The Chequamegon Screaming Eagles celebrated their 2013 Marawood North and WIAA Regional championships. In the front from left are Emily Mader and Shelby Zillmer. In the middle row from left are Coach Ken Dischler, Alena Boushon, Brianna Mader, Megan Mader, Michelle Lobermeier, and Diana Richter. In the back row from left are Coach Buck Masterson, Trista Cegielski, Emily Ernest, Makayla Casey, Hannah Gruber, Kristen Pechacek, Jamie Palecek, Abby Lee, Morgan Hilgart, Danielle Masterson, manager Kenzi Dane, and Coach Dave BeBeau.
Thirteen members of the 2013 Chequamegon High School Softball Team earned National Fastpitch Coaches Association Academic All-America honors. To be eligible, the student-athletes must maintain a grade point average of 3.5 or higher. In the front row from left are Makayla Casey, Brianna Mader, Abby Lee and Emily Mader; in the back row from left are Trista Cegielski, Megan Mader, Morgan Hilgart, Danielle Masterson, Kristen Pechacek, Emily Ernest and Shelby Zillmer; and not pictured are Michelle Lobermeier and Alena Boushon.
2013 Screaming Eagles:
Front row from left, Megan Mader, Emily Mader, Hannah Gruber, and Brianna Mader.
Middle row from left, Shelby Zillmer, Makayla Casey, Kristen Pechacek, Emily Ernest, Morgan Hilgart, Danielle Masterson, Trista Cegielski, and Michelle Lobermeier.
Back row from left: Manager Kenzi Dane, Coach Dave BeBeau, Abby Lee, Jamie Palecek, Coach Buck Masterson, and Coach Ken Dischler.
Not pictured: Alena Boushon, Diana Richter, Coach Dani Hoffman, and Coach Jenni Zillmer.
Photo by Gretchen Hilgart, North Spirit Creative Photography & Design.
 
Seven members of the Chequamegon High School Softball Team earned Marawood North Conference honors in 2013. Selected to the MNC first team were, front row from left, Michelle Lobermeier, Danielle Masterson, and Megan Mader. In the back row from left are Kristen Pechacek, Morgan Hilgart, Jamie Palecek, and Brianna Mader. Hilgart, Palacek and Brianna Mader were second-team selections, and Pechacek earned honorable mention.
Seven Screaming Eagles earn MNC softball honors

 Seven members of the Chequamegon High School softball team earned Marawood
North Conference honors his season.

Earning first-team honors were sophomores Danielle Masterson, Michelle
Lobermeier, and Megan Mader. Juniors Brianna Mader and Jamie Palecek and
sophomore Morgan Hilgart were named to the second team. Junior Kristen Pechacek earned honorable mention. The Screaming Eagles’ coaching staff of Ken Dischler, Buck Masterson and Dave BeBeau was accorded coach of the year honors.

The Screaming Eagles and Athens shared the MNC title with 8-2 records, and
were the only teams to play full conference schedules. Phillips finished 3-4-1,
followed by Abbotsford at 2-3-1, Rib Lake at 0-4, and Prentice at 0-6.

Megan Mader was a repeat first-team pick. She was 4-0 in the circle and led
the conference with a 2.80 earned run average. She had a 1.17 WHIP and opponents hit .233 against her. She hit .286 with eight runs batted in.

"With two top-notch pitchers, we split the load in the conference and Megan
was on top of her game," Dischler said.

Masterson paced the Screaming Eagles in MNC batting with a .462 average and
1.396 OPS. She hit two doubles, two triples and a home run, and drove in nine
runs. She fielded .970 at shortstop, with just one error and a team-high 18
assists. She earned second-team honors as a freshman.

"Nellie had a great conference season," Dischler said. "A stat I like is OPS
(on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) plus fielding percentage. Anything
over 2.0 is outstanding, and Nellie’s was 2.366."

Lobermeier, who earned honorable mention as a freshman, hit .387 with a .472
on-base percentage and .924 OPS, and scored a team-leading 16 runs from the
leadoff position. She fielded .982, with just one error at first base.

"Stretch is another in a long line of outstanding first-sackers in our
program. She’s got a great, great glove, is our ignitor at the top of the order,
and another of our excellent baserunners," Dischler said.

Brianna Mader repeated as a second-team pick. She earned honorable mention as
a freshman. She was 4-2 in MNC games and third in the conference with a 3.89
ERA. She hit .346 in MNC games with eight RBI.

"Willie had one rough outing it and that might have been the difference
between second and first team. She’s been right on the bubble each of the last
two seasons. She’s 11-3 in her first three seasons in the MNC," Dischler
said.

Palecek hit .333 on the season with seven RBI and five stolen bases. She
fielded .900 in center field, with just one error.

Hilgart hit .318 on the season with seven RBI and five stolen bases.

"Jamie and Mo really sparked us at the bottom of the order. They drove in a
lot of runs from the eight and nine holes before we bumped Jamie back up to
second. Both get great reads on batted balls and cover tons of turf," Dischler
said.

Pechacek earned first-team honors last season. She played in seven of the 10
MNC games this season, hitting .421 with a 1.026 OPS.

"Missing some games and with eight of our conference games being five-inning games because of the late start (due to weather), KP didn’t get as many at bats and reps in the field as we would have liked," Dischler said. "She wasn’t up to her standards at the plate or with the glove. Still, a lot of players would like to have played to her level. She’ll be back full force."

"The conference honors are great for the girls and well-deserved," Dischler
said. "Obviously, not everyone can be honored, but all of our girls contribute
to our team success, which means more. We’re the only MNC team to win a regional
championship and that takes every player executing their respective role and
elevating the team. All of our girls are champions."

Sophomore Kyncaide Diedrich of Athens repeated as MNC player of the year.
Also earning first-team honors for the Blue Jays were senior Alyssa Diers and
sophomore Vanessa Frahm. The first team also included senior Morgan Schillinger
of Phillips, sophomores Shelly Kneifl and Brooklyn Gunderson of Abbotsford, and
senior Carissa Budimlija of Rib Lake.

