This story is sponsored by: Chili Implement
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARSHFIELD – A seventh-inning rally by Marshfield Columbus Catholic fell short as Neillsville held on for a 3-2 victory to clinch at least a share of the Cloverbelt Conference East Division softball title on Thursday at the Marshfield Fairgrounds.
Neillsville scored three times in the fourth inning when Cailee Mohr and Emerson Ormond drove in runs with singles, and Lainey Horn had an RBI groundout.
The score remained 3-0 until the Dons put up one final push in the bottom of the seventh.
Weis led off with a walk and Mattea Schlafke followed with a single. After a fielder’s choice, Katelyn Casperson singled to load the bases.
Cierra Dieringer drove in a run for Columbus Catholic with a groundout before a bizarre ending finished off the win for the Warriors.
Sam Casperson hit a groundball to third base that was bobbled and Rhya Dieringer scored. Katelyn Casperson, who started the play at second base, tried to also score and was initially called safe after a throw home by the Neillsville first baseman. However, after an appeal to the base umpire, she was ruled out, ending the game.
Columbus Catholic (13-3, 9-1 Cloverbelt East) could have clinched no worse than a share of the Cloverbelt East title with a win, but will now have to settle for a chance at a tie with Neillsville if it can defeat Spencer on Tuesday and Gilman in its final conference game next Thursday. First, the Dons will travel to Bonduel for a nonconference game on Monday.
Click here to view the Cloverbelt East softball standings
Hailey Zimmermann struck out seven and walked one in a complete-game effort for the Dons. Katelyn Casperson finished with three hits for Columbus.
Neillsville improves to 11-6 overall and ends its Cloverbelt East schedule with an 11-1 mark. The Warriors play at Nekoosa on Monday and will host Edgar next Thursday as they wrap up their regular-season schedule.
WIAA playoff brackets will be finalized this weekend.
Warriors 3, Dons 2
Neillsville 000 300 0 – 3 5 2
Columbus Catholic 000 000 2 – 2 7 3
WP: Delaney Rochester. LP: Hailey Zimmermann.
SO: Rochester 1; Zimmermann 7. BB: Rochester 1; Zimmermann 1.
Top hitters: N, Emerson Ormond 1×3, RBI; Lainey Horn RBI. CC, Cierra Dieringer 2×4, RBI; Katelyn Casperson 3×3.
Records: Neillsville 11-6, 11-1 Cloverbelt Conference East Division; Columbus Catholic 13-3, 9-1 Cloverbelt Conference East Division.