POTOSI – Coach Bud Johnson and his Chieftains from Potosi kicked off conference softball action in the Six Rivers West this past Monday evening under cold blustery conditions.

After giving up 15 total hits, the Chieftains also gave up an 18-9 final to visiting Highland, who committed five errors to Potosi’s four.

Both teams managed to score an abundance of runs throughout the contest, as the Cardinals held a 9-4 lead after three innings of play.

The Chieftains cut into their deficit with a four-run rally in the bottom half of the fourth, where sophomore Sophie Langkamp belted a three-run double. 

Going into the top of the fifth, coach Johnson’s squad trailed just 9-8 and looked poised to make a game out of it.

In the final three innings though, Highland scored nine more runs to Potosi’s one, including a five-run rally in the top of the seventh to give them an 18-9 victory.

Of Potosi’s six hits, Langkamp led the way with two hits in three at bats, including her three-run double in the fourth.

Senior pitcher Emily Langmeier took the loss after surrendering 16 earned runs off 15 hits, while striking out eight batters and walking eight.

Last Thursday night in non-conference action, the Chieftains traveled to Monticello and left for home with an 11-0 victory over the host Ponies.

In that game, coach Johnson’s squad pounded out 14 hits to their opponent’s one, and scored in all five innings to enforce the mercy rule.

Junior infielder Ally Siegert led Potosi with four hits in four at bats, including two doubles and three RBIs.

Sophomore Sophie Langkamp went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, while fellow sophomore Abby Kaiser and freshman Jadyn Noonan were each 2-for-3. Kaiser also had a triple and two RBIs in the win, while Noonan had a double and one RBI.

Picking up the win in the pitching circle was Emily Langmeier, who in five innings of work gave up no runs off one hit, while striking out six batters and walking three.

Her counterpart, Julie Garrison, surrendered 11 earned runs to the Chieftains on 14 hits, while striking out three batters and walking three.

Potosi 11, Monticello 0

(from Thursday, April 7)

Potosi 322 13 - 11 14 3

Monticello 000 00 - 0 1 1

Leading hitters - P: Ally Siegert 4x4, Abby Kaiser 2x3, Sophie Langkamp 3x4, Jadyn Noonan 2x3. 2B - Siegert 2 (P), Noonan (P). 3B - Kaiser (P). W - Emily Langmier (5IN1,H,0ER,6K,3BB). L - Julie Garrison (5IN,14H,11ER,3K,3BB).

Highland 18, Potosi 9

(from Monday, April 11)

Highland 216 022 5 - 18 15 5

Potosi 112 401 0 - 9 6 4

Leading hitters - H: Bailee Rose 3x4, Jessica Kosharek 3x6, Brittney Mueller 2x5, Karen McMannes 2x4, Morgan Beeba 2x4; P: Sophie Langkamp 2x3. 2B - Kosharek (H), Mueller (H), Beeba (H), Langkamp (P). W - Jessica Kosharek (4IN,5H,7ER,5K,3BB). L - Emily Langmeier (7IN,15H,16ER,8K,8BB). Other pitchers - H: Bailey Rose (3IN,1H,1ER,5K,0BB).