Craig completes sweep
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JANESVILLE — Janesville Craig High School shredded cross-town rival Parker’s revenge plans early at Dawson Ball Field on Friday.
The Cougars thumped the Vikings with seven runs in the top of the first inning en route to a five-inning 12-0 Big Eight Conference softball victory. With an 11-1 victory earlier, Craig claims a regular-season sweep of the Vikings.
Craig improves to 9-7 in the Big Eight and 11-9 overall and Parker falls to 1-15 in the league and 1-18 overall.
“We’ve played well all year,” Craig coach Dan Bayreuther said. “We’ve lost a few games we shouldn’t have, but we’ve been in every game and the kids are working hard.’’
Parker coach Jenni Seisser wasn’t thinking about a Craig blowout when the game began, but things unraveled too quickly for the Vikings.
“It’s not the way we wanted to come out tonight,” Seisser said. “Craig, I’m giving them a lot of credit. They are a tough hitting team and I was hoping they wouldn’t start in until the third or fourth inning.’’
Craig freshman Haley Bayreuther opened the game with a leadoff walk and 10 Cougars followed, piling up seven runs on five hits, two Parker errors among several mental mistakes.
The Cougars’ Gabrielle Cassady ripped a two-run single, while teammates Lindsey Oliver, Whitney Oliver, Erica Mortensen and Kelly Moench each produced RBI singles.
Cassady added the exclamation point in the second inning with a leadoff home run, lifting a shot over Parker center fielder Leah Champion.
Cassady, who reached base in all four of her at-bats, said she thought she received a bad call on freshman Ashley Ross’ first pitch, which got her focused for the second offering.
“After a bad call on the first pitch, I got irritated,” Cassady said. “And it was the sweet spot of the bat. It felt good.”
Cassady’s blast put Craig up 8-0 and sent Ross to the bench for sophomore Maggie Tracey.
Seisser stressed Ross wasn’t to blame for the Vikings’ mess. Parker made some mental errors along with the physical ones that didn’t help Ross.
“It’s a team effort, and it’s not just one person who loses a game,” said Seisser, whose team committed four errors. “We’re still trying to jell as a team.’’
In contrast, Craig was perfect in the field to back up sophomore starter Bailie Whittaker’s five-hit, one-walk, one-strikeout effort.
“We didn’t have an error the whole game, and we made tough plays,” Bayreuther said.
Craig will host Madison East next Tuesday, while Parker will travel to Madison La Follette.
CRAIG 12, PARKER 0
Janesville Craig 720 03—12 8 0
Janesville Parker 000 00—0 5 4
Whittaker and Cassady; Ross, Tracey (2) and Byford.
Leading hitters—Cassady (JC) 2x2, E. Mortensen (JC). HR—Cassady.
SO—Whittaker 1, Ross 1, Tracey 6, Brooks (JP), 2x3, BB—Whittaker 1, Ross 1.
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