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Jess Dittel-Hoefler had six hits in two games to help the Wildcat softball team split two games last week in the Mississippi 8 Conference.

Chisago Lakes 10, Zimmerman 2

In their second meeting with the Thunder this year, the offense brought the boom again (the ‘Cats won 12-10 in the first meeting) and this time the pitching was much more sharp as the ‘Cats won 10-2.

Dittel-Hoefler was the spark plug at the time of the lineup for the ‘Cats, going four-for-four with three singles, a double, a run and an RBI. Rylan Sheppeck, who hit a grand slam in the first meeting between the two teams, had three hits and an RBI and both Seanna Ritter and Annika Smith had two RBIs for the ‘Cats.

It was a hit parade early for CL, as they put up crooked numbers in the first and third inning, which sandwiched a lone run in the second inning,, and then also added on in the fifth with one run and in the six with three runs. They had 17 hits and three walks.

Makenna Thorsen, who started the first contest against Zimmerman as well, had two cleaning innings to start the game before giving up two runs in the third frame, which made it 6-2 in favor of CL.

Head Coach Brenda Carlson brought Aubrey Perry in relief to change it up a bit, and she cruised over the last four innings, allowing just one hit and striking out four Thunder batters.

The fielding was also much cleaner in this game, with the ‘Cats committing no errors, and no unearned runs coming across the plate.

St. Francis 8, Chisago Lakes 2

The Wildcats, who were 7-2 heading into the game, dropped a tough conference game to St. Francis on Thursday, April 24.

The Saints got to Wildcat starting pitcher Anna Zaruba early, as they had nine hits and eight runs — although only three were earned — in just four innings against the star senior.

Zaruba is being eased into her pitching role this year and this was just another step in her development.

The top of the Wildcat order delivered for them, with Dittel-Hoefler and Jesa Leritz combining for four hits, but the rest of the lineup combined for just three hits. Leritz and Melana Larson picked up the RBIs for the ‘Cats.

Thorsen pitched sterling in relief for the ‘Cats, pitching two clean innings against the strong St. Francis lineup.

The Wildcats are already over halfway through their season and stand at 8-3. They had a win against Big Lake earlier this week and also traveled to Becker but then spend four of their last six games at home, with the only traveling to Princeton and Monticello.

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