River Falls, Ellsworth, Spring Valley, Elmwood/Plum City updates, scores and schedules

By Reagan Hoverman

It’s been an eventful week for softball and baseball teams in Pierce County as most teams are on their second round of games against their respective conference opponents.

The River Falls Wildcats softball team had its most dominant win of the season, a 16

0 shutout win in a non conference match up with St. Paul Johnson. In that game, freshman pitcher Lexi Schultz started her first game in her varsity career.

In her time on the mound, she threw a no

hit shutout, striking out 13 batters in the process. Her dominance in the circle pro

pelled River Falls to its fourth win of the season and showed that she will be a regular staple in the Wildcats’ pitching rotation for years to come.

River Falls baseball defeats Northfield 13

2

In addition to a dominant softball victory on Saturday, May 7, the River Falls baseball team also posted a blowout victory at First National Bank Stadium in River Falls with a 13

2 win in a non

conference matchup against Northfield.

After leading 4

1 through the two opening frames, River Falls exploded for eight runs in the bottom of the third to take a 12

1 lead and essentially put the game on ice. Brody Rudolph got the win on the mound for the Wildcats.

In his five innings of work, he gave up three hits, one earned run and struck out two batters in the process. With the win, River Falls improved to 9

3 for the season and remained 4

2 in the Big Rivers Conference.

The next game on the schedule for the Wildcats is on Tuesday, May 10, at home against Eau Claire North. That game is slated to begin at 5 p.m.

Ellsworth softball defeats Osceola 5

1

The Ellsworth Panthers softball team is back to .500 in con

ference games this season after a 5

1 victory on the road against the Osceola Chieftains on Monday, May 9. With the win, the Pan

thers moved into a share of fourth place in the conference stand ings with Altoona.

Just one game out of third place, Ellsworth has more than enough time to continue racking up conference wins and climbing the standings in the process. The Panthers have another big game on Tuesday, May 10, when they travel to Prescott to take on the Cardinals (7

2) in the second edition of the Highway 10 rivalry game this season.

In their previous meeting on Tuesday, April 19, Ellsworth upset Prescott at home, which put Prescott behind the 8

ball in terms of the conference title race. The Panthers have a chance to once again spoil Prescott’s bid for the conference title on Tuesday evening.

With a win, the Panthers would all but end Prescott’s bid for

a 2022 Middle Border Conference championship. That game is slated to begin at 5 p.m.

Spring Valley walks off Elmwood/Plum City in thrilling rivalry game Speaking of rivalry games, the Spring Valley Cardinals earned

a 9

8 walk

off victory at home against Elmwood/Plum City on Friday, May 6, to improve to 4

7 for the season and 3

7 in Dunn St. Croix Conference play.

Spring Valley pitcher Maddie Shafer pitched seven innings, struck out eight batters, and gave up five earned runs during her time in the circle. Shafer was able to keep the Wolves of Elm wood/Plum City in check just enough to secure the win for the Cardinals.

Notable results at the plate for Spring Valley include Lizzy Shafer going 2

4 with two RBIs and Kenzie White going 2

4 with an RBI. For Elmwood/Plum City, pitcher Hannah Baier had done enough to get her team the win when she left the circle after five innings of work.

In her five innings of work, she gave up four earned runs and struck out three Spring Valley batters. The Elmwood/Plum City relief pitching struggled in its two innings of work, giving up both runs in the bottom of the seventh inning which allowed Spring Valley to walk it off.

With the loss, Elmwood/Plum City dropped to 3

9 for the sea

son, including a 2

7 record in Dunn St. Croix Conference play. The next game for the Wolves is on Tuesday, May 10, when the Wolves travel to Boyceville in a 5 p.m. game.

As for Spring Valley, the Cardinals go to Colfax on Thursday, May 12, for a Dunn St. Croix Conference game. That contest will begin at 5 p.m.

Spring Valley routs Elmwood/Plum City 10

1 in rivalry game

On Monday, May 9, the Spring Valley baseball team traveled to Elmwood/Plum City and took care of business against a Dunn

St. Croix Conference rival in a 10

1 blowout.

For Spring Valley, it was the win that pushed the team back over .500 for the first time since April. While the scoreboard was lopsided, the game hung in the balance for six of the seven in

nings of action.

Elmwood/Plum City took the first lead of the game by scoring a run in the bottom of the third inning to grab a 1

0 advantage. After a scoreless second inning, Spring Valley scored two runs in the top of the third inning to take a 2

1 lead which remained until the end of the sixth inning.

In the top of the seventh inning, the Spring Valley offense strung together its best frame of the season, scoring eight runs and blowing the game wide open to take a 10

1 lead. Elmwood/Plum City was unable to respond with any runs in the bottom of the seventh.

With the win, Spring Valley improved to 6

5 for the season, including a 6

4 record in Dunn St. Croix Conference games, good enough for sole possession of third place in the conference stand

ings.

As for Elmwood/Plum City, the loss drops the Wolves to 2

8 for the season, including a 1

7 record in conference play. The next game on the schedule for the Wolves is on Thursday, May 12, when they travel to Durand. That game will begin at 5 p.m.

Spring Valley’s next game is on Thursday, May 12, when the Cardinals host Colfax in a 5 p.m. game at the Spring Valley base

ball field.