Powerful offense gives G-E-T softball first win

Fourteen runs in two games last week led to the first win of 2024 for the Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau High School softball team.

The Red Hawks (1-3 overall, 1-1 Coulee Conference) handled business against Viroqua to the tune of an 8-0 victory last Friday, three days after falling to West Salem in another strong offensive display. 

Altoona was scheduled to host G-E-T on Monday, and Arcadia played the Red Hawks at G-E-T Middle School on Tuesday. 

A home game against Blair-Taylor is scheduled for this Thursday before a trip to Westby on Friday closes the week. 

G-E-T 8 Viroqua 0

The Red Hawks took the Blackhawks (2-3, 1-2 Coulee) to task last Friday, out-hitting the hosts 15-1 to claim their first Coulee win. 

Five different G-E-T batters recorded at least two hits on a night Kinley Andersen went 4-for-4 with a pair of RBI at the plate. Halene DeJager hit 3-for-5 with a double. 

The Red Hawks led 2-0 through three innings before adding five runs in the fourth. 

DeJager, who rounded out the scoring by running home on a single from teammate Haley Giemza, pitched all seven innings, allowing one hit while throwing four strikeouts to two walks.

West Salem 7 G-E-T 6

With two strikes against her and two outs on the scoreboard, West Salem’s Makena Ihle hit a walk-off single to send the Panthers by G-E-T last Tuesday.

Although G-E-T took an early 2-0 lead, West Salem (3-2, 3-0 Coulee) tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. The teams traded runs over their next at-bats, and the Red Hawks tied the game at six when Caroline Mack drove DeJager home on a single in the top of the seventh. 

Ihle responded with her RBI hit to score Megan Johnson, who went 4-for-4 at the plate for the visiting Panthers.

Tatum Johnson recorded a pair of doubles for the hosts, which saw Andersen and Giemza each hit 2-for-4. 

DeJager and Samantha Stanton split pitching duties for G-E-T, combining for two strikeouts, three walks and 13 hits allowed.