• 
• CLASS
• JOBS
• AUTO
• HOMES

Janesville Parker Vikings keep it close until Cougars’ big sixth

Photo Gallery

Craig-Parker Softball

View Gallery

JANESVILLE — Janesville Parker brought a chip on its shoulder to face crosstown rival Janesville Craig in Big Eight Conference softball Monday at the Youth Sports Complex.

Ashley Ross, the Vikings’ starting pitcher, set the perfect tone in the first inning, putting down the visiting Cougars in order on four pitches.

Craig High shook off Parker’s bravado, however, to pocket a 7-2 victory and a season sweep. But for the first five innings, Parker carried the game to Craig.

Craig improved to 10-5 in the Big Eight and 11-7 overall. Parker fell to 3-12 and 3-15.

The Cougars scored single runs in the second and third innings, but Parker pushed a run across in the fifth to trail 2-1.

“We addressed our attitude after we played (Craig) the first time,” said Parker coach Jenni Seisser, recalling the Vikings’ 6-0 loss to the Cougars. “We were flat, but tonight that wasn’t the case.’’

Ross kept the Cougars at bay with the help of key defensive stops. The Parker junior sent down the Cougars in order in the fifth, but that magic disappeared in the sixth.

Craig put together four hits and an error to score four runs and take a 6-2 lead.

“Ross pitched a nice game,” Craig coach Dan Bayruether said. “She kind of had us until the sixth.’’

Erica Mortensen slapped a one-out single through the infield to get the Cougars rolling in the sixth. Autum Sullivan hit a hard smash off third baseman Kayce Chesebro’s glove, and Kylie Clark reached on an infield error that scored Mortensen to give Craig a 3-1 lead.

Haley Bayreuther followed with an RBI single, and Stephanie Perleberg got a two-run single to give Craig a 6-1 lead.

“Craig took advantage,” Seisser said. “They started making contact.’’

Ross allowed seven runs on seven hits. She notched four strikeouts and walked two.

“I pitch the ball so they hit it on the ground,” Ross said. “I want to get the easy out.’’

Ross said the Vikings played well behind her this time.

“We are getting a lot better in the field,” Ross said. “We’re hitting the ball better. I’m happy about how we played.’’

Ross’s counterpart, Paige Weber, again was sharp. Weber allowed two runs on six hits. She had six strikeouts and walked none.

Sophomore Andrea Roeber had three hits—all bunt singles—in three at-bats in her first varsity appearance for Parker.

The Vikings reached Weber for a run in the fifth on an error, a sacrifice and a wild pitch that put Jensen Henke on third. Henke scored on Andrea Roeber’s bloop bunt that sailed over Weber’s head for an RBI single.

Despite the victory, all did not end well for Weber. With two outs in the seventh, she collapsed on the mound, suffering a freak knee injury, but she walked off on her own power. Junior Nicole Kelly came on to get the final out.

The game was a fundraiser with t-shirt sales and raffles and raised $1,444 for the Janesville Youth Softball Association.

CRAIG 7, PARKER 2

Janesville Craig 011 004 1—7 7 1

Janesville Parker 000 010 1—2 6 1

Weber, Kelly (7) and Sullivan; Ross and Muelenkamp.

Leading hitters—Kelly (JC) 2x4, Roeber (JP) 3x3.

SO—Weber 6, Ross 4. BB—Ross 2,