Others named to the second team were senior Allison Roush and freshman Makala
Williams of Phillips, senior Laura Kneifl and sophomore Autumn Schreiner of
Abbotsford, junior Casie Hieronimus and freshman Briana Lavicka of Athens, and
sophomore Brianna Dunbar of Prentice.

Earning honorable mention were sophomore Alyssa Waller and freshman Ari
Branstitter of Abbotsford, juniors Lexy Belter and McKenzie Brodziski of Athens,
sophomore Katelyn Tinnen and freshman Brooke Spacek of Phillips, seniors Cierra
Jablonsky and Allyson Ulrich of Prentice, and senior Anna Klemann and sophomore
Ciara Schmitt-Olson of Rib Lake.
Chequamegon softball off to 4-1 start

Jamie Palecek raps 2 dingers at Spencer

The 2013 season finally got underway for the Chequamegon High School softball team this past week, with the Screaming Eagles winning four of five games played over three days.

The Screaming Eagles moved from unranked to #12 in The Fastpitch Chronicle/Wissports.net Div. 3 poll, knocking off previously 20th-ranked Athens in a conference game and previously 12th-ranked Spencer in a twin bill.

Chequamegon is slated to play at Abbotsford today, Thursday, May 2, in a Marawood North Conference doubleheader at 4:30 p.m., and to host 16th-ranked Hurley at 4:30 p.m. Friday, May 3, at the Park Falls Athletic Conference. The Screaming Eagles are scheduled to play at Rhinelander at 5 p.m. on Monday, May 6, to travel to Rib Lake for an MNC doubleheader at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 7, and to entertain Athens for a 4:45 p.m. start on Thursday, May 9.

Chequamegon 15, Athens 8

An eight-run fifth inning erased a 5-3 deficit and propelled the Screaming Eagles to a 15-8 victory at Athens on Thursday, April 25, opening the season and MNC play for Chequamegon.

Brianna Mader fanned five and allowed four runs, four hits, and four walks to earn the victory with 4-1/3 innings in relief of sophomore Megan Mader.

Chequamegon opened with a pair of runs in the top of the first and led 3-1 after 1-1/2 innings. Athens pulled ahead with a run in its half of the second, two in the third, and another in the fourth.

Kristen Pechacek led off the fifth for the Screaming Eagles with a walk and scored on Brianna Mader’s single. Megan Mader was hit by a pitch and Hannah Gruber walked to load the bases for Jamie Palecek, who singled home courtesy runner Emily Ernest. Morgan Hilgart followed with an RBI single before Athens finally recorded an out at home on a fielder’s choice. A walk to Emily Mader plated a run before Danielle Masterson ripped a two-run double. Pechacek walked for a second time in the inning and Brianna Mader’s two-run double capped the rally.

After a shutdown inning by Brianna Mader, Chequamegon tacked on four in the sixth, opening with walks to Gruber, Palecek and Hilgart. Gruber scored on an RBI grounder by Michelle Lobermeier. Emily Mader rapped a two-run double and scored on an RBI grounder by Pechacek to put Chequamegon ahead 15-5.

The Screaming Eagles were one out away from ending the game via the 10-run rule before Briana Lavicka’s two-run triple.

Chequamegon rapped 10 hits and drew 16 walks against three Athens’ pitchers.

“Obviously, it’s a great way to open the season, especially in a key conference game,” Screaming Eagles’ Coach Ken Dischler said. “Brianna came in and threw real well and we had great discipline at the plate. The girls went deep into many counts, fouling off pitches to earn their walks, and we got some big hits from Pudge (Emily Mader), Nellie (Masterson) and Willie (Brianna Mader). We had runs score from every position in the batting order.”

Chequamegon 14, Medford 2

Jamie Palecek’s two-run single capped a five-run first to spark Chequamegon to a 14-2 victory at Medford on Friday, April 26.

The Screaming Eagles added a run in the second and Lobermeier and Masterson had RBI singles in a three-run fourth. Chequamegon tallied five times in the seventh.

Megan Mader notched the victory, fanning nine and allowing four hits and two walks in six innings. Brianna Mader worked the seventh.

“Megan bounced back great after struggling a little the night before. She was in command of her pitches,” Dischler said.

Masterson had two hits and scored three times for Chequamegon.

Medford 6, Chequamegon 2

Medford scored four runs after two were out in the third inning and tacked on a pair of runs in the fourth.

“We had a 1-0 lead and a chance to get out of the third with that still intact, but a walk extended the inning and that bit us,” Dischler said. “We only allowed two walks, but both were in that inning and both scored. On top of that, we didn’t swing the bats very well.”

Brianna Mader worked into the fifth inning for the Screaming Eagles, allowing seven hits and striking out four.

Chequamegon 8, Spencer 0

Palecek launched a pair of home runs to back the six-hit, no-walk pitching of Brianna Mader as the Screaming Eagles blanked Spencer 8-0 in the first game of a Saturday doubleheader on April 27. Mader struck out six.

“Bri threw a gem, facing just 28 batters and throwing just 77 pitches,” Dischler said.

Scoreless through four innings, Makayla Casey walked to open the fifth frame and Palecek followed with a two-run dinger to left field. Hilgart reached on an error, Lobermeier singled, and Emily Mader walked to set the table for Masterson, who laced a two-run double in the four-run inning.

Chequamegon tallied four more runs in the seventh. After back-to-back singles by Masterson and Brianna Mader, Lee was called on to pinch hit with two outs. She reached on an error with a run scoring, bringing Palecek to the plate. The junior centerfielder lifted her second home run of the game to left to finish 2-for-3 with five runs batted in.

“A huge day for Jamie,” Dischler said. “She really picked us up. She got us on the board in a tight game against a quality opponent, and then sealed the deal with her three-run dinger.”

