PREP SOFTBALL ROUNDUP: Adrian Area, Jackson County Central each earn conference sweeps

ELLSWORTH — Rachel Kontz had six hits and drove in six runs in two games, leading Adrian Area to a sweep of Red Rock Central/Westbrook-Walnut Grove in a Red Rock Conference softball doubleheader Thursday.

Kontz also earned the victory in the circle in Game 1 as the Dragons won 11-6. They followed with a 14-4 victory in the nightcap.

In the first game, Kontz allowed two earned runs on nine hits while walking three and striking out eight.

At the plate, she was 4-for-4 and drove in two runs.

Jessi Meyer was 3-for-4 with a triple and three RBIs, while Courtney Vaske was 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

Shaina Lonneman added a double in the game.

Aubrey Willhite suffered the loss for RRC/W-WG. She struck out seven in six innings.

Katie Larsen was 2-for-4 in the game, while Yvonne Wani was 2-for-3 with a triple. Katie Dusek also had a pair of hits for the Falcons.

In the nightcap, RRC/W-WG jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first inning, but AA scored two in the second, five in the third and seven in the fourth inning and held on for the 10-run victory.

Meyer earned the victory for the Dragons. She allowed three earned runs on seven hits while walking three and striking out two.

Willhite took the loss for RRC/W-WG. She struck out four in five innings.

Kontz was 2-for-3 and drove in four runs in that game, Nina Weidert was 2-for-2 with two RBIs.

Lonneman had a team-best three hits, while Alyssa Meyer and Sam Meester were each 2-for-4 in the game.

Larsen was 2-for-2 to lead the Falcons in the nightcap.

The Dragons (9-7, 6-4) will face Edgerton in the first round of the Section 3A playoffs on Tuesday. The game will be played in Slayton, beginning at 4:30 p.m.

Game 1 R H E

R/W 100 010 4 — 6 9 3

AA 071 030 X — 11 12 3

Game 2 R H E

AA 025 70 — 14 14 2

R/W 300 01 — 4 7 3

JCC 3, Luverne 0; JCC 8, Luverne 1

JACKSON — Breanne Rentschler and Sarah Christopher each twirled a complete-game gem Thursday, as Jackson County Central swept a Southwest Conference doubleheader over Luverne.

Rentschler tossed a three-hit shutout in the opener, striking out nine batters and walking one in a 3-0 Huskies’ win.

Christopher struck out seven batters and allowed just three hits, an unearned run and no walks in the nightcap, as JCC claimed an 8-1 victory.

Emily Arndt was 2-for-2 to lead the Huskies in Game 1, while Kinbrae Bezdicek (double) and Leslie Handzus (RBI) also contributed at the plate.

Handzus ripped three hits in four at-bats in Game 2. Christopher (double) and Marita Rasche (two-run home run) each collected a pair of hits for JCC (12-5, 8-4).

Arndt (two-run single) and Bezdicek (double) each smacked a hit for the Huskies, who play St. James in New Ulm Tuesday to begin the Section 3AA South tournament.

Ashley Olson (two strikeouts in the first game) and Ellen Dahl (five strikeouts in the second game) each pitched six innings for Luverne, while Hilary Deragisch went 2-for-3 with a double in the nightcap.

The Cardinals (7-10, 4-8) play Worthington in Pipestone in the opening round of the Section 3AA South tournament.

Game 1 R H E

Luv. 000 000 0 — 0 3 1

JCC 021 000 X — 3 5 0

Game 2 R H E

JCC 200 023 1 — 8 10 3

Luv. 010 000 0 — 1 3 2

PA 12, MCC 0; PA 12, MCC 2

SLAYTON — Pipestone Area made the most of its opportunities when it had runners on base in a doubleheader sweep of Murray County Central.

The Arrows scored 12 runs on eight hits in Game 1 and again scored 12 runs in Game 2 on just five hits.

Tasia Woelber one-hit the Rebels for the victory in Game 1, striking out 12, walking two and hitting two batters.

Ashley Clarke took the loss, striking out seven but walking four and hitting three batters.

Amanda Haupert was 1-for-2 with three runs scored for PA and Emily Darveaux, Paige Petersen and Samantha Berg each had a hit and scored two runs.

Abby Van Meveren had the lone hit for MCC.

Kelly Nettick (four hits, one walk and four strikeouts) took the win in Game 2 for the Arrows, with the Rebels allowing seven walks and hitting three batters in the loss.

Van Meveren and Courtny Blomgren were each 1-for-2 with a double for MCC.

Amanda Haupert led PA with a 2-for-3, two-run performance and Nettick was 1-for-2 with two runs scored.

The Rebels (13-3) play a doubleheader in Danube against Renville County West today.

Game 1 R H E

PA 420 60 — 12 8 0

MCC 000 00 — 0 1 4

Game 2 R H E

PA 106 14 — 12 5 2

MCC 110 00 — 2 4 3

Tags: red rock central, westbrook-walnut grove, adrian, adrian area, jackson county central, pipestone area, murray county central, sports, prep, softball, ellsworth, luverne