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By: Steve Teeters
Tuesday, May 23, 2023:
Kendall Weik and the Phillips Loggers softball team are advancing to Regional Finals after an exciting 11-4 victory over Ladysmith on Tuesday night.
Weik put together a phenomenal performance as the senior ace allowed just two hits while striking out 13 batters. Weik's dominance was truly on full display when she launched not one, but two home runs. The first dinger came in the first inning on a solo shot to put the Loggers on top 1-0. Weik's bat has been on fire over the second half of the season. The senior has hit five homers in as many games.
The Loggers lead would be short-lived, however. Shelby Rozak had a leadoff grounder past Weik and would later score on a stolen base with two out.
Ladysmith then added another run in the third to grab a 2-1 lead. The Lumberjills turned a leadoff hit by pitch into a run but Weik worked out of a bases loaded jam to escape further damage to close the inning.
The Loggers responded quickly in the top of the fourth inning to regain the lead. Freshman Ali Kalander punched a 2-out single into right field to score Halle Lehman and Raelee Williams to put Phillips up 3-2.
The Loggers would get some breathing room in the fifth inning after a sac fly from Raelee Williams scored Brooke Eckert. Izzy Teeters followed that at-bat with a 2-run single to shallow center field to score Paula Pomeroy and Lehman. The Loggers took a 6-2 lead into the bottom of the fifth.
Ladysmith answered with one run in the fifth but the Loggers were helped in the field when Teeters made a sensational over-the-shoulder catch near the center field wall to take extra bases away from Ladysmith in a rally attempt. If not for the Willie Mays style catch, Ladysmith would have scored on the play and had another runner in scoring position. As it was, Ladysmith trailed 6-3 after five innings.
A leadoff double from Alie Williams and a walk by Lily Miller set the stage for Weik in the top of the sixth, and she came through in a major way with an absolute no doubter over the center field wall to put Phillips in control 9-3. An RBI-single from Raelee Williams scored Brooke Eckert to expand the lead to 10-3.
Ladysmith scored another run in the bottom of the sixth to trail 10-4. But, again, Teeters made another fantastic play in the outfield to thwart a Lumberjills rally. This time, the junior center fielder threw out the speedy Heather Nelson at third base when she pushed her luck for extra bases on an error made in left field.
The Loggers tallied their final run in the seventh and would cruise to the 11-4 win. Phillips had 16 hits with Alie Williams, Weik, Eckert, and Teeters each collecting 3 hits on the night. Seven different players also scored a run in a complete team effort.
The win improves the Loggers record to 5-5, and they will now advance to regional finals to face Grantsburg (23-3) this Thursday. Game time is 5:00 p.m. in Grantsburg.
Tuesday, May 9, 2023:
Kendall Weik was simply brilliant on Tuesday night with a no-hitter to lead the Phillips Loggers softball team past the Prentice Buccaneers, 16-0.
The only blemish on the night for Weik was a leadoff walk to Emily Jordan to start the game. Weik struck out the next 11 batters and finished the night with 15 punch-outs in an overpowering performance.
Similar to last Friday's game against Prentice, the Loggers jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Phillips used four walks, a hit by pitch, and a double by Lily Miller to give Weik all the support she would need.
Walks by Prentice pitching would be a major storyline on the night. Phillips collected 14 walks to go with 5 hit by pitch and 8 hits.
The biggest hit of the night also belonged to Weik when she launched an absolute no-doubt homer to deep left field to lead off the fourth inning. The solo home run put Phillips up 8-0 as they cruised to the easy win.
Brooke Eckert went 2 for 3 with 2 runs, 3 RBI, and a pair of walks to lead Logger hitters.
Phillips (4-3) will travel to Rib Lake on Thursday to face the Lady Redmen (10-3) for a doubleheader. The teams squared off against each other in Phillips on Monday but play was suspended after 2 1/2 innings due to rain and poor field conditions. The teams will resume play in game one with the Redmen leading 2-0 through 2 1/2 innings.
