MARINETTE — Brighter days are surely ahead for the Marinette softball team, but the 2024 season got off to an inauspicious start on Tuesday against North Eastern Conference rival Denmark.
Uncharacteristically clunky play plagued Marinette (0-1 NEC, 0-1 overall), with the Marines committing six fielding errors, five of which turned into runs for Denmark.
Throw in an offense that was kept off-balance by Maggie Frank, and the result was a 15-1, five-inning loss for the Marines.
Even Marinette’s ace Wynn Erdman, a First Team All-NEC pitcher last senior as a junior, appeared rusty against the Vikings on Tuesday, giving up seven hits, one walk and nine runs, all unearned, in three innings of work.
Despite his team’s opening-day struggles, Marinette skipper Scott Macintyre believes that the Marines will round into form sooner rather than later.
“We gave up 15 runs and had six errors, and that hurts, but today was only the second time we’ve been in the dirt this season,” he said. “We have girls who are working their way back from injury, so we’re going to be okay. We’ll be where we need to be. Today was what it was, but we’re only going to get better.”
Denmark (1-0 NEC, 2-2 overall) jumped on Marinette from the opening pitch, with the Vikings drawing first blood off an RBI-single by Shaelyn Kraschnewski, who crossed home plate herself after Erdman doinked Macey Mleziva.
Erdman walked Ella Johanek to score Ashlyn Schultz and make it a 3-0 affair entering the bottom of the first inning.
Frank tacked on an RBI-single to nudge Denmark ahead 4-0 in the top of the second before she and Olivia Ullman both drove in two runs in the top of the third to help make it a 9-0 game.
Denmark broke matters wide open in its half of the fifth inning after Abby Johnson belted a grand slam that put the Marines in a 15-0 hole.
Frank was sharp in the circle for the Vikings, carrying a no-hitter through four innings before being replaced by Kraschnewski.
Marinette immediately capitalized on the pitching change after Lauryn Pelon led off the bottom of the fifth with a single before scoring after Kraschnewski issued a free pass to Barrette Cole to trim Denmark’s lead down to 14.
Pelon and Destiny Walker collected Marinette’s two base hits, while Erdman reached base twice after working a walk in the bottom of the first before getting hit by a pitch in the fourth.
Due up
Marinette: The Marines were at home against Oconto Falls on Thursday, with results unavailable at press time.
The Marines travel to Fox Valley Lutheran today (Friday) at 4:30 p.m.
Denmark 15 — Marinette 1 (5 innings)
Denmark 315 06x x — 15
Marinette 000 01x x — 1
WP: Frank 4IP, BB, 5K
LP: Erdman 3IP, 7H, 9R, BB, 3K
Leading hitters (Marinette): Pelon 1x2, R; Walker 1x3, Erdman 0x0, BB, HBP
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