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Shullsburg/Benton scores big win
ShullDarlGSB644
SHULLSBURG.BENTON second baseman Kindle Cook gathers in the throw to force out Darlingtons Brittney Jacobson on a close play during Fridays softball game.
Thomas Gunnell
Updated: May 10, 2018, 2:21 PM
Published: May 10, 2018, 2:22 PM

    SHULLSBURG – It took a little while for Shullsburg/Benton to get its offense going, but once they did they were tough to stop as the host Miner-Zephyrs plated nine runs in the fifth frame and six more in the sixth to rally past Darlington for a 15-10 non-conference softball victory at Badger Park on Friday, May 4.
    The Redbirds (1-12 overall) jumped ahead 5-0 to start the game, but things turned around for the hosts in the bottom of the fifth when they scored nine times to overtake the ‘Birds.
    Sarah Fluhr and Kindle Cook had a RBI-singles during the rally, while Lydia Jones doubled in a run and Maggie Gleason drilled a three-run double for Shulls/Ben (2-8).
    Darlington fought back to tie the game at 9-9 in the top of the sixth on another RBI-double by Heinberg, a two-run triple by Taylor Crist and a RBI-single by Gabbie Steiner; however the Miner-Zephyrs struck for six runs in the bottom of the sixth to regain the lead. Cook doubled in a run and Brianna Jones singled in another in the stanza.
    Alexis Redfearn (2-2) worked her way out of a slight jam in the top of the seventh, getting her fourth strikeout of the game for the final out to seal the win.
    Cook finished 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs and two RBI, while Gleason went 2-for-2 with three RBI and three runs for the hosts. B. Jones drove in two runs and scored once, and L. Jones scored twice and drove in a run.
    Heinberg went 2-for-4 with two doubles, two runs and a RBI. Steiner drove in three runs, while Crist had two RBI and scored two runs for the ‘Birds. Holly Ray added two RBI and a run, and Chelsie Golackson scored three times.
    Darlington earned its first victory of the season at Fennimore on Monday, May 7, when they blanked the host Golden Eagles, 8-0, in a SWAL clash.
    Just like the first meeting between the two teams, the Redbirds (1-7 SWAL) got off to a good start, scoring once in the first, four times in the second and three times in the third to build up an 8-0 advantage. Unlike the first time, the ‘Birds maintained the lead this time with Tuescher (1-12) tossing a complete-game, five-hit shutout to earn the win.
    Bethany McDonald scored two runs and drove in two others to lead the ‘Birds, while Tuescher helped her own cause with a RBI and two runs.
    Darlington opened last week by falling 8-3 to Southwestern in a SWAL make-up game in Hazel Green on Tuesday, May 1.
    The Redbirds hosted Southwestern in a rematch at Sieg Field on Thursday, May 3, but heavy rains forced the game to be suspended in the top of the fourth inning with the Wildcats leading 9-1 over the ‘Birds. The teams will pick up the game where they left off at 9 a.m. in Hazel Green on Saturday, May 12, prior to the Southwestern Tournament. Following the completion of that game, the Redbirds will participate in the tournament along with Argyle and Dodgeville.   
    Darlington also has upcoming games scheduled at home against Mineral Point on Thursday, May 10 (5 p.m.), against Black Hawk in South Wayne on Friday, May 11 (4:30 p.m.) and at Riverdale on Monday, April 14 (5 p.m.).
 
Darlington…. 012  024  1 – 10  12  1
Shulls/Ben… 000  096  x – 15  10  3
Leading Hitters: D– Chelsie Golackson 2x5, Holly Ray 2x5, Lucy Heinberg 2x4, Brittney Jacobson 2x5, Taylor Crist 2x4 .3B- Crist. 2B- Heinberg (2). S/B– Brianna Jones 2x5, Kindle Cook 3x4, Maggie Gleason 2x2. 2B– Lydia Jones, Cook, Gleason.
W- Alexis Redfearn (7IP, 12H, 10R, 5ER, 4K, 6BB). L- Alyssa Tuescher (4.67IP, 5H, 7R, 7ER, 5K, 6BB).
At Shullsburg, on Friday, May 4
 