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![[Image: kenscarpet.jpg]](https://www.mynorthernwisconsin.com/display/kenscarpet.jpg)
SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES - SHOP PRICE COUNTY FIRST: Ken's Carpet & The Consignment Store sells all flooring types (carpet, vinyl, wood, & ceramic), bedding / mattresses, appliances, solar systems, and consignment sales of furniture, automobiles, farming & logging equipment, ATVs, UTVs, trailers, and campers. Call 715-339-4838 for product inquiries, and follow Ken's Carpet & The Consignment Store's Facebook page.
Friday, May 5, 2023:
The Phillips Loggers softball team got early offense and a dominant outing from Kendall Weik on Friday as they defeated the Prentice Buccaneers 11-0 in Phillips.
Weik struck out the side in the first and helped the Loggers offense with her explosive bat in the bottom half of the frame. The senior standout crushed a 2-run homer over the left center field wall to score Lily Miller to go up 3-0 in the early going. The home run followed a lead off double, stolen base and run by Alie Williams, and it gave the team some much needed energy and confidence.
The Loggers batted around in the first and took a 4-0 lead into the second inning.
Alie Williams led off the second with another lead off double and later scored on a bunt single by Brooke Eckert to extend the Loggers lead to 5-0 after two innings.
Heading to the third inning, the Loggers delivered a knockout blow when they tacked on four more runs to lead 9-0.
Paula Pomeroy drew a leadoff walk in the inning and scored all the way from first base on a Raelee Williams double to left field. Williams later scored on an RBI single to left field by Izzy Teeters. Teeters and Lily Miller would score moments later for the commanding 9-0 lead.
Phillips would get two more runs in the bottom of the fourth. The Loggers collected 9 hits and 4 walks on the evening. The team was led by Alie Williams who went 3 for 4 with 3 doubles, 3 runs, and a stolen base. Kendall Weik went 1 for 2 with the 2-run home run, a walk, and some sensational pitching. Buccaneers hitters had no answer for Weik as 13 of their 15 outs came via strikeout.
Phillips (3-3 overall and 3-2 in conference play) will play in Rib Lake (9-3 overall and 4-2 in conference play) on Monday at 4:45 p.m.
Edit: Monday's game against Rib Lake will be played in Phillips. This game was supposed to be played in Rib Lake originally but has moved to Phillips. Game time is 4:45 p.m.
Thursday, May 4, 2023:
The Phillips Loggers softball team lost to the Athens Bluejays 4-0 at home Thursday night.
A win by Phillips would have earned the Loggers a season split with Athens at one game a piece, and it would have given them a legitimate chance to share a conference title with Athens.
Now Phillips will have to win its remaining Marawood North games while Athens will have to lose two games to Chequamegon for the two teams to be co-champions.
Phillips had a promising start to the game when Kendall Weik worked a quick 1-2-3 first inning and the Loggers offense got going early with a leadoff single by Alie Williams.
But similar to Tuesday's loss in Athens, the Loggers struggled to string hits together and to take advantage of good scoring opportunities against Athens pitcher Danica Diethelm.
After a fly out to center field by Weik, and a stolen base by Williams, Lily Miller punched a 1-out single just over second base to advance Williams to third for a strong scoring chance.
Brooke Eckert then came to bat with Williams at third base, and Miller at second after a stolen base. Unfortunately, Williams and Miller would be left stranded as both Eckert and Halle Lehman each lost in a 7-pitch battle to Diethelm with strikeouts to end the scoring threat.
Heading to the second inning, Athens used a Loggers fielding error, a base hit and sacrifice bunt to take a 1-0 lead on a run by Sophia Coker.
In the Loggers half of the second, Raelee Williams ripped a 1-out single to left field. Unfortunately, a sharply hit grounder to shortstop by Izzy Teeters resulted in a 6-4-3 double play to close the inning.
Athens tallied two more runs in the fourth inning. Sophia Coker led off the inning with a single to left field, and she advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Celina Ellenbecker. Coker later advanced to third base on a throwing error by Weik in a pick off attempt.
The next at-bat resulted in a ground ball towards third base by Sydney Coker that scored Sophia Coker when Phillips decided to go for the out at first base instead of a play at home plate. But a throwing error allowed the run to score and extra bases for Athens. The Bluejays got another run on a wild pitch in the very next at-bat to go up 3-0.
