Sports - Pierce County Journal

River Falls junior Will Benedict hits a wedge from just off the fairway during a home meet earlier this year. Benedict shot a level-par round of 72 at the Division 1 regional at the Wild Ridge Golf Course in Eau Claire on Tuesday, May 23.

River Falls, Ellsworth boys’ golf advance to team sectionals

The River Falls and Ellsworth High School golf teams were the only two local programs that posted a top-four score at their respective regional tournaments last week, which qualified them for the … more

By Reagan Hoverman | 6/2/23

River Falls senior Rebecca Randleman finishes the final leg of the girls’ 4x100-meter relay at the WIAA Division 1 regional meet in Hudson on Monday, May 22. Randleman later qualified for the state championships in the 100-meter dash and as a part of the 4x200-meter relay.

Area high schools send 20 individuals, relays to state track and field championships

River Falls, Ellsworth, Prescott and Elmwood/Plum City all sent at least three individuals or relay groups to this year’s state track and field championships, which are slated for Friday, June … more

By Reagan Hoverman | 6/2/23

The River Falls High School softball team was all smiles as they returned to the dugout after running out to congratulate junior Jordan Torrez after she hit a two-run home run in the top of the third inning of the Division 1 regional semifinal game against Hudson on Tuesday, May 23.

River Falls softball beats Hudson, scores first playoff win in nine years

Hudson may have swept River Falls in this year’s regular season series, but the Wildcats got the last laugh in the Division 1 regional semifinal on Tuesday evening. The ninth-seeded … more

By Reagan Hoverman | 6/2/23

The Prescott High School softball team holds up W’s after clinching a fifth consecutive Division 3 regional championship with an 8-1 victory at home against Elk Mound on Thursday, May 25.

Prescott softball wins fifth consecutive Division 3 regional championship

There appear to be just three consistencies in life: death, taxes and the Prescott Cardinals softball team winning a Division 3 regional championship. Prescott won its fifth consecutive D3 … more

By Reagan Hoverman | 6/2/23

The Prescott High School girls’ track and field team holds up three fingers signifying their third consecutive Division 2 track and field regional championship. Prescott won the regional title in Durand on Monday, May 22.

Prescott girls’ track and field three-peats as Division 2 regional champions

Prescott’s girls’ track and field team has utilized the roster’s size and well-dispersed talent to make winning a Division 2 regional championship a seemingly annual tradition. … more

By Reagan Hoverman | 6/2/23

Ellsworth sophomore Delaney Johnson stands on second base with the ball moments after trying to catch one of Rice Lake’s baserunners stealing during the regional title game on Thursday afternoon.

Ellsworth softball comes up short in regional championship game

The Ellsworth High School softball team, which was the No. 2-ranked Division 2 program in the state earlier this year, had its postseason run extinguished much earlier than those in and around the … more

By Reagan Hoverman | 6/2/23

Prescott junior pitcher Cullen Huppert delivers a strike during a game earlier this season. Huppert and the Cardinals got knocked out of the Division 2 playoffs via a 5-3 defeat against Ellsworth on Thursday evening.

Ellsworth baseball eliminates rival Prescott in D2 regional quarterfinal

Ellsworth baseball eliminates rival Prescott in D2 regional quarterfinal The Ellsworth Panthers baseball team has not only embraced playing as the underdog, but they’ve relished in knowing … more

By Reagan Hoverman | 6/2/23

The skinny on Falcon sports: Talking with AD Crystal Lanning

I got lost in thought recently, a territory unfamiliar to me. Thinking, I mean. Confusion is a much more familiar place. Nevertheless, I wondered about what a director of athletics does. Crystal … more

By Don Richards | 6/1/23

Shots from the hip for May 31

Congratulations to Nick Johnson and the Prescott Cardinal softball team on winning their 13th regional championship in school history. Prescott enters the sectional semi-finals against … more

By Cripe Olson | 6/1/23

Skinny on Falcon sports: A preview of Falcon football

I was hoping someone would ask me to write a football column soon. But to my great surprise nobody did. Well, it's probably because people generally get kind of shy and tongue tied when they … more

By Don Richards | 5/25/23

Shots from the hip for May 24

Congratulations to Head Coach Nick Johnson and the girls’ softball team on earning a share of the Middle Border Conference Championship. The Cardinals earned the #2 seed in the WIAA Regional … more

5/25/23

Ellsworth senior Bo Hines takes flight during a long jump earlier this season. Hines won his third consecutive individual Middle Border Conference championship in the long jump in Altoona on Tuesday, May 16.

