PREP TRACK AND FIELD
MAPLE LAKE RELAYS
MAPLE LAKE – A busy week didn’t stop two HLWW track and field athletes from setting school records. In their third meet in less than a week, HLWW’s Adam Martinson and Bethany Groos took their performances to a new level.
In shot put, Groos took down the school record. Her throw of 37 feet, 7 inches wasn’t just a personal best, but also put her name next to the school record. The throw by Groos breaks Darlene Kliche’s record of 35 feet, 6 inches by over a foot. Kliche set that school record back in 1982.
With one new school record in the book already, Martinson decided to top his own school record in pole vault. Martinson cleared 11 feet, 6 inches a season ago, and was on a mission to break that this year. He did just that, clearing 12 feet even Thursday night to break his own school record.
The HLWW track and field team is back in action Tuesday, May 1 at Osakis.
PREP SOFTBALL
CENTRAL MN CONFERENCE
HLWW 4, B-B-E 1 (6 innings)
BROOTEN – Not only did the Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted softball team get to play their first game of the season outdoors, they also picked up their first win of the season. The Lakers gave up an early run, but rallied for four unanswered runs the rest of the way to get in the win column for the first time this season with a 4-1 victory over the Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa Jaguars on the road Thursday afternoon.
After giving up an unearned run in the bottom of the first, senior pitcher Hailey Wiegert was dominant. She put that first inning behind her, and allowed just two baserunners the rest of the way. She threw all six innings, allowing the one unearned run off of three hits while striking out five.
Elise Luchsinger and Cejay Ulrich led the charge for the Lakers offensively. Luchsinger went 2-for-2 at the plate with a walk and scored two runs. Ulrich, making her first appearance of the season, had two RBIs and a run scored in the win.
PREP BASEBALL
WRIGHT COUNTY CONFERENCE
MOUND WESTONKA 2, WATERTOWN-MAYER 0
MOUND – In a battle between two pitchers from the start, it was the Mound Westonka White Hawks who came out on top with a 2-0 victory over the visiting Royals in Game 1 of a double header to open the season. The two teams combined for just five hits in the game.
With the game scoreless after three innings, the White Hawks finally broke through in the bottom of the fourth inning. After Mound Westonka’s Andrew Fish drew a walk to start off the inning, the White Hawks took advantage. A pair of hits and an error brought in two runs, and that’s all the White Hawks would need as they held the Royals’ bats at bay.
Jackson Meyer and Garrett Burns had the lone hits for the Royals in the loss as they struggled to get their offense going in the season opener. While the bats were silent, Kevin Burns was tagged with a tough loss despite a strong performance. Burns went five innings, allowing just one earned run off of three hits while striking out three.
“First games are always tough, especially being limited to only one practice on a full field,” Watertown-Mayer coach Justin Stohs said. “That said, I thought we played well. Kevin burns did a great job on the mound. He threw strikes, kept the ball low, and kept the Mound Westonka hitters off balance. Defensively, we we were OK. It is a big difference being on a full field, but as the day went on, we adjusted and I am confident things will better.”
PREP BASEBALL
WRIGHT COUNTY CONFERENCE
MOUND WESTONKA 7, WATERTOWN-MAYER 4
MOUND – In Game 2 of the double header, the Royals were finally able to get their bats going, but it wasn’t enough as the White Hawks rallied for six runs in the top of the second for a 7-4 victory and a season sweep.
After the Royals took a 3-0 lead after one inning, the White Hawks answered back in a big way. In the top of the second, Mound Westonka struck for six runs to take the momentum back.
“Our second game of the day did not finish the way we wanted, but we showed signs of improvement,” Stohs said. “The second inning belonged to Mound Westonka. We were not able to find the strike zone, and mixed with a couple hits, they were able to put a big inning together. It took all the wind out of our sails.”
The Royals were unable to rally back as they were held to just two hits over the final five innings. Meyer stayed hot at the plate for Watertown-Mayer with a pair of hits and two runs scored. Senior Nick Nolan did most of the damage for the Royals. He went 2-for-3 with two doubles and three RBIs.
“After our first double header, I am pleased with the effort we put forth,” Stohs said. “We know we have a lot to work on, but there are things we can work on and improve upon. We played well and showed improvement.”
PREP GIRLS GOLF
LYNX NATIONAL GOLF COURSE (FRONT 9 – PAR 36)
TEAM SCORES: 1. B-B-E 178, 2. Osakis 179, 3. Pierz 194, 4. HLWW 214, 5. Paynesville 281.
HLWW INDIVIDUALS: Missy Kirby 46, Brook Lorenson 53, Alexis Meulners 56, Amelia Lueck 59, Karissa Kulinski 60, Madison Hertzog 67.
LYNX NATIONAL GOLF COURSE (BACK 9 – PAR 36)
TEAM SCORES: 1. Osakis 182, 2. Pierz 198, 3. B-B-E 202, 4. Paynesville 221, 5. HLWW 232.
HLWW INDIVIDUALS: Alexis Muelners 50, Karissa Kulinski 59, Missy Kirby 60, Madison Hertzog 63, Amelia Lueck 63, Brook Lorenson 65.
SAUK CENTRE – For the first time this season, the Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted girls golf team hit the links for their 2018 season. The Lakers took on their Central MN Conference foes at Lynx National Golf Course with a pair of nine-hole rounds.
The Lakers started the day out strong on the front nine. They turned in a team score of 214, which was good enough for fourth place overall. Missy Kirby led the way on the front nine with a score of 46. It was also the best score of the day posted by the Lakers in their first day of competition. Brook Lorenson turned in a card of 53, while Alexis Meulners was right behind her with a 56.
On the back nine, the Lakers finished with a team score of 232, which was good enough for fifth place overall. Muelners led the way on the front nine with a score of 50, improving her score by three strokes. Karissa Kulinski also broke 60 by turning in a score of 59, which was one shot better than her front nine score.
Through two rounds, the Lakers sit in fifth place with total score of 446. They sit just seven strokes behind Paynesville who is in fourth place with a score of 439.
The Lakers are back in action Thursday, May 3 at Whispering Pines Golf Course in Annandale.
Follow Kip Kovar on Twitter.
Twitter: @Kovar_HJSports