Weik would get a fly out and a strikeout to end the fourth inning. But the Bluejays had momentum and a strong 3-0 lead.
Needing to rally, Phillips was not able to string together hits or a scoring threat the rest of the way. The Loggers would only manage to collect one hit and a walk over the final four innings.
On the evening, Phillips had 4 hits and one walk. The Loggers had 6 left on base with 5 stranded in scoring position.
Kendall Weik allowed 5 hits, one walk, and just two earned runs to go with 7 strikeouts.
The loss drops Phillips to 2-3 overall and 2-2 in conference play. The Loggers will host Prentice on Friday. Game time is scheduled for 4:45 p.m.
Tuesday, May 2, 2023:
The Phillips Loggers softball team traveled to Athens Tuesday night and lost 6-1 to their chief rival in Marawood North conference play.
Coming off of back-to-back wins against Chequamegon last week, the young Loggers team looked to continue their improved play and to extend their win streak to three games in a pivotal conference matchup. But a big sixth inning for the Bluejays was too much to overcome.
Phillips had a golden scoring opportunity to start the game when Alie Williams, Lily Miller, and Brooke Eckert all reached safely with no outs in the first, but the team was unable to take advantage of the bases loaded situation, leaving all three runners stranded to end the top half of the first.
Kendall Weik was back on the mound for the Loggers and had a shutout going until the fifth inning when Athens was able to manufacture a run.
A leadoff walk to Abby Diethelm got things started for Athens in the fifth. Paige Westaby followed the lead off walk with a groundout to Weik to advance Diethelm into scoring position. A wild pitch by Weik allowed Diethelm to advance to third, before she scored on an Addison Lavicka sacrifice fly to center field. Two batters later, Weik induced a groundout to end the fifth.
Trailing 1-0 in the top of the sixth, the Loggers still found themselves in good position to rally. Unfortunately, the team went quietly in the frame.
Armed with a 1-0 lead, the experienced Bluejays team would bat around in the sixth inning, resulting in five insurance runs. A one-out error at home plate aided the big inning for Athens and the home team never looked back.
Phillips did manage to tally one run in the top of the seventh on the strength of four walks. But similar to the first inning, the team left the bases loaded in the deciding frame.
The Loggers had 7 walks on the night but were held to just 2 hits.
On the other side of the ledger, Athens had 7 hits and 2 walks on the evening.
Kendall Weik recorded 8 strikeouts in the tough luck loss. The Phillips ace has been as advertised since her recent return and keeps getting better with each outing.
Situational softball was clearly the difference in this game, and the game was much closer than the score would seem to indicate. The young Phillips squad left ten runners on base, six of which were in scoring position.
The loss drops Phillips to 2-2 overall and 2-1 in conference play. They will host Athens on Thursday in a rematch of conference rivals. Game time is 4:45 p.m.
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SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES - SHOP PRICE COUNTY FIRST: Planning a vacation to the northwoods? Long Lake North offers premium vacation rentals in Phillips, Wisconsin. The rentals are located at 219 County Road F. For reservations, call 715-781-2073, visit Long Lake North's website, and follow the Facebook page.
Thursday, April 27, 2023:
The Phillips Loggers defeated the Chequamegon Screaming Eagles 5-1 on Thursday night in Park Falls.
The Loggers took advantage of a first inning error that allowed Lily Miller to reach base with one out. Two batters later, Kendall Weik delivered a two-out RBI double to the right center field gap to score Miller from first base.
Chequamegon would answer with a run of their own in the bottom half of the first. Anya Brenholt drew a one-out walk and quickly moved into scoring position with a stolen base. Kelly Dunlavy then delivered with an RBI single to left field to score Brenholt to tie the game 1-1.
Weik struck out the side in the first to avoid further damage.
Moving to the third inning, Alie Williams had a lead off single before scoring on an RBI double by Miller to go up 2-1 after three.
Heading to the fifth, Phillips clung to the 2-1 lead before a momentum changing play by their freshman catcher, Raelee Williams.
Two Chequamegon errors and a single by Halle Lehman loaded the bases for Williams, who delivered with a two-out bases clearing double to the left center field gap to put the Loggers up 5-1.
