Softball

Spring Valley went 1-1 to open the year, beating Frederic/Luck 14-4 in five innings due to massive rallies in the second, third and fourth innings and losing 5-2 to Turtle Lake. Elmwood/Plum City lost 5-1 to Durand-Arkansaw before tying 8-8 against Chetek-Weyerhaeuser in a game that was called to a close after 10 innings. It was the Wolves’ second extra inning game in four total games. EPC and Spring Valley face off April 16 in Spring Valley to claim rivalry bragging rights.

After splitting conference matchups with Eau Claire North 8-3 in the win and 6-4 in the loss, the Wildcats closed the week on a positive note by beating Somerset 4-1. Audra Adermann pitched exceptionally against Somerset, allowing three hits and a walk in seven innings of one-run softball.

Ellsworth got a tough draw to open conference play, going against the potential conference favorites in Baldwin-Woodville. The Panthers could not keep up with the Blackhawks, losing 12-0 and 13-1. Prescott played a whopping five games in the opening week, beating Blair-Taylor 7-1 and Northwestern 6-5 and 15-4, dropping conference matchups against Somerset 4-3 and 12-3.

Baseball

Prescott had a four-game week, splitting with Somerset with a 9-2 win and 6-1 loss, and splitting weekend tests with an 8-7 win over Dover-Eyota and a 5-1 loss against Cotter. The Cardinals now get right back into another conference series with a pair of matchups against Osceola.

Ellsworth had a tough go to open the season, losing 5-1 and 7-1 to Baldwin-Woodville. The team bounced back nicely and got the bats going in a 12-3 win over Spooner.

Spring Valley again pitched well against Chetek-Weyerhaeuser, losing 4-2 after being unable to string together hits. EPC had a tough opening week, losing 16-1 to Durand-Arkansaw, 20-3 to Eleva-Strum and 16-6 to Colfax. The Wolves have a chance to right the ship this week in a slate that includes a rivalry test against Spring Valley on Thursday.

River Falls opened the season with a Border Battle, splitting with Minnesota squads East Ridge (lost 6-2) and Blaine (won 11-8).

Track and Field

In Somerset, the Ellsworth boys 4x400 relay team of Keegan Stahlke, Adolfo Mendez, Ben Baker and Lucas Blair took first place to highlight the first outdoor meet for the Panthers. Prescott got wins from Makaria Haas in the discus and shot put, Andrew Russell in the 100-meter, Wyatt Budworth in the 200-meter, Eyan Miller in the shot put and the boys 4x100 relay team of Andrew Lesso, Andrew Russell, Reese Stanton and Wyatt Budworth. Of eight boys teams Prescott placed second and Ellsworth seventh. Of eight girls teams Prescott placed third and Ellsworth seventh.

Spring Valley and EPC started the outdoor season in Glenwood City. The EPC girls took third of nine and the boys seventh. The Spring Valley boys took fourth and the girls seventh. EPC’s Allie Sauve won the triple jump event yet again, solidifying herself as one of the region’s best.

River Falls placed fourth of six in both boys and girls competition. Winners were Charlie Burke (100-meter), Burke, Devon Fox, Joseph Tarasewicz and Mason Novak (4x100), Myah Dunn, Eva Englebert, Isabelle Russell and Mackenzie Schmidt (4x200), Jacob Hutchins and Abigail Treichel (high jump), Blake Schneider (pole vault) and Noah Metro (triple jump).

Boys Golf

River Falls got out to a soaring start to the season, taking fifth and ninth (of 64 teams) at a pair of massive tournaments. Senior Ryan Swanson has been absolutely dominant, winning the first event and taking second in the 64-team event.

Ellsworth and Prescott competed in two nine-hole Middle Border competitions in Hammond on the same day. Ellsworth took second of eight in the first session with a 167 and Prescott was seventh with a 197. Jordy Anderson, Nolan Helgeson and Rowan Nelson of Ellsworth each finished in the top 10 individually. In the second go-round, Ellsworth took fifth with a 179 and Prescott again took seventh with a 196. Prescott junior Shia Parmeter tied for 10th with a 43.

Spring Valley/EPC took sixth of seven teams at the Dunn-St. Croix opener in Colfax with a 190 score. Sophomore Ruger Peavey led the way individually with a tie for sixth place.

Girls Soccer

River Falls’ season could not have possibly kicked off with stiffer competition than it did, taking on stacked Hudson, Onalaska and Holmen squads in the same week. The Wildcats beat Hudson 1-0 and Onalaska 3-1, dropping the final game of the week 2-0 against Holmen. The Wildcats now take on a three-game road stretch, facing Chippewa Falls on April 13, Wausau West on April 17 and Eau Claire Memorial on April 21.

Boys Tennis

River Falls split a pair of matches in the opening week of competition, sweeping Osceola 7-0 and losing to Eau Claire North 5-2. Ellsworth competed in five matches over the week, beating Lakeland Union 4-2 and losing to Baldwin-Woodville 6-1, Altoona 7-0, Tomah 7-0 and Hudson 6-1.