a 6–5 walk-off win over Mineral Point last Friday. Riverdale

moved into second place with a 9–0 shutout of Southwestern on Tuesday.

Prairie du Chien (8–0, 3–0 SWC, ranked #4 in D3) at Platteville (7–5, 3–1 SWC), Thursday, April 29   

     The Hillmen will look to continue their rapid turnaround Friday when they host two-time defending SWC champion Prairie du Chien. The Hillmen have already won seven games, including three in conference, a year after going 3–18 and 0–10 in the SWC, but Friday’s matchup will be daunting. The undefeated Blackhawks are ranked fourth in the latest Division 3 coaches poll on wissports.net and are coming off a dominating 15–2 win over Dodgeville on Tuesday.

SOFTBALL:

Southwestern (11–2, 7–1 SWAL, ranked 8th in D4) at Boscobel (8–3, 6–2 SWAL), Monday, May 2, 5 p.m.

     The Wildcats are on a roll. Fourth-ranked Southwestern and ace pitcher Madison Kuhl held on to beat Iowa–Grant 3–2 Monday afternoon to improved to 7–1 in the Southwestern Wisconsin Activities League with their seventh straight league win and 10 win in their last 11 games. Al Gillingham’s Bulldogs improved to 6–2 in SWAL play with a sweep of Mineral Point Monday afternoon. Boscobel won the opener 2–1 then took the nightcap by the count of 2–0 behind a pair of dominating pitching performances from Olivia Grassel.

TRACK & FIELD: 

Christopher Becker Memorial Cuba City Invitational, Friday, April 29, 4 p.m.

     Cuba City will hosts the annual Christopher Becker Memorial Invitational Friday at 4 p.m. The event was moved from Thursday, due to cold weather. A number of area teams will take part in the meet including the host Cubans, Albany, Boscobel, Belmont, Benton/Scales Mound/Shullsburg, Black Hawk, Darlington, Fennimore, Galena, Lancaster, Monroe, Monticello, Potosi, Prairie du Chien, River Valley and Southwestern.

GOLF:

Dodgeville SWC #4, Friday, April 29, 4 p.m. (at Dodge–Point CC)

     The Dodge–Point Country Club will play hose to the fourth SWC regular season meet of the season Friday afternoon, after Thursday’s event was pushed back a day due to frigid temperatures. Through three events, it’s become a two-team race for the conference title with River Valley (17) one point ahead of up-and-coming Platteville (16).

Barneveld SWAL #3, Friday, April 29, 4 p.m. (at Deer Valley Golf Course)

     The SWAL will hold its third regular season conference meet Friday at Deer Valley Golf Course outside of Barneveld. Through two meets Mineral Point and Argyle/Pecatonica are tied with 15 team points. The Pointers won Monday’s SWAL meet at Yellowstone Golf Course near Argyle by three strokes over the host co-op. Argyle/Pecatonica won the season-opening meet at the Galena Golf Course last Thursday.

House on the Rock Resort Invitational, Saturday, April 30, 9 a.m.

     River Valley will host its annual 18-hole event invitational Saturday at the House on the Rock Resort, beginning at 8 a.m. Participating teams include Argyle/Pecatonica, Barneveld, Cuba City, Darlington, Dodgeville, Fort Atkinson, Iowa–Grant, Kohler, Lancaster, Mineral Point, Platteville, Portage, Prairie du Chien, Richland Center, River Valley, Sauk Prairie, Southwestern, Viroqua, Westby and Wisconsin Heights.