That was all Kendall Weik would need to close out the game for Phillips. The senior ace recorded 13 strikeouts on the night while allowing just five hits.
The Loggers collected eight hits on the night. Sisters Alie and Raelee Williams proved to be the catalyst for the Loggers offense tonight. Alie went 3 for 4 with one run and a stolen base. And Raelee put the game out of reach with her clutch at-bat in the fifth.
The Loggers improve to 2-1 on the season while the Screaming Eagles fall to 1-6. Phillips travels to Athens next Tuesday and Chequamegon faces Newman Catholic in Wausau on Friday.
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SUPPORT LOCAL EVENTS: Enjoy the Price County Fair, coming to Phillips August 23-27, 2023! Visit the Price County Fair's website and follow the Price County Fair's Facebook page.
Tuesday, April 25, 2023:
The Phillips Loggers softball team got a much needed shot in the arm when Kendall Weik and Brooke Eckert catapulted the Loggers to a 4-3 walk-off victory over the rival Chequamegon Screaming Eagles.
Weik, the reigning Marawood North Conference Player of the Year, made her season debut 11 days after the Loggers lost to the Mellen Granite Diggers in lopsided fashion to start their season. Weik missed the opener as she has been recovering from an ACL injury sustained during the recent basketball season.
The senior ace allowed 10 singles and 4 walks but worked masterfully to hold a feisty Screaming Eagles team to just three runs.
The Chequamegon scoring would start in the fourth inning when their first six batters would reach safely; five hits and an error. But Weik and the Loggers managed to hold the visitors to just two runs in the frame. The first out came on an interference ruling at third base. The second out came a few batters later when the Loggers got a bases loaded force out at home plate. And Weik would come up with a huge strikeout to end the Chequamegon fourth.
Phillips responded quickly in their half of the fourth with a run by Brooke Eckert. The junior first baseman got things going with a leadoff single that proved costly for Chequamegon. All it took to push Eckert across for the lone run was a single by Halle Lehman and two fielders choice plays from underclassmen Raelee Williams and Paula Pomeroy. But credit goes to the Loggers for putting the ball in play. Logger hitters had just one strikeout on the night.
Moving to the fifth inning, Eckert came up with another big play with an RBI double down the left field line to score sophomore Lily Miller. Miller reached on an error in front of Eckert.
Two batters later, Lehman reached safely on another Chequamegon error. The error also allowed Eckert to score on the play, and Phillips took a 3-2 lead into the sixth inning.
Chequamegon would not go away quietly, though. A fielding error to lead off the sixth inning cost the Loggers their lead. The Screaming Eagles would go back and forth with Weik through the inning.
Chequamegon tallied two singles and a walk during the inning to tie things up 3-3. Despite traffic on the base paths, Weik came up huge with a pair of strikeouts and a groundout in the inning.
The teams went to the seventh tied 3-3. But Weik had two come-backers and a strikeout to stop Chequamegon in what turned out to be their final chance. Weik recorded 8 strikeouts on the night and allowed just two earned runs.
Heading to the bottom of the seventh, Phillips had the top of its lineup coming to the plate. Alie Williams reached on a shallow fly ball to right center field. Lily Miller followed with a single past the second baseman and Brooke Eckert once again came through huge, this time with the game winning RBI to score Williams.
The Loggers had 8 hits on the night. Eckert led the way, going 3 for 4 with two runs and two RBI.
With just three returning starters now on the team (Weik, Eckert, and Williams), the Loggers lineup looks much different than the one that won another conference championship last season. Several newcomers are getting their first taste of varsity playing experience. But tonight was completely different than their disappointing opener just 11 days ago. The team is growing and this game will only serve as a building block for the rest of the season.
The Loggers (1-1) play Chequamegon (1-4) again on Thursday in Park Falls. Come on out and cheer them to victory!
![[Image: bumblebeerentals.jpg]](https://mynorthernwisconsin.com/display/bumblebeerentals.jpg)
SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES - SHOP PRICE COUNTY FIRST: Bumble Bee Rentals offers rentals of tables & chairs for parties and other events. A commercial storefront and a 2-bedroom apartment jus became available, as well. Visit Bumble Bee Rental's website to view the tables & chairs and rentals or call 715-339-3418 to book a showing or reserve your event date.
