Gopher Conference Fastpitch Thrillers

The Kenyon-Wanamingo Knights and Randolph Rockets both achieved 3-0 wins over Waterville-Elysian-Morristown and Bethlehem Academy today.

The Knights and Buccaneers game lasted just 69 minutes while the Rockets defeated the Cardinals in a well-pitched game by both teams.

KDHL had the K-W game on the radio from Wanamingo where Knighrts sophomore pitcher Anna Ostertag allowed three hits and Bucs pitcher Alix Velzke scattered six hits in the game.

Both pitchers were very efficient with Ostertag throwing 84 pitches, 51 for strikes and Velzke tallied 86 pitches, 60 strikes. Velzke struck out 7 batters and walked one while Ostertag fanned 4 batters and walked two.

The Buccaneerss had a golden opportunity to score in the first inning, but a courtesy runner got gunned down at the plate for the third out. Catcher Robyn Schwichtenberg and third baseman Liza Baker stroked back-to-back two out singles before a Ellie Lamont hit grounder was booted toward the shallow outfield and courtesy runner Kalyn Novak was gunned down by a perfect throw to the plate by Allina Mendoza.

With two outs in the bottom of the second inning Knights first baseman Addison Lindell stroked a single to left and second baseman Amber Lerfald smacked a towering fly ball to right center that one hopped against the fence scoring Lindell,

The Knights got two insurance runs in the bottom of the 6th inning when Mendoza opened the inning with a solid single and stole second base during an Ostertag at bat that ended in an error on a ground ball to third base scoring Mendoza.

Lindell drew a one out walk. Lerfald slapped the ball to third base and Liza Baker stepped on third to retire Ostertag leaving runners at first and second bases.

Eva Jacobson then smashed an RBI single to right field scoring Lindell.

In the top of the 7th the Buccaneers got back-to-back walks by Schwichtenberg and Baker to open the inning. Ellie Lamont then hit a line drive right to first baseman Lindell who stepped on the bag for a timely double play.

Ostertag ended the game with a strike out of Paetyn Judd.

Our Waterville-Elysian-Morristown Dahle Enterprises Players of the game were Velzke and Schwichtenberg.

K-W improved to 3-3, W-E-M is now 2-4 on the season. The Bucs host United South Central and Knights entertain Goodhue on Thursday.

The Bethlehem Academy Cardinals had the most hits in a game off Carter Raymond this season with four, but Raymond threw her sixth shutout of the year in seven games.

Cardinals pitcher Morgan Wilson, senior, allowed six hits in the game with the Rockets scoring all their runs in the first inning. Wilson struck out 5 and gave up no walks in the contest.

Raymond tallied 13 strikeouts and allowed 3 walks.

Bethlehem Academy senior shortstop Anna Tobin opened the game with a single and was sacrificed to second on a bunt by senior second baseman Anna Cohen. Tobin advanced to third on a ground out by junior third baseman Caitlyn Bothun. Raymond struck out Wilson to end the threat.

In the bottom of the first Raymond hit a single to right. Senior right fielder Kylee Carey sacrificed Raymond to second. Junior catcher Allie Gillette stroked a double to center scoring Raymond. Junior second baseman Maya Preston smacked a single to center placing runners at the corners. Senior Vienna Anderson went in to run for Gillette at third base.

Preston stole second base. Both runners scored on an Ella Banks, senior right fielder, single. Wilson recorded a strikeout looking and pop out to end the inning.

Raymond struck out the side in the second. Wilson did likewise.

Carey opened the bottom of the third with a double to center. Gillette popped out. on a 1-1 count to Preston, Carey stole third. Preston hit into a fielder's choice with Carey thrown out at the plate by Anna Tobin. Banks flew out to end the inning.

Cohen and Bothun both walked to start the bottom of the third. Raymond focused in to record strikeouts of Wilson, Sarah Tobin and Liv Glumack to end the threat.

Kenzie Murray, sophomore shortstop hammered a single to open the 5th for Randolph. Wilson focused in to get the next three batters on a pop out and two ground outs.

With one out in the sixth Cohen cracked a double to left. Following a pop out Wilson singled to left placing runners at the corners, Sarah Tobin walked to load the bases.

Raymond ended the threat with a strikeout of Glumack.

In the 7th catcher Jocelyn Simones, senior, hit a one out single. Following a strikeout the game ended on a line out to right field.

Raymond threw 97 pitches, 66 strikes. Wilson threw 66 pitches, 50 strikes.

Randolph is 7-0 and travels to Blooming Prairie Thursday. The Cardinals fall to 5-2 and host Triton on KDHL Thursday. Coverage starts 4:15 p.m.

A recording of the K-W vs W-E-M game is with the link below.

https://serve.castfire.com/video/7379083/7379083_2025-04-21-221623.128.mp3

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