Darlington…….. 021  000  0 – 3    5  0
Southwestern… 301  040  x – 8  11  3
Leading Hitters: D– Gabby Steiner 2x3. S– Myers 2x4, Kruser 2x4, Pergande 2x3. 2B- Kruser, Pergande, Kunkle.
W- Reynolds (4IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 4K, 3BB). L- Alyssa Tuescher (6IP, 11H, 8R, 8ER, 2K, 2BB).
At Hazel Green, on Tuesday, May 1
 
Darlington…. 143  000  0 – 8  4  1
Fennimore…. 000  000  0 – 0  5  4
Leading Hitters: D– None. F– None.
W- Alyssa Tuescher (7IP, 5H, 0R, 0ER, 2K, 3BB. L- Kreul (7IP, 4H, 8R, 5ER, 9K, 6BB).
Belmont's Kaleen McGettigan notches career win No. 200
Braves blowout Potosi/Cassville in coach's milestone victory
Kaleen McGettigan 200
Belmont girls head coach Kaleen McGettigan earned her 200th career win last Tuesday night with a 56–25 win over Potosi/Cassville.
Casey Lindecrantz
Published: Dec 13, 2024, 7:23 PM

POTOSI — Belmont girls basketball coach Kaleen McGettigan collected her 200th career win last Tuesday night with a 56–25 victory over Potosi/Cassville.

The Braves shot out to and maintained an early lead in Six Rivers West win over the host Chieftains (3–2, 0–2 SRW).

Potosi/Cassville claimed the opening point on a free throw, but a basket under the hoop by Morgan Freeman earned the only lead change of the night. The result was a Braves lead where the traveling team earned nearly 30 points before Potosi/Cassville tasted double figures.

“Any time we play a conference team, we know it is going to be a battle,” McGettigan said. “The Chieftains lost one of their starters the night before, but credit tot he team and their staff, they came out ready to play. Coach Nebel has done a nice job in her first month as a head coach.”

The Braves clung to a 37–16 lead at the break, nurturing it as they pushed to double Potosi/Cassville’s output over the final 18 minutes.

“I was pleased with the girls’ offensive attacks,” McGettigan said. “We are a tough team to guard because we are so interchangeable, and we need to take more advantage of that.”

The Belmont front was led by a three-headed monster of Lexi Riechers (18 points, 3 rebounds, 4 steals), Freeman (14 pts, 6 reb), and Kaci Riechers (12 pts, 5 reb, 5 ast, 5 stl). 

Carsyn Ramaker also took on an supporting role — her six rebounds and five assists were each tied for the team high.

“Lexi Riechers was a spark for us, and she got a couple things going on both ends of the floor,” McGettigan said. “Carsyn continues to see the floor well, and Hailey Bahr played the best game of her career.”

With just three opponents left ahead of the new year, the Braves’ next opportunity on the court comes at Benton on Dec. 12.

Junior Lillie Cooley scored a team-high five points in the loss for Potosi/Cassville (3–2, 0–2) which suffered its first loss.

Despite the win, McGettigan believes her team needs improvements in a few areas.

“We need to do a better job of consistently finishing around the rim,” she said. “We also need to be more comfortable  in our half-court sets.”

The Zephyrs (0–6, 0–2) most recently lost to Stockton (Ill.) on Dec. 9, 68–18, and haven’t scored more than 20 points in each of their last three games.

“We need to continue working on limiting other teams’ offensive boards, and getting to our outlet spots,” McGettigan said. “December is a slow month for us, so we need to stay focused in the gym and need to get better.”

Belmont 56, Potosi/Cassville 25
(from Tuesday, Dec. 3 @ Potosi)
Belmont 37 19 — 56
Potosi/Cassville 16 9 — 25
Belmont (2–1, 1–0) — Hailey Bahr 2, Courtney Fritz 5, Kaci Riechers 12, Morgan Freeman 14, Jaelyn Leitzinger 2, Lexi Riechers 18, Brittany Taylor 3. Totals — 25-71 2-7 56.  
Potosi/Cassville (3–1, 0–1) — Matty Udelhofen 4, Madi Weber 2, Lillie Cooley 5, Brielle Fishnick 4, Ruby Roe 3, Miranda Kieler 4, Delany McKillip 3. Totals — 8-43 8-11 25. 
3-pointers — B: 4-19 (Fritz 1, K. Riechers 2, L. Riechers 1); PC: 1-11 (Roe 1). Team fouls — B: 14; PC: 14. Foul out — none.