(This post was last modified: 05-25-2023, 03:36 AM by My Northern Wisconsin.)
Rent tables and chairs for your next event. Call 715-339-3418 to reserve your event date.
By: Steve Teeters
Tuesday, May 23, 2023:
Kendall Weik and the Phillips Loggers softball team are advancing to Regional Finals after an exciting 11-4 victory over Ladysmith on Tuesday night.
Weik put together a phenomenal performance as the senior ace allowed just two hits while striking out 13 batters. Weik's dominance was truly on full display when she launched not one, but two home runs. The first dinger came in the first inning on a solo shot to put the Loggers on top 1-0. Weik's bat has been on fire over the second half of the season. The senior has hit five homers in as many games.
The Loggers lead would be short-lived, however. Shelby Rozak had a leadoff grounder past Weik and would later score on a stolen base with two out.
Ladysmith then added another run in the third to grab a 2-1 lead. The Lumberjills turned a leadoff hit by pitch into a run but Weik worked out of a bases loaded jam to escape further damage to close the inning.
The Loggers responded quickly in the top of the fourth inning to regain the lead. Freshman Ali Kalander punched a 2-out single into right field to score Halle Lehman and Raelee Williams to put Phillips up 3-2.
The Loggers would get some breathing room in the fifth inning after a sac fly from Raelee Williams scored Brooke Eckert. Izzy Teeters followed that at-bat with a 2-run single to shallow center field to score Paula Pomeroy and Lehman. The Loggers took a 6-2 lead into the bottom of the fifth.
Ladysmith answered with one run in the fifth but the Loggers were helped in the field when Teeters made a sensational over-the-shoulder catch near the center field wall to take extra bases away from Ladysmith in a rally attempt. If not for the Willie Mays style catch, Ladysmith would have scored on the play and had another runner in scoring position. As it was, Ladysmith trailed 6-3 after five innings.
A leadoff double from Alie Williams and a walk by Lily Miller set the stage for Weik in the top of the sixth, and she came through in a major way with an absolute no doubter over the center field wall to put Phillips in control 9-3. An RBI-single from Raelee Williams scored Brooke Eckert to expand the lead to 10-3.
Ladysmith scored another run in the bottom of the sixth to trail 10-4. But, again, Teeters made another fantastic play in the outfield to thwart a Lumberjills rally. This time, the junior center fielder threw out the speedy Heather Nelson at third base when she pushed her luck for extra bases on an error made in left field.
The Loggers tallied their final run in the seventh and would cruise to the 11-4 win. Phillips had 16 hits with Alie Williams, Weik, Eckert, and Teeters each collecting 3 hits on the night. Seven different players also scored a run in a complete team effort.
The win improves the Loggers record to 5-5, and they will now advance to regional finals to face Grantsburg (23-3) this Thursday. Game time is 5:00 p.m. in Grantsburg.
Tuesday, May 9, 2023:
Kendall Weik was simply brilliant on Tuesday night with a no-hitter to lead the Phillips Loggers softball team past the Prentice Buccaneers, 16-0.
The only blemish on the night for Weik was a leadoff walk to Emily Jordan to start the game. Weik struck out the next 11 batters and finished the night with 15 punch-outs in an overpowering performance.
Similar to last Friday's game against Prentice, the Loggers jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Phillips used four walks, a hit by pitch, and a double by Lily Miller to give Weik all the support she would need.
Walks by Prentice pitching would be a major storyline on the night. Phillips collected 14 walks to go with 5 hit by pitch and 8 hits.
The biggest hit of the night also belonged to Weik when she launched an absolute no-doubt homer to deep left field to lead off the fourth inning. The solo home run put Phillips up 8-0 as they cruised to the easy win.
Brooke Eckert went 2 for 3 with 2 runs, 3 RBI, and a pair of walks to lead Logger hitters.
Phillips (4-3) will travel to Rib Lake on Thursday to face the Lady Redmen (10-3) for a doubleheader. The teams squared off against each other in Phillips on Monday but play was suspended after 2 1/2 innings due to rain and poor field conditions. The teams will resume play in game one with the Redmen leading 2-0 through 2 1/2 innings.
