Raiders roll past RiverHawks to finish regular season

In their final tuneup before what they hope is a lengthy stay in the playoffs, the Arcadia softball team finished off their regular season slate on a positive note.

The Raiders (19-4) rode a well-rounded attack at the plate and a stellar pitching performance from Layna Wozney to an 8-1 non-conference victory over the La Crosse Central RiverHawks (5-19) this past Thursday in Arcadia.

Though last Thursday was the opening night of postseason play for many teams across the state, Arcadia earned a first-round bye and seized on the opportunity with one final game to wrap up the regular season.

The Raiders drew first blood in the bottom of the first with Amaya Schlesser’s RBI single that scored Tatum Drazkowski. Central matched that run in the top of the third to briefly even the score at 1-1.

Arcadia tallied four runs in the bottom of the third, powered in part by Madison Grotjahn’s RBI single and a Riley Walters two-run double. They continued to pour it on with three more runs in the fourth, including Wozney’s two-run single and a Walters sacrifice fly.

Wozney surrendered only one run in her complete-game victory, striking out two while holding Central to three hits, three walks and a hit batter.

At the plate, Wozney went 2 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs. Schlesser finished 2 for 3 with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored.

The winner of Tuesday’s D3 regional semifinal matchup between No. 2 seed Arcadia and No. 7 seed Fall Creek (who beat No. 10 seed Loyal/Greenwood 11-8 in the opening round) advances to Thursday’s regional finals. The Raiders would host either No. 3 seed Prescott or No. 6 seed Tomahawk, with the winner making it to Tuesday’s sectional semifinals.