Masterson had three hits and Lobermeier and Brianna Mader added two apiece.

Chequamegon 10, Spencer 3

Megan Mader checked Spencer on five hits in Saturday’s second game, walking three and fanning four.

“Megan was in control and we played errorless defense behind her,” Dischler said. “She pitched 11 grounds outs and four infield pop-ups. The four balls hit to the outfield were two first-inning singles, and a triple and home run back-to-back in the third, which accounted for their runs. Mo (Hilgart) had eight ground ball assists and Stretch (Lobermeier) ended the game by laying out to snag a line drive and tag first base for a double play.”

Chequamegon answered Spencer’s first-inning run with three of their own, highlighted by Megan Mader’s RBI single.  Brianna Mader had a two-run single in a four-run second frame.

Ernest reached on an error to lead off the Chequamegon fifth inning and stole second. She advanced on a base hit by Hilgart, and scored on a suicide squeeze bunt by Lobermeier.

“The suicide is a difficult play to defend if executed well, and Stretch and Double-E (Ernest) did it very well. It’s risk-reward, and this time we were rewarded,” Dischler said.

Masterson followed later in the inning with an RBI single.

“With the late start and cancellations, we were fortunate to find a very good opponent on short notice. The girls played very, very well. We were able to move some people around, get some quality innings for some of our bench players and our pitching and defense were exceptional. We got stronger and deeper today.”

The Screaming Eagles has just one error in the twin bill and Brianna and Megan Mader teamed to allow just 11 hits, three walks, and three runs in 14 innings, while striking out 10.
 
Screaming Eagles sweep Mellen, Abby

 The Chequamegon High School softball team swept a pair of doubleheaders this
past week to improve to 8-1 on the season.

 The Screaming Eagles shut out Mellen 10-0 and 17-0 in a pair of five-inning
victories at the Park Falls Athletic Complex on Tuesday, April 30. Chequamegon
traveled to Abbotsford on Monday, May 6, winning 5-4 and 10-4 to improve to 2-0
in MNC play.

 In the opener against Mellen, Kristen Pechacek led off the Chequamegon second
inning with a walk and then stole second base. After a single by Brianna Mader,
Pechacek scored on a wild pitch.

The Screaming Eagles tallied again in the third drawing four walks.

 An RBI ground out by Jamie Palecek and a run-scoring single by Morgan Hilgart
made it 4-0 in the fourth. Danielle Masterson doubled after an error in the
fifth, and Pechacek and Hannah Gruber delivered run-scoring singles to fuel a
six-run inning, which ended the game via the 10-run rule. Gruber had two of
Chequamegon’s six hits.

 Brianna Mader checked Mellen on two hits, walking one and fanning nine.

 "Willie (Brianna Mader) was in command the entire way," Screaming Eagles’
Coach Ken Dischler said. "Mellen made some nice defensive plays on some hard-hit
balls, and hung in there until the error opened the door in the fifth."

 As the visitors in game two, the Screaming Eagles jumped on Mellen for five
runs in the first and seven in the second.

 "Gruber’s two-run homer over the left field fence highlighted the first
frame. Megan Mader had a two-run single and Palecek and Hilgart added RBI knocks in the second. Chequamegon tacked on five more in the fourth.

The Screaming Eagles had eight hits and capitalized on 13 free passes. Megan
Mader, Gruber and Hilgart drove in two runs each.

 Megan Mader threw a three-hitter with no walks and seven punchouts.

"Megan was also in command throughout. She faced the minimum 15 batters with
her teammates erasing three runners on the bases," Dischler said. "The defense
played errorless ball throughout all 10 innings on the night."

With the first half of the conference season lost to the stubbornness of Old
Man Winter, Chequamegon and Abby were slated for two five-inning games on
Monday, but went seven in the opener before the Screaming Eagles clawed their
way to victory.

Brianna Mader’s RBI single put Chequamegon ahead 1-0 in the third, but Abby
answered with two unearned runs in its half of the frame.

Michelle Lobermeier hit a two-run single in the Chequamegon fourth and scored
on an RBI double by Emily Mader.

"Two clutch, clutch hits there by Stretch (Lobermeier) and Pudge (Mader). The
five-inning games are necessary, given the long wait for springtime weather, but
they leave you with six fewer outs to work with, so scoring when you have
opportunities is at a premium," Dischler said. "Abby played well and had us on
the ropes."

Abby threatened in the bottom of the fifth with two on, but Megan Mader and
the Screaming Eagles’ defense worked out of it.

After one out in the top of the seventh, Masterson ripped a double and scored
on Pechacek’s RBI single. Brianna Mader reached on an error and Pechacek scored
on an infield ground out off the bat of Megan Mader. Gruber plated what turned
out to be a much-needed insurance run with a single.

"We put some nice swings together in the seventh, and needed every one,"
Dischler said.

 Abby went hit-out-hit-out ahead of Alyssa Waller’s two-run triple to right
field to make things interesting in the bottom of the seventh, but Chequamegon
escaped with a 5-4 victory.

 Megan Mader went the distance for the win, walking none and fanning
three.

 Chequamegon opened game two with Lobermeier being hit by a pitch and racing
around to third on Emily Mader’s sacrifice bunt. Lobermeier scored on a wild
pitch. The potential big inning ended with Abby turning a hard-hit one-hopper by
Pechacek into a double play.

 Abbotsford went up 2-1 with a pair of third-inning runs, and added one in the
fourth to lead 3-1 before Chequamegon erupted in the bottom of the frame.

 The nine-run rally was fueled by an inning-opening error. After a one-out
walk to Brianna Mader, Megan Mader laced an RBI single up the middle and Gruber
followed with an RBI ground out to knot the score. A single by Palecek put
Chequamegon in the lead and Morgan Hilgart followed with a double just inside
the bag at third. A throwing error allowed both Palecek and Hilgart to score and
pinch hitter Abby Lee drew a walk ahead of a three-run blast over the center
field fence by Masterson. Pechacek and Brianna Mader capped the big inning with
singles.