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SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES - SHOP PRICE COUNTY FIRST: Ken's Carpet & The Consignment Store sells all flooring types (carpet, vinyl, wood, & ceramic), bedding / mattresses, appliances, solar systems, and consignment sales of furniture, automobiles, farming & logging equipment, ATVs, UTVs, trailers, and campers. Call 715-339-4838 for product inquiries, and follow Ken's Carpet & The Consignment Store's Facebook page.
Friday, May 5, 2023:
The Phillips Loggers softball team got early offense and a dominant outing from Kendall Weik on Friday as they defeated the Prentice Buccaneers 11-0 in Phillips.
Weik struck out the side in the first and helped the Loggers offense with her explosive bat in the bottom half of the frame. The senior standout crushed a 2-run homer over the left center field wall to score Lily Miller to go up 3-0 in the early going. The home run followed a lead off double, stolen base and run by Alie Williams, and it gave the team some much needed energy and confidence.
The Loggers batted around in the first and took a 4-0 lead into the second inning.
Alie Williams led off the second with another lead off double and later scored on a bunt single by Brooke Eckert to extend the Loggers lead to 5-0 after two innings.
Heading to the third inning, the Loggers delivered a knockout blow when they tacked on four more runs to lead 9-0.
Paula Pomeroy drew a leadoff walk in the inning and scored all the way from first base on a Raelee Williams double to left field. Williams later scored on an RBI single to left field by Izzy Teeters. Teeters and Lily Miller would score moments later for the commanding 9-0 lead.
Phillips would get two more runs in the bottom of the fourth. The Loggers collected 9 hits and 4 walks on the evening. The team was led by Alie Williams who went 3 for 4 with 3 doubles, 3 runs, and a stolen base. Kendall Weik went 1 for 2 with the 2-run home run, a walk, and some sensational pitching. Buccaneers hitters had no answer for Weik as 13 of their 15 outs came via strikeout.
Phillips (3-3 overall and 3-2 in conference play) will play in Rib Lake (9-3 overall and 4-2 in conference play) on Monday at 4:45 p.m.
Edit: Monday's game against Rib Lake will be played in Phillips. This game was supposed to be played in Rib Lake originally but has moved to Phillips. Game time is 4:45 p.m.
Thursday, May 4, 2023:
The Phillips Loggers softball team lost to the Athens Bluejays 4-0 at home Thursday night.
A win by Phillips would have earned the Loggers a season split with Athens at one game a piece, and it would have given them a legitimate chance to share a conference title with Athens.
Now Phillips will have to win its remaining Marawood North games while Athens will have to lose two games to Chequamegon for the two teams to be co-champions.
Phillips had a promising start to the game when Kendall Weik worked a quick 1-2-3 first inning and the Loggers offense got going early with a leadoff single by Alie Williams.
But similar to Tuesday's loss in Athens, the Loggers struggled to string hits together and to take advantage of good scoring opportunities against Athens pitcher Danica Diethelm.
After a fly out to center field by Weik, and a stolen base by Williams, Lily Miller punched a 1-out single just over second base to advance Williams to third for a strong scoring chance.
Brooke Eckert then came to bat with Williams at third base, and Miller at second after a stolen base. Unfortunately, Williams and Miller would be left stranded as both Eckert and Halle Lehman each lost in a 7-pitch battle to Diethelm with strikeouts to end the scoring threat.
Heading to the second inning, Athens used a Loggers fielding error, a base hit and sacrifice bunt to take a 1-0 lead on a run by Sophia Coker.
In the Loggers half of the second, Raelee Williams ripped a 1-out single to left field. Unfortunately, a sharply hit grounder to shortstop by Izzy Teeters resulted in a 6-4-3 double play to close the inning.
Athens tallied two more runs in the fourth inning. Sophia Coker led off the inning with a single to left field, and she advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Celina Ellenbecker. Coker later advanced to third base on a throwing error by Weik in a pick off attempt.
The next at-bat resulted in a ground ball towards third base by Sydney Coker that scored Sophia Coker when Phillips decided to go for the out at first base instead of a play at home plate. But a throwing error allowed the run to score and extra bases for Athens. The Bluejays got another run on a wild pitch in the very next at-bat to go up 3-0.
