DARLINGTON – The Darlington Redbirds softball team opened the season with three impressive wins on the diamond before dropping a heartbreaker to SWAL rival Mineral Point, 4-3, at Soldiers’ Memorial Park on Monday, April 10, to suffer their first setback of the 2017 campaign.
    The Lady Redbirds (3-1 overall, 1-1 SWAL) began the season by taking down Pecatonica, 9-2, in their Autism Awareness game at Sieg Field on Tuesday, April 4. Then, the ‘Birds posted their first-ever win over Cuba City, 6-2, in their SWAL opener at home on Thursday, April 6, and they hit the road for the first time this season to defeat Potosi, 4-2, in a non-conference clash.
    Reagan Roelli blasted a solo home run and scored twice to lead the Redbirds over the Vikings on Tuesday night. Pitcher Tayah Paulson (3-1) earned the win after allowing two earned runs on five hits and two walks with nine strikeouts, and she helped her own cause by ripping a RBI-triple and scoring a run.
    The teams raised nearly $2,200 for the Autism Society of South Central Wisconsin through t-shirt sales, raffle baskets and concessions.
    Raven Reuter went 3-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored in Darlington’s win over Cuba City on Thursday. Chelsie Golackson was 2-for-4 with two runs and a RBI, while Paulson went 3-for-3 at the plate with a double and a run scored and earned the win after allowing an earned run on four hits with no walks and eight Ks.
    At Potosi, on Friday, the Lady ‘Birds scored a pair of runs in the top of the seventh inning to snap a 2-2 tie and get by the host Chieftains.
    Taylor Crist was 2-for-3 at the plate to lead Darlington. Paulson yielded no earned runs and allowed just two hits with no walks and three Ks to earn the win in the circle.
    Finally, at Mineral Point on Monday, the Redbirds’ luck wore out as the host Pointers scored twice in the bottom of the fifth inning to snap a 2-2 tie, and then held on for a 4-3 SWAL win.
    Hannah Kelly homered and Roelli doubled in the game, while Paulson went 2-for-2 at the dish for the ‘Birds.
    The Redbirds return to the diamond with a SWAL game at Boscobel on Monday, April 17, starting at 4 p.m.
    Darlington’s SWAL game at Fennimore scheduled for Monday, April 3, was postponed due to the weather. It will be made up  on Tuesday, April 18, at 5 p.m.

Cuba City…….. 020  000  0 – 2    4  1
Darlington……. 003  120  x – 6  12  4
Leading Hitters: Raven Reuter 3x3, Tayah Paulson 3x3, Callie Norton 2x3, Chelsie Golackson 2x4.  2B– Paulson.
WP- Paulson. LP- Kayla Busch.
At Darlington, on Thursday, April 6

Darlington……. 100  011  0 – 3  7  0
Mineral Point… 100  120  x – 4  9  1
Leading hitters: Tayah Paulson 2x2. HR- Hannah Kelly. 2B- Reagan Roelli.
WP- Ames. LP- Paulson.
At Mineral Point, on Monday, April 10

Pecatonica…… 000  020  0 – 2  5  5
Darlington……. 021  213  x – 9  5  1
Leading hitters: HR- Reagan Roelli. 3B- Tayah Paulson.
WP- Paulson. LP- McKeon.
At Darlington, on Tuesday, April 4

Darlington……. 000  011  2 – 4  7  2
Potosi…………. 000  002  0 – 2  2  3
Leading hitters: Taylor Crist 2x3.
WP- Tayah Paulson. LP- Noonan.
At Potosi, on Friday, April 7