B-T’s DC softball streak ends at 78

For the first time in nearly six years, the Blair-Taylor softball team lost a Dairyland Conference game. 

It looked like the streak would continue as B-T had a lead against Melrose-Mindoro late in the game, but the Mustangs rallied to force extra innings and then scored in the bottom of the eighth to win the game. It was B-T’s first conference defeat since they fell to Cochrane-Fountain City, 5-3, on April 24, 2018. That was the only DC loss for the Wildcats that season before the team went undefeated in 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023 — there was no 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The streak reached 78 games as B-T won its first two conference contests this season.

With the end of the winning streak came a losing streak as B-T struggled to close out another game. The Wildcats again had a lead entering the sixth inning, but Cochrane-Fountain City scored six runs in the sixth and went on to win 9-6. 

The losses put B-T’s record at 4-2 on the season before their games at Prescott on Monday and home against Independence/Gilmanton on Tuesday. B-T was scheduled to play at Arcadia on Thursday and home against Pepin/Alma on Friday. 

This coming Monday, they’re scheduled to host Augusta before playing at Eau Claire Immanuel Lutheran next Tuesday. 

Mel-Min 11 B-T 10

The Mustangs rallied late before scoring in the bottom of the eighth to hand the Wildcats a loss.

B-T had a 10-6 lead entering the bottom of the sixth, but Mel-Min scored two runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh to send the game to extra innings. The Mustangs scored a run without a hit in the bottom of the eighth as a runner reached on a one-out error. After an intentional walk, a passed ball moved the winning run to third. The next batter hit to shortstop Andrea Waldera who threw home, but the Wildcats couldn’t get the out and the run scored. 

The Wildcats seemed to be in control after scoring five runs in the third inning and four more in the fourth. Anna White singled to give B-T a 2-1 lead in the third before Waldera added an RBI single and two more runs scored on an error. 

The Mustangs came back with four in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game, but B-T put up four more in the top of the fourth. Madalynn Frederixon singled in the go-ahead run and Waldera tripled in two more later in the inning. The Wildcats went ahead 9-5 when a run scored on an error.

Waldera singled and scored on a groundout to give B-T a 10-6 lead in the top of the sixth, but the Mustangs answered.

Waldera had three hits, three RBIs and three runs scored in the game while Frederixon and Beck both had two hits. 

Frederixon took the loss, pitching a complete game, allowing 10 hits and three walks. Five of the runs allowed were unearned as B-T committed four errors. 

C-FC 9 B-T 6

The Wildcats came out strong, but couldn’t finish the game.

B-T scored four runs in the first inning as Frederixon scored on a passed ball then White on a fielder’s choice. Ryleigh Seitz singled in another run before a fourth scored on another passed ball.

C-FC scored two in the bottom of the second, but B-T got one back in the top of the third as Seitz scored on a double by Madilyn Stargardt. 

The Wildcats had a 5-3 lead with two innings remaining before the Pirates put up six runs on four hits, two errors and two walks in the sixth.

Waldera homered in the top of the seventh, but the solo shot wasn’t enough for B-T. 

Seitz had two of B-T’s six hits in the game. 

Frederixon took the loss, allowing nine hits and four walks, while striking out five.