Weik would get a fly out and a strikeout to end the fourth inning. But the Bluejays had momentum and a strong 3-0 lead.
Needing to rally, Phillips was not able to string together hits or a scoring threat the rest of the way. The Loggers would only manage to collect one hit and a walk over the final four innings.
On the evening, Phillips had 4 hits and one walk. The Loggers had 6 left on base with 5 stranded in scoring position.
Kendall Weik allowed 5 hits, one walk, and just two earned runs to go with 7 strikeouts.
The loss drops Phillips to 2-3 overall and 2-2 in conference play. The Loggers will host Prentice on Friday. Game time is scheduled for 4:45 p.m.
Tuesday, May 2, 2023:
The Phillips Loggers softball team traveled to Athens Tuesday night and lost 6-1 to their chief rival in Marawood North conference play.
Coming off of back-to-back wins against Chequamegon last week, the young Loggers team looked to continue their improved play and to extend their win streak to three games in a pivotal conference matchup. But a big sixth inning for the Bluejays was too much to overcome.
Phillips had a golden scoring opportunity to start the game when Alie Williams, Lily Miller, and Brooke Eckert all reached safely with no outs in the first, but the team was unable to take advantage of the bases loaded situation, leaving all three runners stranded to end the top half of the first.
Kendall Weik was back on the mound for the Loggers and had a shutout going until the fifth inning when Athens was able to manufacture a run.
A leadoff walk to Abby Diethelm got things started for Athens in the fifth. Paige Westaby followed the lead off walk with a groundout to Weik to advance Diethelm into scoring position. A wild pitch by Weik allowed Diethelm to advance to third, before she scored on an Addison Lavicka sacrifice fly to center field. Two batters later, Weik induced a groundout to end the fifth.
Trailing 1-0 in the top of the sixth, the Loggers still found themselves in good position to rally. Unfortunately, the team went quietly in the frame.
Armed with a 1-0 lead, the experienced Bluejays team would bat around in the sixth inning, resulting in five insurance runs. A one-out error at home plate aided the big inning for Athens and the home team never looked back.
Phillips did manage to tally one run in the top of the seventh on the strength of four walks. But similar to the first inning, the team left the bases loaded in the deciding frame.
The Loggers had 7 walks on the night but were held to just 2 hits.
On the other side of the ledger, Athens had 7 hits and 2 walks on the evening.
Kendall Weik recorded 8 strikeouts in the tough luck loss. The Phillips ace has been as advertised since her recent return and keeps getting better with each outing.
Situational softball was clearly the difference in this game, and the game was much closer than the score would seem to indicate. The young Phillips squad left ten runners on base, six of which were in scoring position.
The loss drops Phillips to 2-2 overall and 2-1 in conference play. They will host Athens on Thursday in a rematch of conference rivals. Game time is 4:45 p.m.
(Article continues after promotional image.)
SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES - SHOP PRICE COUNTY FIRST: Planning a vacation to the northwoods? Long Lake North offers premium vacation rentals in Phillips, Wisconsin. The rentals are located at 219 County Road F. For reservations, call 715-781-2073, visit Long Lake North's website, and follow the Facebook page.
Thursday, April 27, 2023:
The Phillips Loggers defeated the Chequamegon Screaming Eagles 5-1 on Thursday night in Park Falls.
The Loggers took advantage of a first inning error that allowed Lily Miller to reach base with one out. Two batters later, Kendall Weik delivered a two-out RBI double to the right center field gap to score Miller from first base.
Chequamegon would answer with a run of their own in the bottom half of the first. Anya Brenholt drew a one-out walk and quickly moved into scoring position with a stolen base. Kelly Dunlavy then delivered with an RBI single to left field to score Brenholt to tie the game 1-1.
Weik struck out the side in the first to avoid further damage.
Moving to the third inning, Alie Williams had a lead off single before scoring on an RBI double by Miller to go up 2-1 after three.
Heading to the fifth, Phillips clung to the 2-1 lead before a momentum changing play by their freshman catcher, Raelee Williams.
Two Chequamegon errors and a single by Halle Lehman loaded the bases for Williams, who delivered with a two-out bases clearing double to the left center field gap to put the Loggers up 5-1.