 "Again, we had our backs to the wall. Errors and walks are killers, and this
time they played in our favor. If Abby doesn’t throw that first ball away, we
could have been in a world of hurt. Instead, we get a couple runners on and then
some clutch at bats six through nine in the order. Nellie’s shot pretty much
sealed the deal," Dischler said.

 An error led to an Abby run in the top of the fifth. "We’ve played great defense all season, but a couple of errors hurt us today,
and Willie got into a couple of jams with walks but worked out of them,"
Dischler said. "Abby is much improved and played well. By God’s grace, we came
away with a couple of key victories in the conference chase."
Screaming Eagles go 5-1 in MNC softball action
 
The Chequamegon High School softball team clinched at least a share of the Marawood North Conference championship with a 5-1 week in conference play this  past week.

 The Screaming Eagles, at 8-1 in MNC play, took a one-game lead into their final MNC tilt at home on Tuesday, May 14, against Athens, needing a victory to win the title outright.

 Chequamegon opened the week with a doubleheader sweep at Rib Lake, winning the opener 13-1 and the nightcap 15-4.

Brianna Mader pitched a three-hitter with five strikeouts and no walks to earn the victory in game one. Chequamegon pushed across a solo run in the second on an infield grounder by Megan Mader. Kristen Pechacek’s RBI double in the third put the Screaming Eagles ahead 2-0.

Chequamegon opened things up with an eight-run fourth. Michelle Lobermeier sent the first run home with an RBI single. Masterson singled later in the frame  ahead of a two-run double by Pechacek and an RBI double by Brianna Mader. Jamie  Palecek had a single and drew a bases-loaded walk in the inning.

Lobermeier opened a three-run fifth with a single and scored on a single by Abby Lee. Walks contributed to the other two runs.
 
Pechacek had three of Chequamegon’s 10 hits and Lobermeier and Palecek had  two apiece.

"These five-inning games can be scary. Again, it was real tight until we got some things going in the fourth inning," Screaming Eagles’ Coach Ken Dischler said. "Pitching and defense are at a premium. It was only 2-0 entering  the fourth. Willie (Brianna Mader) had a perfect game going for 3-2/3 innings before a home run ended that and the shutout, but she threw very well and her defense was great behind her. KP (Pechacek) had a nice night with three hits and  three RBI, and Stretch (Lobermeier) and Jamie swung the bats well."

The Screaming Eagles got the offense going a little earlier as the home team in game two. After allowing an unearned run in the top of the first, Chequamegon tallied three in its half of the inning with Brianna Mader and Megan  Mader driving in runs, and two in the second with RBIs by Makayla Casey and  Pechacek. Hannah Gruber had an RBI single and Morgan Hilgart ripped a bases-loaded double to plate three runs in a nine-run third inning. Lee had a run-scoring single in the fourth.

"We got the bats going a little better in game two," Dischler said. "Megan was in control in the circle. We had a couple blips on defense which we need to clean up, but we got the sweep."

Megan Mader scattered five hits, walked one, and fanned two, allowing one earned run. Palecek was 2-for-2 again to complete a 4-for-4 night, and Lobermeier was 2-for-2 with three runs scored in the leadoff position.

Chequamegon split an MNC twin bill at Phillips on Friday, May 10, winning  9-3 in the opener and falling just short with a fifth-inning rally in a 10-9 loss in the nightcap.

Megan Mader tossed a three-hitter with one walk and three K’s to notch the win in the opener. Chequamegon opened the game with a three-spot. Masterson drilled a two-run triple and Brianna Mader followed with a sacrifice fly in the top of the first.
Lobermeier’s RBI double sparked a two-run second, and Palecek plated a run in the third with an RBI ground out.

Lobermeier opened the fourth with a single and scored on an infield ground out by Emily Mader. Brianna Mader tripled, and scored on Megan Mader’s double. Courtesy runner Emily Ernest scored on an error.

Lobermeier was 2-for-3 with three runs scored. Masterson was 2-for-3 with two RBI and Ernest scored twice.

"Megan threw very well and the girls were aggressive at the plate. We were able to make some things happen on the bases with seven streals," Dischler said. 


Phillips erupted for eight hits and six runs in the second inning of the nightcap to erase a 2-0 Chequamegon lead. Lobermeier doubled and scored on Emily Mader’s RBI single in a two-run first for Chequamegon.

Phillips extended its lead to 8-2 in the top of the fourth. An RBI single by Casey fueled a two-run fourth for the Screaming Eagles to cut the deficit before an RBI triple by Kendra Brown and RBI single by Allison Rusch plated two more for the Loggers, putting Phillips ahead 10-4. A single by Emily Mader, an error, and a walk loaded the bases for Chequamegon in the top of the fifth ahead of Megan Mader’s sacrifice fly to plate a run. Casey and Palecek drew two-out walks, with Palecek’s forcing in a run ahead of Hilgart’s three-run double. The rally fizzled with the Screaming Eagles falling one-run short.

"Phillips hit the ball very well, and we had a couple hard-hit outs which might have changed the course of the game. The bottom line is we didn’t get it done. The Loggers played very well and came away with the win," Dischler said.

Lobermeier and Emily Mader had two hits each for Chequamegon.

Chequamegon relied on pitching and defense to sweep a twin bill at home against Prentice on Monday, May 13, winning 5-1 and 10-1 to improve to 8-1 in MNC play and 13-2 overall.

After Prentice scored to open the game, Megan Mader’s two-out, two-run double put the Screaming Eagles ahead for good. Chequamegon tallied two in the second, with Lobermeier executing a suicide squeeze, and tacked on a run in the third.

Brianna Mader notched the win in the circle, allowing three hits and two walks, and fanning five.

"We managed just three hits off (Brianna) Dunbar, but made a couple things happen and capitalized on their miscues. Willie threw very well after two first-inning walks and our defense was excellent. We scratched out just enough offensively," Dischler said.

