Staff report

The Ellsworth softball team will start the post-season on the road, traveling Monday to play at Black River Falls. The Panthers, 5-10 overall and 4-8 in the Middle Border Conference, is seeded fifth in its WIAA Sectional. The winner of that opening game has the daunting task of taking on topseeded Baldwin-Woodville on Wednesday, June 16.

Ellsworth picked up a big win at Osceola, 12-5 last Tuesday before falling to Prescott Thursday and New Richmond Saturday.

Against Osceola, Breanna Giese, Autumn Earney and Olivia Jensen had multi-hit games. Giese had three hits to lead the attack, while Sidney Bartels knocked in three runs.

Kallie Beissel was in top form on the mound, striking out eight Osceola batters.

Ellsworth set the tone for the game with a big first inning with key hits by Beissel and a double by Arianna Lalley that helped the Panthers to a 2-0 lead.

In the second, the Panthers scored four more. The rally started when Brianna Mauer singled home Shayla Gilbertson. Beissel then hit a hard liner to center that was misplayed, and three more runs scored.

Gilbertson made the score 7-0 with a third inning home run, and the Panthers were firmly in control.

Giese was virtually perfect at the plate. She also walked twice in addition to her three hits.

Ellsworth had 15 hits on the game.

E/PC falls to 7-7

After starting the season with seven straight wins, the Elmwood/Plum City softball team has fallen into a slump. The Wolves entered this week with a 7-7 overall mark and are 6-7 in the Dunn-St. Croix Conference.

On the season, Anna Blanford has 15 hits in 33 at bats to lead E/PC. Maggie Glaus is batting 14-43. Ashlan Faber has 12 hits on the year, while Hannah Baier has 10, Natalie Mark has eight and Hallee McDonough has seven.

Blanford has the team’s lone home run, and she also has one triple and four doubles. She has knocked in 12 runs. Brooke Schwebach has nine runs batted in.

Blanford also has seven wins pitching for E/PC and has struck out 108 batters to post a 2.51 earned run average.

Faber has pitched in three games and has struck out 20.

The Wolves enter WIAA Regional play Monday, June 14 as the six seed. They open play at third-seeded Fall Creek. The winner likely plays number two Cornell/Lake Holcombe June 16.

Photo by Gaylen Bicking.