That was all Kendall Weik would need to close out the game for Phillips. The senior ace recorded 13 strikeouts on the night while allowing just five hits.
The Loggers collected eight hits on the night. Sisters Alie and Raelee Williams proved to be the catalyst for the Loggers offense tonight. Alie went 3 for 4 with one run and a stolen base. And Raelee put the game out of reach with her clutch at-bat in the fifth.
The Loggers improve to 2-1 on the season while the Screaming Eagles fall to 1-6. Phillips travels to Athens next Tuesday and Chequamegon faces Newman Catholic in Wausau on Friday.
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SUPPORT LOCAL EVENTS: Enjoy the Price County Fair, coming to Phillips August 23-27, 2023! Visit the Price County Fair's website and follow the Price County Fair's Facebook page.
Tuesday, April 25, 2023:
The Phillips Loggers softball team got a much needed shot in the arm when Kendall Weik and Brooke Eckert catapulted the Loggers to a 4-3 walk-off victory over the rival Chequamegon Screaming Eagles.
Weik, the reigning Marawood North Conference Player of the Year, made her season debut 11 days after the Loggers lost to the Mellen Granite Diggers in lopsided fashion to start their season. Weik missed the opener as she has been recovering from an ACL injury sustained during the recent basketball season.
The senior ace allowed 10 singles and 4 walks but worked masterfully to hold a feisty Screaming Eagles team to just three runs.
The Chequamegon scoring would start in the fourth inning when their first six batters would reach safely; five hits and an error. But Weik and the Loggers managed to hold the visitors to just two runs in the frame. The first out came on an interference ruling at third base. The second out came a few batters later when the Loggers got a bases loaded force out at home plate. And Weik would come up with a huge strikeout to end the Chequamegon fourth.
Phillips responded quickly in their half of the fourth with a run by Brooke Eckert. The junior first baseman got things going with a leadoff single that proved costly for Chequamegon. All it took to push Eckert across for the lone run was a single by Halle Lehman and two fielders choice plays from underclassmen Raelee Williams and Paula Pomeroy. But credit goes to the Loggers for putting the ball in play. Logger hitters had just one strikeout on the night.
Moving to the fifth inning, Eckert came up with another big play with an RBI double down the left field line to score sophomore Lily Miller. Miller reached on an error in front of Eckert.
Two batters later, Lehman reached safely on another Chequamegon error. The error also allowed Eckert to score on the play, and Phillips took a 3-2 lead into the sixth inning.
Chequamegon would not go away quietly, though. A fielding error to lead off the sixth inning cost the Loggers their lead. The Screaming Eagles would go back and forth with Weik through the inning.
Chequamegon tallied two singles and a walk during the inning to tie things up 3-3. Despite traffic on the base paths, Weik came up huge with a pair of strikeouts and a groundout in the inning.
The teams went to the seventh tied 3-3. But Weik had two come-backers and a strikeout to stop Chequamegon in what turned out to be their final chance. Weik recorded 8 strikeouts on the night and allowed just two earned runs.
Heading to the bottom of the seventh, Phillips had the top of its lineup coming to the plate. Alie Williams reached on a shallow fly ball to right center field. Lily Miller followed with a single past the second baseman and Brooke Eckert once again came through huge, this time with the game winning RBI to score Williams.
The Loggers had 8 hits on the night. Eckert led the way, going 3 for 4 with two runs and two RBI.
With just three returning starters now on the team (Weik, Eckert, and Williams), the Loggers lineup looks much different than the one that won another conference championship last season. Several newcomers are getting their first taste of varsity playing experience. But tonight was completely different than their disappointing opener just 11 days ago. The team is growing and this game will only serve as a building block for the rest of the season.
The Loggers (1-1) play Chequamegon (1-4) again on Thursday in Park Falls. Come on out and cheer them to victory!
SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES - SHOP PRICE COUNTY FIRST: Bumble Bee Rentals offers rentals of tables & chairs for parties and other events. A commercial storefront and a 2-bedroom apartment jus became available, as well. Visit Bumble Bee Rental's website to view the tables & chairs and rentals or call 715-339-3418 to book a showing or reserve your event date.