Pitching and defense were on display again for Chequamegon in game two, and  the bats helped out.

 "Megan was cruising before they touched a couple late in the game and the defense handled everything," Dischler said. "We got the bats going a little bit and were able to run with eight steals."
 
Chequamegon pushed across a run in the second and added two in the third on RBI singles by Masterson and Megan Mader. Lobermeier got down another suicide squeeze in a four-run fourth, which was capped by Brianna Mader’s RBI single. Hilgart had an RBI single to fuel a three-run fifth inning.

Palecek, Brianna Mader, and Megan Mader had two hits each to spark a 10-hit attack for the Screaming Eagles.

Chequamegon is the No. 1 seed in its regional. The Screaming Eagles will play host on Tuesday, May 21, to the winner of today’s (Thursday, May 16) regional quarterfinal game between Cameron and Phillips.
Screaming Eagles share MNC softball title

The Chequamegon High School softball team shared the Marawood North
Conference championship with Athens for the second consecutive season, with both
teams finishing 8-2 in conference play.

Athens notched a 5-2 victory at the Park Falls Athletic Complex on Tuesday,
May 14, to gain a share of the crown.

The Bluejays opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the second inning.
Chequamegon halved the lead in its half of the third. Morgan Hilgart had a
one-out single, stole second, and moved up and scored on errors.

Two Chequamegon errors led to a pair of Athen’s runs in the fifth inning.
Hilgart reached via a passed ball on a strikeout and later scored on Jamie
Palecek’s RBI single to make it 4-2. Athens tacked on an insurance run in the
seventh.

"They got their lead runner on in five of the seven innings and scored in
three of those; the fifth was via an error, and the seventh on a walk. They took
advantage of those gifts," Screaming Eagles’ Coach Ken Dischler. "(Athens')
Kyncaide (Diedrich) threw very well, but we didn’t swing the bats as
aggressively as we needed to. They came it to win a share of the conference
title. We won the final matchup with them last year to earn a share, and they
turned the tables on us this year."

Diedrich fanned 14, allowed three hits, and had no walks. Athens made the
most of its seven hits.

Brianna Mader worked 4-1/3 innings and was saddled with the loss.

The 10th-ranked Screaming Eagles rebounded with a 4-1 victory at
13th-ranked Neillsville on Thursday, May 16.

Michelle Lobermeier singled to open the game and advanced on a sacrifice by
Palecek. Danielle Masterson drilled a double to deep left to plate Lobermeier
and Brianna Mader later doubled to drive home another run.

Neillsville tallied its run in the third on a single, sacrifice, and an
error.

The Screaming Eagles answered in the next inning. Pinch hitter Emily Ernest
singled and stole second. She moved up on Hannah Gruber’s single and scored on a suicide squeeze by Emily Mader.

The Warriors got a leadoff triple in their half of the fourth, but third
baseman Kristen Pechacek erased her with a fake throw to first and tag out.

"That play was huge and took the wind out of their sales," Dischler said. "We
got off to a quick start, and answered right away after giving up a run. Megan
(Mader) was really sharp, throwing 15 infield outs. It was a quick game; well
played by both teams."

Chequamegon rapped 10 hits on the night from eight different players,
including two each by Lobermeier and Masterson.

Early morning showers cleared on Saturday, May 18, allowing Mellen and
Chequamegon to play two five-inning games at the Park Falls Athletic
Complex.

Lobermeier and Palecek led off game one for Chequamegon with back-to-back
singles, with Pechacek following with an RBI ground out.

Hilgart and Lobermeier led off the second inning with singles before a
line-drive double play to short. After Pechacek reached on an error, Brianna
Mader laced a two-run double. Gruber and Ernest capped the five-run inning with
back-to-back RBI singles.

Brianna Mader led off the Chequamegon fourth with a single and Trista
Cegielski walked ahead of an RBI single by Hannah Gruber and RBI ground out by
Emily Mader.

A one-out single in the Mellen fourth spoiled a perfect game bid for Brianna
Mader.

In game two, Makayla Casey and Abby Lee led off the Chequamegon second with
singles and both came around to score. Ernest doubled to open the Chequamegon
third and Lee later doubled in a run. Lee had an RBI single in a seven-run
fourth.

Gruber led off the Chequamegon fifth inning with a double and scored on a
triple by Ernest. Lee drove in her third run of the game with an RBI ground out,
which Mellen turned for a double play.

Mellen’s two hits came in a three-run fourth.

"Overall, it was a good day," Dischler said. "We got better and deeper,
moving some people around. Freshmen Emily Ernest (4-for-7 in the doubleheader)
and Abby Lee had big days, our regulars played well, and freshmen Alena Boushon,
Shelby Zillmer, Trista Cegielski and Diana Richter got some at bats and
baserunning opportunities. Brianna and Megan threw very, very well (combined 3
hits, 1 walk and 16 strikeouts in 10 innings), and we played good defense."

Chequamegon softball defends regional title

Kristen Pechacek homered and doubled to drive in the final three runs and
Brianna Mader pitched 3-2/3 innings of no-hit relief to rally the Chequamegon
High School Softball team to a 6-5 victory over Hurley as the Screaming Eagles
won the program’s sixth regional championship over the past seven seasons.

"KP (Pechacek) and Nellie (Danielle Masterson) ahead of here were
super-clutch, and Willie (Mader) was lights out," Screaming Eagles Coach Ken
Dischler said. "They put the team on their backs and weren’t to be denied.
Hurley is a good, young team and had us in a hole, but all of our girls stayed
the course. Our game experience and composure were key."

The Screaming Eagles, ranked 10th in the season’s final
Fastpitchchronicle.net Div. 3 poll, struck first against the 19th-ranked
Midgettes in a WIAA Div. 3 regional championship game on Thursday, May 23, at
the Park Falls Athletic Complex. Megan Mader singled to lead off the second.
Courtesy runner Emily Ernest advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Hannah Gruber and
scored on an error. Makayla Casey singled but was erased on the bases. Morgan
Hilgart rapped a two-out double, stole third, and scored on an
error.

