Wildcat summer teams get strong starts to season

Baseball

     A 4-2 start to the Tri-Rivers Conference schedule highlighted the beginning of the season for the Maquoketa Valley baseball team.

     The Wildcats (4-4) took the field for their opener May 23 at Don Bosco of Gilbertville, and lost 8-4. Don Bosco’s five-run fifth inning proved to be the difference. MV had six hits, including 2-for-3 efforts from Tyson Tucker and Alec McDowell. Tucker had three runs batted in. The ‘Cats used four pitchers, with Trevor Elgin taking the loss.

     MV got in the win column with a home doubleheader sweep of East Buchanan May 25, winning 10-0 in six innings and 7-0. McDowell pitched a no-hitter in the first game, striking out 15. Brock Hillers batted 3-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and two stolen bases. Getting two hits each were Zak Harbach, Norm Wilson and Elgin.

     Tucker followed with a one-hitter in the nightcap, striking out 16 in seven innings. Colin Wendt was 2-for-2 at the plate, and Hillers was 2-for-4 with two stolen bases. Harbach had a double. McDowell drove in three runs.

     At Springville May 30, the Wildcats split a twinbill, winning 4-1 and losing 9-7. Hillers pitched six innings to get the win in the first game, and McDowell pitched the seventh inning to pick up a save. Cole Willenbring was 2-for-4. Clint Krapfl stole two bases.

     Springville scored five runs in the first inning and led throughout, as MV’s comeback from an 8-1 deficit fell two runs short. Hillers was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and three stolen bases. Starting pitcher Wilson took the loss.

     On May 31, the Wildcats played a single game at North Fayette Valley, and lost 7-6. McDowell was 2-for-3, and Tucker had three RBIs. Krapfl, pitching in relief of Willenbring, took the loss.

     MV then split a doubleheader June 1 at Lisbon, losing 10-0 in five innings and winning 5-0. The Wildcats were held to two hits in the first game.

     In the nightcap, Tucker pitched a two-hit shutout with nine strikeouts and just two walks. MV scored single runs in five different innings. Wilson was 3-for-3 with a double. Krapfl batted 3-for-4. Tucker knocked in two runs.

Softball

     A 4-0 record in the North Fayette tournament was key to an 8-4 start to the season for the Maquoketa Valley softball team.

     The Wildcats (4-2 conference, 8-4 overall) opened the season with a pair of Tri-Rivers Conference victories, beating East Buchanan 7-4 and 14-3 – the second game in five innings. The games were played May 25 in Delhi.

     The Wildcats (2-0) pounded 10 hits in the first game, and scored all seven of their runs in the fifth inning to erase a 4-0 deficit. Peyton Ries batted 2-for-3 with a double. Danica Fjelstul had a double and two runs batted in. Also hitting doubles were Brianna Mensen and Cassie Westhoff. Rejji Smith had two stolen bases. Abby Holtz pitched all seven innings to get the win, striking out 10.

     In the nightcap, MV scored in each of the five innings, including four runs in both the first and fifth innings. Maci Freiburger and Westhoff each had a triple and two RBIs. Peyton Ries was 2-for-4 with two doubles and five RBIs. Fjelstul went 2-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs. Macy Hoeger stole two bases. Freiburger pitched for the win, striking out six. The team had 14 hits.

     On May 26, the Wildcats traveled to Cascade, and lost twice, by scores of 2-1 and 7-2. In the first game, the lone MV run came when Mensen led off the seventh inning with a double and scored on a Fjelstul single. Holtz pitched and took the loss, allowing two runs on seven hits with two strikeouts and no walks.

     Cascade jumped to a 4-0 first inning lead in the second game. The Wildcats had 14 hits, but stranded 11 runners. Smith was 4-for-4 at the plate, while Mensen and Fjelstul both went 2-for-4. Freiburger pitched and took the loss.

     “These were two quality games for us against a good team,” Maquoketa Valley coach Mike Mensen said. “We have a lot of new faces, and they have stepped in and made some great contributions already this season.”

     The Wildcats struck back with a pair of shutout wins May 30 at Springville, 15-0 in five innings and 17-0.

     Holtz pitched a two-hit shutout in the first game, striking out five and walking one. The Wildcats broke the game open early with a seven-run second inning. MV had 15 hits. Westhoff was 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs, while Fjelstul was 2-for-3 with a homer and two RBIs. Peyton Ries and Mensen both went 3-for-4; Peyton Ries had a double and two RBIs. Lea Ries was 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Maddy Anderegg was 2-for-3.

     The Wildcats led the second game 3-0 through four innings, but scored six runs in the fifth and eight more in the seventh to put it away. This time the team had 17 hits, including two apiece by Maddie Lahr, Hoeger, Mensen, Smith and Fjelstul. Freiburger fired a two-hit shutout, striking out three.

     “It was a good night to see everyone contribute,” coach Mensen said.

     Maquoketa Valley traveled to Lisbon June 1, and lost a pair of games, 3-2 and 13-1, the latter game in five innings. Holtz pitched the first game, allowing four hits and striking out two. Payton Ries was 2-for-3 with a double.

     The Wildcats had just two hits, from Payton Ries and Smith, in the second game. Five errors contributed to the loss.

     “You don’t get to replay these games; you have to learn from it and move on,” Mensen said. “We will get better from this.”

     MV got better almost immediately, sweeping four games at the North Fayette Valley tournament June 2-3. The Wildcats opened with an 18-2, three-inning win over MFL MarMac, scoring 10 runs in the first inning. Holtz pitched a three-hitter with four strikeouts. Mensen went 3-for-3 with two doubles and three RBIs, and Hoeger was 3-for-3 with a double. Smith two 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

     In the second game on Friday, the Wildcats defeated Don Bosco 8-5 on a walkoff, three-run homer by Freiburger. Mensen and Freiburger each had two hits, and Payton Ries had a home run and two RBIs. Holtz pitched all seven innings for the win.

     “This was a good win for our team, battling back and forth with a good opponent,” coach Mensen said. “This should prove to these girls they can battle with anyone if they come with the right frame of mind.”

     On Saturday, the Wildcats outscored a pair of opponents by a combined 21-1. They opened with a 10-0 win over Edgewood-Colesburg in six innings, as Alison Sheehy pitched a no-hitter with three strikeouts and two walks. Mensen was 3-for-4 with two RBIs, and Macy Hoeger also drove in two runs. Payton Ries hit a triple.

     “It was good to see Ali back in the circle, and seeing the team have fun and play with energy,” the coach said.

     MV closed with an 11-1, five-inning win over North Fayette Valley. Holtz pitched a two-hitter with three strikeouts. Getting two hits apiece were Macy Hoeger, Olivia Hoeger, Anderegg and Mensen. Smith and Mensen had two RBIs apiece. Westhoff had two stolen bases.