After close loss, Norse win two

After a one-run loss to start the week, the Whitehall softball team won two games.

Whitehall had a lead for most of its game against Cochrane-Fountain City last week Tuesday, but the Pirates pulled through late for a 9-8 win. The Norse rebounded with a 3-2 win at Osseo-Fairchild on Thursday before clubbing Alma Center Lincoln, 17-4, on Friday.

Whitehall began this week with a 4-10 overall record before playing at home against Eleva-Strum on Tuesday. They’re set to host Melrose-Mindoro on Friday before closing out the regular season with games at Pepin/Alma and Augusta next Monday and Tuesday. 

C-FC 9 Whitehall 8

Whitehall was ahead for most of the game, but the Pirates scored the last five runs, including the game-winner in the bottom of the seventh.

The Norse scored six runs in the top of the first inning and had an 8-4 lead entering the bottom of the sixth, but that’s when the trouble began. Whitehall had trouble fielding the ball, committing four errors in the inning, allowing C-FC to score four runs without a hit.

The Pirates led off the bottom of the seventh with a single and the winning run scored on a wild pitch. 

Whitehall came out swinging with four hits in the top of the first inning. Carson Coburn singled in two runs then Addison Poeschel singled in another. After a run scored on an error, Karli Molis added an RBI single. Another run scored on another error, putting Whitehall ahead 6-0.

C-FC chipped away with two runs in the bottom half of the inning. Avvia Herman hit an RBI single for Whitehall in the third and C-FC got that run back thanks to a triple and an error in the bottom of that inning.

Coburn doubled and scored on a fielder’s choice in the sixth, putting Whitehall ahead 8-4.

The Norse had 11 hits in the game, Molis led the way with three while Poeschel, Coburn, and Herman all had two. 

Regan Clatt took the loss, despite only allowing three earned runs. She struck out seven and allowed seven hits and three walks. Whitehall committed six errors in the game while C-FC had five. 

Whitehall 3 O-F 2

Doubles by Coburn and Poeschel brought the winning run home in the top of the ninth.

The game didn’t have much scoring on either side as both teams scored two runs in the sixth inning.

Coburn led off the top of the ninth with a double then scored on a double by Poeschel. 

The Thunder loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the ninth, but Clatt got a fielder’s choice and then a groundout to end the game.

Whitehall’s first run scored on a double as Harlow Foss smacked a double in the sixth to score Ziva Rose. Molis later scored on a sacrifice bunt. 

The Thunder tied the game on a two-run error in the bottom of the sixth. 

Clatt went the distance for the Norse, striking out six while walking four and allowing four hits in nine innings of work. 

Taylor Johnson and Foss both had two hits for WHS, which had eight as a team. 

Whitehall 17 ACL 4

Whitehall broke the game wide open with 12 runs in the top of the sixth inning.

The Hornets took an early lead with a run in the bottom of the first, but Whitehall matched them with a run in the top of the second. 

The Norse took the lead on an RBI single by Poeschel in the third then Khloe Bautch stole home. Coburn added an RBI single in the fourth and Poeschel singled home another run in the fifth.

The sixth is when Whitehall got going. Johnson singled to bring the first run home. After Poeschel hit into an error to score another, Klomsten doubled, making the score 9-1.

Molis was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded before Foss and Herman had consecutive RBI singles. Coburn picked up another RBI with a sacrifice fly, then Clatt singled to make the score 15-1. Poeschel delivered again, this time doubling to bring two runs in and put the Norse ahead by 16.

The Hornets scored three in the bottom half of the sixth, but it wasn’t enough as the game ended by the mercy rule.

Poeschel went four-for-five in the game with four RBIs. Coburn was four-for-four with two RBIs while Clatt had three hits and batted in two runs and Johnson had two hits with two RBIs. Foss and Herman both had two hits and one RBI while Klomsten had one hit and one RBI. 

Klomsten was the winning pitcher, striking out 12 with four hits and one walk allowed.