"The bottom of the order got us going with some key hits and execution, and
Hurley helped us out with a couple of miscues," Dischler said. "At 2-0, I was
feeling pretty good, but that changed quickly."

Hurley put up a four-spot in the top of the third, stringing five of its
seven hits in the frame, including a two-run double by Sam Oftstad.

Pechacek reached on an error in the Chequamegon third and scored on a two-out
single by Gruber.

"Clutch hit by Hannah," Dischler said. "It was big to come back and score
after giving up four in the top of the inning."

A walk and RBI double by Athena Butkiewitz put Hurley ahead 5-3 in the top of
the fourth and Dischler called on Brianna Mader, who got a punchout for the
second out in the inning. The Screaming Eagles intentionally walked Ofstad, and
Mader induced a fly out to short to end the threat.

It stayed 5-3 until the bottom of the fifth when Masterson ripped a single to
left, which turned into three bases on an error. Pechacek followed with a
missile just inside the third base bag. The ball rolled past the outfield fence,
which would have been a ground-rule double, but Hurley’s leftfielder continued
to play the ball and Pechacek circled the bases to score the tying run.

"Apparently, the ground rules didn’t get relayed to their outfielder. KP
lived up to her nickname, "The Hammer." It was a shot. Willie followed with a
single, so KP probably would have scored anyway, but the home run was a big
momentum changer," Dischler said.

Megan Mader followed Brianna Mader’s single with a bunt single before Ernest,
running for Brianna Mader, was erased on an unassisted play at third. Casey
walked to load the bases with one out, but a soft liner to short turned into a
double play to snuff the rally.

A leadoff walk and sacrifice put a runner in scoring position for Ofstad with
two outs in the Hurley sixth. The Screaming Eagles again walked her
intentionally, and another walk loaded the bases before a fly ball out to Jamie
Palecek in center field.

Chequamegon went one-two in the home half of the sixth before Masterson hit a
shot to third and reached on a throwing error. She advanced on a wild pitch, and
Pechacek drilled a gap shot to send Masterson home with the go-ahead run.

Brianna Mader slammed the door in the seventh, striking out the side in
order.

"Willie was throwing hard and her stuff was nasty. Hurley coming back was
just not happening," Dischler said.

Brianna Mader finished with seven strikeouts, allowing no hits. She walked
four, including the two intentional passes.

Pechacek finished 3-for-4 with three runs batted in. Masterson and Megan
Mader had two hits each, and seven hitters teamed for Chequamegon’s 11 hits.

Brianna and Megan Mader teamed for a shutout in the Screaming Eagles’ 6-0
victory over Cameron in the regional semifinal game at the Park Falls Athletic
Field on Tuesday, May 21. Brianna Mader notched the win, working five innings
with five strikeouts, no walks, and five hits allowed. Megan Mader had two
strikeouts and allowed one hit and no walks in her two innings. The hit was
erased one Masterson’s 6-3 double play.

Chequamegon tallied twice in the first inning on a single by Palecek and
two-out RBI singles by Pechacek and Megan Mader. Pechacek singled and Gruber
rapped an RBI single in the third to make it 3-0. Hilgart led off the
Chequamegon fourth with a double and later scored. She and Michelle Lobermeier
led off the sixth with back-to-back singles. Hilgart scored on a wild pitch and
Lobermeier scored on an RBI ground out by Masterson.

Lobermeier, Palecek, Pechacek, Megan Mader, Gruber and Hilgart each had two
hits as seven batters combined for 13 Chequamegon hits.

"We’ve been hitting the ball up and down the order of late and need that to
carry over into sectionals," Dischler said. "We’ve stranded quite a few on the
bases, but have also had some huge clutch hits. We’ve had a lot of runners, so
some are going to be stranded. Better that than not having anyone on."

"Willie and Fuzz (Megan Mader) have been throwing really well, really all
season long, and our defense is really good; not yet where we want it to be, but
really good (.940 team fielding percentage)," Dischler said. "We’re right where
we want to be at this stage, with conference and regional championships in tow,
with the final chapters to this season in our hands. Play Hard. Honor God."

The 18-3 Screaming Eagles were host for a WIAA sectional semifinal against
fourth-ranked Grantsburg on Tuesday, May 28, at the Park Falls Athletic Complex,
with Tuesday’s winner moving on to the Div. 3 Sectional 1 championship game at
Fall Creek today, Thursday, May 30. Tuesday marked the fifth time the Screaming
Eagles and Pirates have hooked up in sectional play over the past six seasons.
Grantsburg has advanced to sectionals for eight straight seasons, moving on to
state four of the past seven seasons. The Pirates won state titles in 2006 and
2009.

Screaming Eagles fall in sectional to #4 Grantsburg

 A three-run fourth inning, capped by Samantha Schweiger’s two-run homer,
proved to be the difference for fourth-ranked Grantsburg in a 6-3 sectional
semifinal victory over the 10th-ranked Chequamegon High
School softball team on Tuesday, May 28, at the Park Falls Athletic
Complex.

 Grantsburg (15-1), ranked fourth in the final Fastpitch
Chronicle/WisSports.net poll, went on to beat Elk Mound to advance to the WIAA
state tournament for the second consecutive season and sixth time overall.

 Chequamegon ended its season with an 18-4 record.

 The Pirates got on the board in the first inning and added a tally in the
third. Chequamegon went down 1-2-3 in each of the first three innings.

 "We didn’t catch up with Macy (Hanson) until the second time through,"
Screaming Eagles’ Coach Ken Dischler said. "She’s a quality pitcher and was
throwing very well. We needed to get our bats going."

