Pitchers dominated both the 12-0 Spring Grove baseball win over GMLOK and the 9-1 GMLOK softball victory over Spring Grove. Lion Ben Udstuen struck out nine and walked no one while tossing a one-hit baseball shutout. On the softball diamond, Aspen Kolling fanned 13 batters while walking only two. The Bulldog pitcher allowed only two hits, both coming early as the game’s first batter, Jada Strinmoen singled, stole second, went to third on a passed ball and scored on a two-out single by Kendal VanMinsel. The Lions led, 1-0, but that was all for the SG offense except two walks. Meanwhile, eight Bulldog batters contributed to the 10-hit attack. All-SEC Kolling batted 3 for 4 and All-SEC Lucie Voigt (2 for 3) hit a two-RBI home run and a double. GMLOK batters went down in order in the first inning before storming in front with a five-run second inning and then adding runs in the next three frames. After a season as an independent, it was the first-ever SEC softball game for Spring Grove as a stand-alone program. Across town in Spring Valley, seven was a recurring number for the baseball Lions, who had seven hits, drew seven walks, and struck out seven times along with seven stolen bases. Sophomores Brandon Jahnke (2-3, 3 RBI) and Gabe Klug (2-4, 2 RBI) each had a double. The Grove guys scored two runs in each of the first three innings and then doubled their output with a six-run fourth. Udstuen retired the first seven GMLOK batters before a Bulldog reached base on an error. The lone GMLOK base hit was a double by Connor Tangen in the fourth inning of the run-rule, five-inning game. It was the season opener for both baseball teams and SG softball. The GMLOK girls (1-0, 1-1) came in one day after a 10-0 road loss to Class AA Cannon Falls (See “Softball” for more).
Softball: Warriors Lose 1-Run Affair to Cotter Amidst Bowlin’s Feat
Winona-Cotter coach Pat Bowlin has long coached the Ramblers in multiple sports including softball. How long has he coached? Long enough that he became the state’s all-time win leader in softball courtesy of a victory over Caledonia in the teams’ season-opener. But it was a tight affair. In a 5-5 game, four straight Cotter batters reached in the bottom of the seventh. Katelyn Ubl scored the winning run on a bases loaded infield hit, sending the Ramblers to the 6-5 win. Cotter built a 5-1 lead after two innings only for the Warriors to rally and tie the contest 5-5 with a 2-run fifth leading to the walk-off ending. It gave Bowlin 803 career wins. Madison Hazelton struck out 17 Warriors batters but also gave up nine hits in victory (6 IP, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 BB). Warrior pitcher Braelyn Lange gave up just two hits and only one earned run (6 1/3 IP, 6 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 8 BB) in defeat. Elsa Blum (2-3, 3B, HR, 3 RBI, 2 R) hit a third inning two-run home run for Caledonia. Avery Augedahl (2-4, 3B, R) and Paizley Lange (2-3, R) also collected two hits. Aubrie Klug (1-3) had a double to give the Warriors four extra base hits. Ubl did not have a hit but had 2 RBIs and scored twice for the Ramblers. Camrie Macal (1-3, RBI, R) also had an RBI and scored. It was the Warriors (0-1, 0-1) season opener.
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