Softball: Warriors Post Five Win Week

Caledonia softball may be on the rise. With a freshman-laden squad, the next four years could be memorable. As is, four days in early April 2024 were memorable as Chad Augedahl’s group won five games all by at least four runs for a super strong week. At home, the Warriors made short work of Lewiston-Altura. Caledonia scored six, four, and four runs in the first three innings on the way to a five inning 14-1 win. Senior pitcher Braelyn Lange struck out 11 in picking up the win (5 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 1-1, 2B, 2 RBI, R). Senior Kennedy Hansen (2-3, 2B, 2 R) drove in four runs. Aubrie Klug (3-3, 2B, RBI, R) and Annah Anderson (2-2, two 2B, RBI, 2 R) combined to go 5-for-5 with three extra base hits. Vivian Kittleson (1-2, 2B, R), Adrienne Lange (1-3, 2 R), and Avery Augedahl (1-3, 2 R) helped. The Warriors then took on Rochester-Lourdes on the road. The game was tied 1-1 after five. Caledonia scored three in the sixth to lead 4-1. A four-run seventh then made it academic at 8-2, which stood as the final. Augedahl (7 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 8 K, 1-3, R) pitched the win. Hansen (2-3, 2B, 2 RBI, R) and Lange (2-2, 2 R) had two hits. Elsa Blum (1-4, 2 R) drove in three runs. Klug (1-2, 2 R) helped. At Dover-Eyota a night later, the Warriors took down last year’s 1AA West Champions. Blum hit a first inning two-run home run and Anderson a sixth inning three-run home run, as the Warriors built a 7-0 lead. They prevailed 7-3. B-Lange (7 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2-4, RBI, 2 R) struck out 14 in getting the win. Blum (1-3, HR, 2 RBI, R) and Anderson (1-3, HR, 3 RBI, R) had the two biggest hits. Hansen (2-4, RBI) and Paisley Lange (2-4, R) helped. Team Cal then took on the Onalaska-Luther Tourney. Versus La Crosse-Aquinas, the Warriors scored five in the fourth to lead 5-1, then three in the sixth to lead 8-1. They prevailed 9-4. All four Aquinas runs were unearned, as they had just one hit. B-Lange (6 IP, 1 H, 4 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K) pitched a one-hitter for the win. The senior Anderson (3-4, two 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R) had three hits while Kittleson (1-3, RBI, R) hit a solo home run. P-Lange (2-4, RBI, 2 R), Blum (2-4, 2B), A-Lange (2-4, RBI), and Augedahl (1-3, 3B, RBI, R) contributed to an offense that had 12 hits including five of the extra base variety. The Warriors then racked up 15 hits in taking down host Luther 13-4. Caledonia started the game up 6-0, watched Luther scored four in the top of the third, only for the Warriors to reply with five in the bottom half of the inning to lead 11-4. Augedahl (3-3, 3B, 2 RBI, 3 R, 7 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 4 BB) had three hits and struck out 15 in grabbing the pitching win. Blum (3-4, 3 RBI, 3 R) capped her nice week (8 of 18, 8 RBI, 7 R). A-Lange (3-5, 2B, 3 R) also had three hits. Anderson (2-3, RBI, R) had two hits. B-Lange (1-3, 2 RBI, R) and P-Lange (1-2, RBI) helped. Caledonia gave up just one earned run in the tourney. The Warriors (2-1, 5-1) have won five in a row.