Tigerton pulls away for softball win over Menominee Indian

The Tigerton High School softball team eased to a 26-6 Central Wisconsin Conference crossover victory in five innings over Menominee Indian on April 26 in Tigerton after tallying 13 hits and taking advantage of nine hit batters.

Tigerton scored at least two runs in each of its four innings at the plate, including an 18-run fourth to pull away.

Abby Swartz was at the center of the Tigers’ offensive outburst, driving in six runs on a double and triple. Swartz also scored four runs, stole a base and was hit by a pitch.

“It’s been a struggle getting the bats going in the first few games that we’ve had. Now some of us are starting to get in a groove, so it’s just helped getting those runs,” said Swartz.

She believes the outburst should also help as the team’s season moves forward.

“In a game like this, where we have really good hits, we have people stealing all the time, it just brings up people’s moods and helps with feeling confident,” said Swartz.

Tigerton finished with 18 stolen bases in the contest, doing most of that damage early on before primarily going base to base in the big fourth inning.

Angel Welch had a big double in the fourth, and finished with four RBIs on two hits and a hit by pitch. She stole five bases.

Welch also earned the win in the circle after pitching all five innings and was appreciative of the run support. She struck out eight batters.

Menominee Indian scored three runs in the top of the first, but Tigerton answered with three runs of its own in the bottom half before tallying two runs in the second and three more in the third.

“Well, the girls keep you in it. They show so much support toward everybody and then practicing, the coaches the team altogether, once we work hard together it’s so much easier on the pitcher and it’s nice to have behind you,” said Welch.

Bethany Jobe, the Tigers’ cleanup hitter, finished the contest with three RBIs on three hits. She also scored twice and stole one base. Skyler Hauser posted two hits and was hit twice on her way to scoring four runs.

McKenzie Hoffman scored five times for Tigerton. She drove in a run on two hits and stole three bases. Maycee Carlson finished with two RBIs on two hits, while stealing four bases and scoring three runs. Izzy Zychowicz tallied two RBIs, scored twice and stole a base after being hit by a pair of pitches.

Jess Zimdars scored two runs and stole two bases after walking twice and being hit by a pitch. Elizabeth Steuck drove in a run, stole a base and scored once after being hit by two pitches and walking once. Jess Burayi also drove in a run for the Tigers.

Along with Menominee Indian’s three first-inning runs, the Eagles scored three times in the fifth, highlighted by a two-run homer from Shauna Madosh.

“It felt good. You know, we were starting to not really play well but it hyped everyone up and got them back in the game,” said Madosh of her home run.

Madosh finished with two of Menominee Indian’s six hits. She also scored twice.

Anisa Peters drove in two runs for the Eagles, walking with the bases loaded in the first inning and doubling in a run in the fifth. Alexis Wilber drove in another run for the Eagles, and the other run was scored by Wilber on a passed ball.

Aniya Peters was dealt the loss in the circle after getting the first nine outs. Four of those outs came on strikeouts. Wilber got the final three outs.

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