Tough early season schedules resulted in some losses for Prescott and Ellsworth softball, but the two are finding their groove at the plate, with Prescott winning six consecutive games and Ellsworth completing a two-game sweep of Osceola.

For Prescott, conference opening losses 4-3 and 12-3 against Somerset stung, but they took some lessons from the matchup and have applied it forward, moving to 7-2 after six straight wins. After a 6-5 win over Northwestern, Prescott has scored double-digits in five consecutive games (15-4 over Northwestern, 17-0 over Osceola, 10-4 over Osceola, 10-0 over Elk Mound and 11-4 over River Falls).

“We’re getting production from everyone in our lineup from top to bottom and we’re taking really good at-bats,” Prescott Coach Nick Johnson said. “I’ve been very impressed. We’re swinging at our pitches. We’re not chasing pitches. We’ve only struck out like 2.5 times a game or something like that, which is incredible.”

Johnson said the team’s future will be dependent on the ability to put the ball in play and make defenses earn their outs. Against Somerset, Prescott walked just three times over two games, another statistic Johnson was glad to see improve later on.

“Continue to put the ball in play and, obviously, our pitchers continue to throw strikes, because our defense has been very good lately too,” Johnson said. “Baldwin, Somerset and Altoona, there’s just no easy games. Even the teams who aren’t doing the best, I still think can knock you off on any given day.”

In the circle, pitchers Ella Visger and Grace Ptacek are locked in. Visger holds an impressive 1.81 earned run average, and Ptacek is not far behind with a 2.55.

“The big thing there is we are playing good defensively, and our pitchers have been outstanding. Those two Somerset games, we had issues throwing strikes,” Johnson said. “Grace and Ella the last couple weeks have really turned it on, and that’s been the difference in making them beat us by putting the ball in play instead of giving them free passes.”

Beating River Falls 11-4 was a notable one for Prescott. River Falls is putting up a good fight in the Big Rivers Conference and has both strong pitching and a lineup that packs a punch.

“We only struck out once against their two pitchers, and I think that was the difference,” Johnson said. “River Falls is really good. I think River Falls will be one of the best hitting teams we see all year, and we kind of knew, because they were such a good hitting team, that we were going to have to score some runs to beat them. I just thought we played really well. I thought that was one of our best games we played all year.”

River Falls made a few errors, a byproduct of Prescott putting the ball in play on an 11-hit day. Johnson was also impressed with Visger, who pitched a complete game and walked just a pair of batters.

Ellsworth

The Panthers started the year 0-6 after playing a six-game stretch against Hudson, Baldwin-Woodville twice, Somerset twice and Zumbrota-Mazeppa. Ellsworth is now in the win column, beating Osceola 14-4 and 10-2.

“We’re just trying to still figure things out, but it was just nice to get a couple wins, that’s the main thing. Hopefully they can build on that with a little confidence,” Ellsworth Coach Tom Diercks said. “Made some more plays in the field than previously, fewer errors. Still a few mental mistakes we’re working on, but it’s a slow process.”

Confidence will be key moving forward. While the first six games were tough, Ellsworth is not out of the woods yet with upcoming games against Grantsburg, Altoona and Prescott.

“Having to drive that into the girls that these are really, extremely good teams,” Diercks said. “Just trying to get the confidence that things are going to get better, things are going to get a little bit easier. But also, you have to drive through that if they play good, they could at least make them more competitive games.”

The biggest confidence boost from the wins was the run scoring. Ellsworth posted 11 total runs in the six losses and flipped that number on its head with 24 runs over the two wins against Osceola. Ava Whipple has a pair of home runs; Aubrey Bauer has one and Maggie Pechacek has one. It is not just the home runs though; the Panthers are starting to see some hard contact with 18 hits against Osceola.

Diercks is still trying to find the right nine players who fit together best. He has been impressed with junior Alivia Maher, who rejoined softball after no longer playing in eighth grade.

“Just watching her grow, it’s incredible,” Diercks said. “Took a little bit. That’s a long time away from the game, but she’s come a long way.”

Diercks also mentioned the improvement from the freshman class serving as a confidence boost.

“It’s really huge. Hitting is contagious,” Diercks said. “The second game we scored 10 runs, but there wasn’t near as many hard hits… Go up there with an attitude that I want to hit the ball. That’s what we’re trying to get them to do. Just be smart and aggressive.”