Superior girls finish third at state tournament

The Superior U-10 Fastpitch Softball Traveling team has been busy, finishing third at the state tournament in Wausau, third in the Seymour Slam Tournament and sweeping a doubleheader from Two Harbors.

State tourney

The Wisconsin State Babe Ruth Tournament in Wausau was held July 9-10.

Superior opened pool play with a 10-8 victory over Menomonie, Mich. Hannah Kolanczyk pitched the complete game for Superior, recording 10 strikeouts and allowing five walks over six innings.

Superior held Menomonie to two runs over five innings before a late six-run rally by Menomonie made it a close game.

Superior’s offense was led by Erika Olson’s three hits. Kolanczyk and Ashley Welsh each added a pair of hits and Erin Thompson, Brandie Goldberg, Annika Bergstrom and Autumn Siers added a hit each.

Superior then defeated D.C. Everest 13-11. Brandie Goldberg started for Superior, allowing seven runs with four strikeouts and 10 walks over 2 1/3 innings. Erin Thompson pitched the final 3 2/3 innings for the win, while picking up five strikeouts and giving up five walks.

Erika Olson had two doubles, Kolanczyk and Jordyn Olson each added two hits and Goldberg and Annika Bergstrom added a single apiece.

The local girls ended pool play with a 2-1 record after a 7-0 loss to Wisconsin Rapids. Kolanczyk, Thompson and Goldberg pitched in the loss, while recording a combined 10 strikeouts with three walks and five hits.

The Superior girls advanced to a single-elimination bracket game where they defeated Wausau 6-4.

Superior fell behind 1-0 after one inning, tied in the second and took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth inning when Bergstrom reached first on a base hit, advanced to third on two wild pitches and scored on a single by Madysen Stariha.

Wausau took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth on a hit and two Superior errors. After a scoreless fifth inning, Superior took a 6-3 lead in the sixth inning. Jordyn Olson led off with a double and eventually scored on two wild pitches to tie the game. Allie Thul walked, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Hannah Thul. Wausau then walked the next two Superior hitters before Kolanczyk drove in two runs with a single.

Kolanczyk and Thompson combined for the win with nine strikeouts and no walks.

Kolanczyk had two hits while Erika Olson, Jordyn Olson, Bergstrom, Stariha and Hannah Thul each added a hit.

Superior was eliminated in the semifinals with a 15-7 loss to Wisconsin Rapids.

Thompson, Kolanczyk and Goldberg pitched for Superior, striking out eight and walking eight. Their effort was hampered by seven defensive errors.

Superior’s offense was provided by Erika Olson and Stariha with two hits each and Kolanczyk, Goldberg and Ashley Welsh each with a hit.

Superior finished third in the eight-team field that included Marinette, Merrill and Rhinelander. Merrill won the tournament with a 4-0 victory over Wisconsin Rapids.

Two Harbors sweep

Superior then swept a doubleheader from the Two Harbors All-Star team Saturday at the Superior Women’s Field. The local girls won by scores of 9-2 and 18-5.

In the opener, Thompson and Kolanczyk combined in the win, posting 12 strikeouts with five walks. Erika Olson went 3-for-3 at the plate with a triple and two singles while Thompson, Goldberg and Welsh all added a hit.

In game two, Goldberg, Erika Olson and Welsh all pitched for Superior, striking out 11 and walking six.

Offensively, Welsh and Allie Thul each had two hits. Hannah Thul and Kolanczyk each added a hit. Superior was also the recipient of 19 walks and three hit batters.

Seymour Slam

Superior finished 4-2 with a third-place finish in the Seymour Slam Tournament.

In pool play, Superior lost 8-4 to Seymour Black. Goldberg took the pitching loss with Kolanczyk pitching in relief. Superior was led at the plate by Goldberg with two RBI singles. Erika Olson added a triple and Kolanczyk a single. Jordyn Olson walked twice and scored two runs.

The outcome was better in game two as Superior came from behind to defeat Black River Falls 9-3.

Erika Olson started pitching but was quickly relieved by Kolanczyk, who picked-up the win allowing one run with 13 strikeouts and seven walks. Erika Olson and Jordyn Olson each collected two hits to lead Superior at the plate. Kolanczyk, Goldberg, Stariha and Alexis Johnson each added a hit.

Bracket play began with game three as Superior defeated Seymour Red 13-1. Goldberg collected the victory with eight strikeouts and two walks. She also led the winners at the plate with two hits. Stariha, Kolanczyk, Erika Olson, Welsh and Autumn Siers all added a hit.

Superior then lost 10-7 to La Crosse Shelby. Kolanczyk took the loss while Goldberg pitched in relief. Erika Olson and Thul each had a hit for Superior. Superior’s defense made four errors.

Superior then went on to beat the Eau Claire Fury 12-4. Goldberg picked-up the win with Erika Olson pitching an inning of relief. The two pitchers combined for nine strikeouts, 10 walks and three hit batters. Kolanczyk, Erika Olson and Alexis Johnson each had two hits for Superior. Stariha added a double.

In the game for third place, Superior defeated Black River Falls 12-2. Kolanczyk pitched a complete game, yielding two runs on one hit. She recorded 13 strikeouts, four walks and two hit batters. Kolanczyk, Jordyn Olson, Siers, Hannah Thul and Alexis Johnson all had two hits each for Superior while Bergstrom, Stariha, Erika Olson, Welsh and Allie Thul each had one hit. Superior had 18 hits, 15 over the last two innings in the come-from-behind win.

The game was marred by the loss of Sydni Clarke with a season ending ankle injury.

Rice Lake tourney

Superior opened the Rice Lake Season Opener Tournament on June 5 with an 8-1 loss to Baldwin.

Thompson and Kolanczyk combined for the loss with seven strikeouts and 11 walks. Erika Olson, Jordyn Olson and Welsh each had a hit for Superior.

Superior then beat Seymour Red 13-1. Goldberg and E. Olson combined for the win while striking out 11 and walking eight. Thompson and E. Olson each had two hits to lead Superior at the plate. Hannah Thul, Kolanczyk, Stariha, J. Olson and Bergstrom each added a hit.

A combined pitching win by Thompson, Kolanczyk, Goldberg and E. Olson secured second place in the tournament with a 16-2 win over Rice Lake. The pitchers struck out 11, walked seven and allowed one hit.

For Superior, Thompson, Goldberg, Hannah Thul, E. Olson, J. Olson, Allie Thul and Stariha each had a hit.

Superior is coached by Rick Kolanczyk, Bernie Olson and Stewart. The All-Stars (11-5) wrap up their season with a tournament in Hudson on July 31.

Tags: sports, superior, baseball, softball