 Trailing 5-0 after 3-1/2 innings, Chequamegon finally got on the board in the
bottom of the fourth. Michelle Lobermeier led off the frame with a single and
stole second base. She scored on Kristen Pechacek’s RBI single. Brianna Mader
followed with a base hit, but the threat ended there.

 Grantsburg went up 6-1 with a run in the fifth inning.

 One-out singles by Hannah Gruber and Emily Ernest gave the Screaming Eagles
life in the bottom of the seventh. Both scored on a two-out double by Lobermeier
before Grantsburg coaxed the final out.

 Chequamegon finished with 10 hits, including three by Pecahcek and two each
by Lobermeier and Gruber. Hanson fanned 12 and walked none.

 Megan Mader allowed five hits and two walks and fanned three in 3-2/3
innings. Brianna Mader finished up, allowing three hits and one walk, fanning
five in 3-1/3 innings.

 "It didn’t finish as we would have liked, but it was a good season," Dischler
said. "Grantsburg is a very good team and they played very well. They’re where
we want to be. We’re close and believe we can get there. We’ve got a great group
of student/athletes and they’re prepared to take it to the next level."

 "Hannah (Gruber) was a great addition this year and we’ll miss her. We have
everyone else back. We feel we’ve got the pieces. We need to be healthy and
improve in all areas of the game. I’m confident the girls will do what it
takes," Dischler said.

Screaming Eagles to launch 2013 season

The Chequamegeon High School softball team returns eight letterwinners from the 2012 team which finished 18-10, sharing the Marawood North Conference title en route and winning the program’s fifth regional title in six seasons. After a 1-5 start last season, the Screaming Eagles went 17-5 over their final 22 games. The season ended with a loss to Grantsburg in the sectional semifinals.

Returning for the Screaming Eagles are juniors Brianna Mader, Jamie Palecek and Kristen Pechacek, and sophomores Makayla Casey, Morgan Hilgart, Michelle Lobermeier, Megan Mader and Danielle Masterson. New to the program is senior Hannah Gruber, who previously played at Baraboo. Incoming freshmen include Alena Boushon, Trista Cegielski, Emily Ernest, Abby Lee, Emily Mader, Diana Richter, and Shelby Zillmer.

Kenzi Dane is manager for the Screaming Eagles.

The Screaming Eagles will again be tested out of the gate. Their first three games are against teams which posted a combined record of 54-16 last season, and then they compete in the Wausau West Warrior Invitational.

“We open at Neillsville, which went 21-2 last season, then host rival Ladysmith (14-7 last year and the only team to beat Chequamegon and formerly Park Falls in regional play over the past six seasons), and then on to Thorp (19-8), which made another state trip last season,” Screaming Eagles’ Coach Ken Dischler said. “At Wausau West, we expect to face some quality Division 1 and 2 programs.”

Chequamegon is slated to play at Neillsville on Thursday, April 4 (5 p.m.), to host Ladysmith on Monday, April 8 (4:30 p.m.), and to travel to Thorp on Tuesday, April 9 (5 p.m.). The Screaming Eagles are scheduled to open Marawood North Conference play at Prentice on Friday, April 12 (4:45 p.m.), before traveling to the Warrior Invitational on Saturday, April 13 (link to the complete schedule from www.diamonddusterssoftball.com).

Pechacek and Megan Mader earned spots on the Marawood North Conference first team last season. Brianna Mader and Masterson landed spots on the second team, and Lobermeier earned honorable mention.

Pechacek led the conference in batting with a .656 average and was second in hits with 21. Her 13 runs scored tied for fifth in the MNC and her 11 RBI tied for sixth. She fielded .923. Overall, she hit .429 with team highs of 10 doubles, two home runs, and 51 total bases. She scored and drove in 24 runs, and struck out just three times. She led the team with a .527 on-base percentage and .662 slugging average. She fielded .904.

Megan Mader was 6-1 in MNC games, beating each conference opponent at least once. She led the MNC with a 1.70 earned run average and opponents hit just .195 against her. She fanned 33 and walked six in 33 innings and had a .088 WHIP. She batted .316 in MNC games. Overall, she posted a record of 9-7 with a 3.62 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. She fanned 62 and walked 29 in 89 innings pitched, and opponents hit .236 against her.

Brianna Mader was 9-3 on the season with an ERA of 2.74 and a WHIP of 1.52. She struck out 47 and walked 21 in 89-1/3 innings pitched. Opponents hit .299 against her. In MNC play, she was 3-0 with one save and ranked fourth with a 3.86 ERA. Opponents hit .285 against her. She batted .269 in league games.

Masterson hit .419 on the season with five doubles and 15 runs batted in. She led the team with 56 assists. She ranked seventh in MNC batting with a .458 average.

Lobermeier hit .373 from her leadoff position, leading the team with25 walks, 9 stolen bases, and two triples. She had a .519 on-base percentage. Lobermeier ranked ninth in MNC batting with a .407 average and drew 10 walks for a .568 on-base percentage.

Also returning as starters from last season are Palecek and Hilgart. Both cover a lot of ground defensively up the middle – Palecek in center field and Hilgart at second base. Palecek hit .250 last season and Hilgart hit .258.

Casey returns with experience as a baserunner and saw some time in the outfield, hitting .333.

“Obviously, we return a lot of talent from last season,” Dischler said. “We also lost some big bats, great gloves, and our senior leadership.  We feel we’ve got a good class of freshmen coming in, and we’re confident Hannah will be a nice addition. As a whole, we need to raise our level of play to climb the mountain ahead of us. Abby, Pudge (Emily Mader) and Double-E (Ernest) have grown up in our programs. They’re skilled and have played at a very competitive level for quite a few years. We see raw talent in our other freshmen and they have some opportunities as specialty players.

“We hit .333 last season as a team, but were top heavy. Three of our starters hit .419 or better, and two others, .360 and .373. In the other four spots, we were below .260. We’ll work on our offensive skills to hopefully bring up those lower numbers and be more productive 1 through 9 in our batting order, and hopefully still have the big sticks.

