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Pair lead Craig over Parker

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Photo by Dan Lassiter

Parker's Kassy Hendricks is safe at second when the ball gets away from Craig's Haley Bayreuther in the first inning on Friday.

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Photo by Dan Lassiter

Craig's Lindsey Oliver (6) and Gabrielle Cassady celebrate runs in the third inning of The Cougars' 11-1 victory over Parker on Friday.

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Photo by Dan Lassiter

Craig's Bailie Whittaker throws a pitch against Parker on Friday.

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Photo by Dan Lassiter

Parker's Ashley Ross pitched a complete game against Craig on Friday.

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Photo by Dan Lassiter

Craig's Jillynn Mortensen beats the throw to Parker Catcher Alyssa Byford on Friday.

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Photo by Dan Lassiter

Craig first baseman Audrey Freeman snags a throw in front of the Parker bench on Friday.

JANESVILLE — Gabrielle Cassidy and Jillynn Mortensen came through with the big hits for run-starved Janesville Craig High School at Dawson Ball Field on Friday.

The Cougars, reeling after back-to-back one-run Big Eight losses, hammered cross-town rival Janesville Parker 11-1 in conference softball. The victory lifts Craig to 4-2 in the league and 6-4 overall, while Parker falls to 1-5 and 1-6.

“We needed this after losing two close games this week,” Craig coach Dan Bayreuther said. “This was a good win for us.’’

The Cougars’ team co-captains combined for six hits and seven RBIs to lead a 10-hit attack.

Cassidy managed three hits in four at-bats including a triple and three RBIs, while Mortensen had three hits in three at-bats including a bases-loaded triple for a four-RBI performance.

“That was an awesome performance for Jill,” Bayreuther said. “She went out and had quite a four-RBI day.’’

Cassidy took a wait-and-see approach for her success.

“I just waited as long as I could to make sure it was a strike,” said Cassidy. “I got a couple hits into rightfield because I was waiting on the pitches.”

Cassidy got Craig going in first inning, smacking a triple into the alley in right off Parker freshman starter Ashley Ross. Cassidy scored on an overthrow to put Craig up 1-0.

Craig added three runs for a 4-0 lead in the third inning with Mortensen pounding an RBI double and Cassidy adding RBI single. The Cougars hammered Parker for six runs on four hits and an error in the fourth inning, including Mortensen’s base-clearing triple for a 9-0 lead.

Parker managed a run in the fifth, but Cassidy singled sharply to right in the bottom of the inning, plating two Cougars to notch a 10-run rule decision.

While Cassidy and Mortensen led Craig at the plate, sophomore starting pitcher Bailie Whittaker kept the Vikings hitters at bay on three hits, four strikeouts and no walks.

“I kept the ball down low,” said Whittaker. “I didn’t want the ball up and give them a chance to hit it.’’

Bayreuther liked the way Whittaker took care of business.

“Bailie is not going to put the ball down the middle,” Bayreuther said. “She is going to hit her spots.”

While the Cougars were relieved to break a losing streak, coach Jenni Seisser is looking for a way to boost the Vikings.

“We made a couple errors at crucial times,” said Seisser, whose team committed five errors. “We just have to tighten that up.’’

It was the second straight 11-1 loss for the Vikings, who lost Thursday to league-leading Verona.

“The girls know what they need to do. They’re just not executing the play,” Seisser said.

CRAIG 11, PARKER 1

Janesville Parker 000 01—1

Janesville Craig 103 62—11

Ross and Byford; Whittaker and Cassady.

Leading hitters—Cassidy (JC) 3x4, J. Mortensen (JC), 3x3. 2B—J. Mortensen (JC). 3B—Cassidy (JC), Mortensen (JC).