Prescott track and field third, Ellsworth fifth at Middle Border Conference championship

Both the Prescott and Ellsworth High School track and field teams featured at least two individuals who won Middle Border Conference titles at the annual MBC meet in Altoona on Tuesday, May 16. … more

By Reagan Hoverman | 5/25/23

(From left): River Falls senior softball manager Jake Pederson joins senior players Avery Amidon, Star Deiss, Ali Laube and Alisha Latham as they celebrate senior night at First National Bank of River Falls Field on Friday, May 19.

RF softball’s 15-win season is its most since 1981

This year’s River Falls High School softball team has done what no other Wildcat squad had accomplished in more than four decades. When River Falls recorded the final out of its 9-0 … more

By Reagan Hoverman | 5/25/23

Elmwood/Plum City seniors (from left) Hannah Forster, Allyson Fleishauer, Lily Webb and Izzy Forster celebrate together after winning the conference championship in the girls’ 4x200-meter relay in Durand on Tuesday, May 16.

EPC track and field crowns six individual conference champions

The 2023 iteration of the Dunn-St. Croix Conference track and field championship was one to remember for Elmwood/Plum City. The Wolves crowned six individual conference champions in Durand on … more

By Reagan Hoverman | 5/25/23

Prescott senior Mason Schommer steps on second base and fires a throw to first to turn a double play during the Cardinals’ home game against Ellsworth on Tuesday, May 16. Schommer and the Cardinals defeated Ellsworth 11-1 in five innings of action.

Prescott, Ellsworth baseball will battle in D2 playoff opener

The stakes for an already contentious baseball rivalry in Pierce County got even higher when the WIAA released this year’s official Division 2 postseason bracket. The Prescott and … more

By Reagan Hoverman | 5/25/23

River Falls senior Teddy Norman throws the ball on a frozen rope across the infield to retire one of Altoona’s batters on Friday, May 19. Norman and the Wildcats scored a 2-1 walk-off victory to beat the state-ranked Railroaders in River Falls on Friday evening.

RF baseball earns walk-off victory against state-ranked Altoona

After losing back-to-back one-run games earlier last week, the River Falls High School baseball team came out on the other side of such a contest at home against No. 11-ranked Altoona on Friday, May … more

By Reagan Hoverman | 5/25/23

River Falls junior Will Benedict hits a wedge from just off the fairway during a meet earlier this season. Benedict and the Wildcats secured a third-place finish at the Big Rivers Conference championship at Troy Burne in Hudson on Thursday, May 18.

River Falls golf finishes third at Big Rivers Conference championship

For the third time in as many years, the River Falls High School boys’ golf team finished third in the Big Rivers Conference standings. The Wildcats posted a third-place round of 319 at … more

By Reagan Hoverman | 5/25/23

River Falls senior Jacob Gilbertson crosses the finish line in first place during the second heat of the 100-meter dash preliminaries at the WIAA Division 1 Regional in Hudson on Monday, May 22.

RF boys fifth, girls seventh at Big Rivers Conference track meet

Although the River Falls High School track and field team came up short of winning a league title, the Wildcats had a lot to celebrate at this year’s Big Rivers Conference championship meet in … more

By Reagan Hoverman | 5/25/23

River Falls senior pitcher Ali Laube begins her throwing motion moments before delivering a strike during the Wildcats’ home rivalry game against Prescott on Saturday, May 13. Laube pitched a two-hit complete-game shutout against the Cardinals and helped secure a 7-0 victory.

Horseplay & Heroes: Coffee bean dreams

To appreciate where the River Falls High School softball program is going, you have to know where they've been. If losing is a disease, the Wildcat softballers have been on life support since they … more

By Greg Peters | 5/18/23

Shots from the hip for May 17

Congratulations Nick Johnson and Prescott girls’ softball team on clinching the Middle Border Conference Championship last week. The Cardinals garnered the #2 seed in the fast-approaching … more

By Cripe Olson | 5/18/23