“Defensively, we were real good last season at .935 as a team. We feel we are capable of being really, really good on that side of the ball. We should be strong, and deep, at every position.

“In the circle, Brianna is 16-6 as a varsity hurler. Her numbers improved across the board from her freshman to sophomore seasons. Megan is coming off of a good freshman campaign. Both work hard at their craft. They’re both stronger and wiser, and they complement each other well. We need to bring the ERA and WHIP numbers down to our targets, and improve our strike ratio. If we do that, they can be dominant in the circle.”

 “Baserunning is an area we emphasize and take a great deal of pride in. We’d like to be able to put a little more pressure on opposing defenses and hope we are adding a little speed throughout the line-up and in specialty positions off the bench to do so,” Dischler said.

Returning as coaches from last season are Buck Masterson and Dani Hoffman. Dave BeBeau and Jenni Zillmer join the ranks this season

“If you want to be successful, surround yourself with good people. God has blessed me with a great group of young ladies, great families in our programs at all levels, and great coaches,” Dischler said.

Chequamegon and Athens shared the MNC title last season. The Blue Jays return MNC Player of the Year Kyncaide Diedrich and fellow first-teamer Alyssa Diers. Phillips made strides last season and returns first-teamer Kendra Brown. Sophomore Shelly Kneifl of Abbotsford was a first-team pick last season.

“It’ll be a battle again in the Marawood North,” Dischler said. “Athens has won or shared the title for three straight seasons and remains the team to beat. Phillips has some talented kids returning and more coming in as freshmen. Rib Lake is always a threat, Abby was pretty young last season and has a good group returning, and Prentice continues to rebuild.”

Cameron and Chetek-Weyerhauser join to the regional field, which includes Chequamegon,  Ladysmith, Hurley, Phillips, and Washburn/Bayfield.

“It should be a pretty strong regional. Whomever emerges will have earned it,” Dischler said. “Grantsburg (defending sectional champion) remains the kingpin on our side of the sectional. The other side of the bracket has Elk Mound bringing back nearly everyone from last year’s sectional runner-up team, and Neillsville and Bloomer have been added on that side. It’s not an easy road, but one we hope to travel.”

100 days to a better you!!

Focus on each of these resolutions for 10 days each, and by the time practice starts, hopefully we'll all see a change in our game!!

Days 1-10:  Commit to improve by showing progress in my statistical output.
I will  focus on the process of playing one pitch at a time and trust my routine
to help me in the present moment. I realize that, ultimately, my batting average and stats are out of my control, so rather than focus on batting average, ERA, etc.,  I will focus on the process - the things I can control - i.e. quality at-bats,  quality pitches, quality defensive plays, etc.

Days 11 - 20: Gain confidence by realizing that is not about me, it is about us. It is not about one of us, but all of us, and that I will put TEAM over ME. By putting TEAM over ME, I will not set an outcome goal (being a starter, playing & batting where I want, etc.), but will set the process goal of being the best player I can be. If I am the best player and best teammate I can be, I give myself and the team the best chance for success.

Days 21 - 30: Get in shape by doing a little a lot, not a lot a little. I realize that peak physical shape is a byproduct of doing a little a lot vs. a lot a little. I will commit to doing my core work, speed & agility drills, & everydays. By doing a little each day, I will reap the benefits of discipline - physical change takes time.

Days 31 - 40: Be more consistent by having routines and realizing that the goal is not be be perfect, but to be excellent. There are no perfect players, coaches, or parents. I will focus on being excellent vs. perfect. If I strive to be perfect, then I am in Disneyland because softball is TOUGH and a game of failure. If I set a goal to not fail, I will fail. My goal is to have great "respondability" and respond to pressure, adversity, failure, and success all the same way - with a commitment to the next pitch.

Days 41 - 50: Be recognized for something positive  (hard work, leadership, self-improvement, etc.): I realize that it takes  no talent to work hard. I am 100% in control of my work ethic. I also realize  that confidence is a choice, and attitude is a decision. I will be known as a  control freak - a positive term given to the select few who are mentally tough  enough to only focus on what they can control.

Days 51 - 60: Maintain a positive attitude throughout every game and practice by turning my have to's into want to's. All athletes will have a
love-hate relationship  with their sport, because it gives you the highs and the lows. I will accept  that my career and my day's performance will be good AND bad, not good OR  bad.

Days 61 - 70: Give back to this sport of softball. I will play the game the right way and respect the game. I will stand for the national anthem and commit to the process, like things that I can control - effort, attitude and my performance. I will give back by spending extra time after practice working on my game with my teammates when there is nobody watching. I realize that the game of softball is bigger than us all and that "The Game Knows." The game will reward me for doing  things right. By doing things right, I am respecting the game.

Days 71 - 80: Learn to execute a new skill (bunt for  a base hit / slap / hit behind a runner / etc.) this season. I will work  at all aspects of my game. I believe in will over skill and will invest, not  spend, my time working on the intricacies of the game. I will work on bunting,  baserunning and defense. I will work on being a great teammate. I will set the  goal of investing three days a week outside of practice for 10-20 minutes to  focus on this specific skill. I am a softball player - not a "slapper,"  "pitcher," "outfielder," etc. I work at all aspects of my game.

Days 81 - 90: Show respect for my teammates, teachers, and coaches by looking them in the eye  and giving my total undivided attention. I will live in
the present and  will use my routine to help me separate from when I am a
student and when I am  an athlete. I will respect my coaches, teachers,
teammates, and the great game  of softball by staying in the moment and being where I need to be when I need to  be there.

Days 91 - 100: Become a relentless competitor by focusing on only what I can control and by playing the game one pitch at a  time. I will pursue excellence over perfection, turn my have to's into  want to's, become the best player I can be and strive to be a great teammate and  an energy giver vs. and energy taker. Being a relentless competitor is about  acting different than how I feel and getting immersed into the game as if it was the only game that existed. Because, in that moment, it is.