The Butternut-Mercer Pioneers high school co-op softball team braved the elements on Tuesday night and hosted Ironwood at the newly renovated softball field in Mercer. The weather didn’t dampen the excitement as the Pioneers took down the Red Devils 12-5.
"This was the first time since our co-op partnership with Mercer that we played a game in Mercer,” said Coach Glenn Wegner. “Hats off to their crew to get their field ready. We are hoping this will help draw interest for future players to join the program. Despite the nasty wind and cold, we had a great turnout of fans and I could tell the girls felt that excitement.”
With her first start on the mound, sophomore Josie Wegner shut down the Ironwood offense with two strikeouts in the top of the first. The Pioneers got a big 2 out triple from Jen Klopatek who dived safely at home plate after an errant throw to start the scoring.
Wegner shut down all three batters in the top of the second with another strikeout and then proceeded to help her own cause in the bottom of the inning with an RBI triple, scoring Rylinn Rossi who drew a walk earlier. Wegner then scored on a fielder's choice groundout by Amber Eith to give the Pioneers a 3-0 lead after two innings.
Ironwood scratched out a run in the top of the third but Butternut-Mercer answered right back with a run of their own in the bottom of the frame. Jersey Polencheck drew a leadoff walk and promptly stole second and third bases before scoring on a fielder's choice by Anya Brandenberg to push the advantage to 4-1.
Ironwood scored two runs in the top of the fourth inning with a couple walks, an error and double to pull within a run and then tied the game in the top of the fifth. The Pioneer offense came alive in the bottom of the inning with hits from Jen Klopatek, Lizzie Pritzl and Rylinn Rossi to score two runs to take a 6-4 lead.
Jersey Polencheck came in to pitch a clean sixth inning before the Pioneers offense busted the game open, scoring six runs with hits from Polencheck, Izzy Przybylski, Jen Klopatek, Lizzie Pritzl, Josie Wegner and Kaylee Powers.
Ironwood scored another run in the top of the seventh inning but Polencheck shut the door with a strikeout to secure the save.
Wegner earned her first career win on the mound, allowing 2 earned runs on 2 hits, 4 walks, 2 hit batters with 6 K's.
“I can't say enough about the job Josie did in her first start,” Wegner said. “She has put a lot of work into the offseason to get ready for this.”
Wegner also credited Lizzie Pritzl for a great job behind the plate. Pritzl threw out an Ironwood runner who was attempting to steal a base and snuffed out a potential rally late in the game.
“The offense really got a jump started afterJen Klopatek's round tripper in the first inning and that set the tone for the rest of the night,” Wegner said. “It was an all-around great effort tonight and contributions up and down the lineup. It was a great team victory for us"
Next up for the Pioneers will be Hurley and Flambeau who come to Butternut for the John "Stick" Furtak Memorial tournament this Saturday. The games start at 10:30 a.m.
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