LOGGERS SOFTBALL HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2025

[My Northern Wisconsin]

By:  Steve Teeters


MAY 29, 2025:

The Loggers were defeated at Regional Finals.  The softball season didn't end the way we wanted but it was a fun and generally successful year.

   
Photo by:  Steve Teeters


MAY 27, 2025:

The Phillips Loggers softball team is onto regional finals after defeating the Frederic/Luck Otters 14-4 on Tuesday night in Phillips.

The Otters used four hits in the first inning to grab an early 2-0 advantage, but the Loggers responded with five runs of their own in the bottom of the frame.

Mataya Eckert led off the inning with a single to centerfield and came around to score on a bases-loaded walk to Lily Miller.  The walk was one of five free passes in the inning that the Loggers would capitalize on.  Phillips would score on two walks, two wild pitches, and a groundout by Marlo Edwards to grab a 5-2 lead after one inning.

Annaka Tobias pitched a 1-2-3 second inning, and the Loggers would tack-on three more runs in their half of the frame.  Delaney Fore started the inning with a walk and would quickly score on an RBI single from Eckert.  Two batters later, Eckert scored on an infield single from Tobias.  Miller then plated Tobias on a groundout to push the Loggers lead to 8-2.

The Otters would answer the Loggers' big inning with two runs in the third.  Frederic/Luck used two infield singles and a fielding error to close the lead to 8-4. 

Phillips kept answering the Otters' scores with contributions from every player on their roster.  But Edwards provided a major spark for the Loggers offense throughout the night.  Edwards started the Loggers' third with a double to left centerfield and would score two batters later when Fore singled to centerfield.

The Loggers expanded their lead to 10-4 in the fifth inning.  Edwards would strike again to lead off the inning - this time with a single to centerfield.  The freshman then stole second base and raced all the way home on an errant throw on the play.

Tobias kept the Otters at bay with 1-2-3 innings in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings.  The fourth inning was especially efficient for Tobias as she needed just four pitches to retire the Otters in order.

The Loggers then finished the game in the bottom of the sixth inning by scoring four times.  Phillips sent six players to bat and all reached base safely.  Smith singled to start the inning and scored on an RBI-double by Tobias.  Miller singled on a smash up the middle to score Macy Hertlein, and Edwards had the final dagger with a 2-RBI single to right centerfield to plate Audrey Hueckman and Raelee Williams.

The Loggers racked up twelve hits on the night.  Edwards led the way with a huge night at the plate.  The emerging freshman went 3 for 4 with 2 runs, 3 RBI, and a stolen base.

Tobias was terrific all-around and earned her first playoff win by limiting Frederic/Luck to six hits, no walks, and just two earned runs on the night.

Phillips (10-8) will travel to Clayton/Turtle Lake (15-9) this Thursday afternoon in regional finals action.  First pitch is slated for 2:00 p.m. in Turtle Lake.

   
Photo by:  Steve Teeters


MAY 19, 2025:

One day after earning a number three seed in the upcoming Division 4 Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Softball Tournament, the Phillips Loggers played one of their most complete games of the season by defeating the Mellen Granite Diggers 12-2. 

The Loggers were coming off a 7-2 road loss against the Marathon Red Raiders last Friday.  The loss dropped the Loggers' record to 8-7 overall, but the team has shown steady improvement throughout the season and has competed well against many formidable opponents.

Monday offered another challenge with Mellen being added to the Loggers' slate in a tune-up game before tournament action starts later this week.

Phillips began its season with an 11-10 extra innings victory over Mellen on March 27, but the Granite Diggers have put together a very strong season since that point.  Mellen earned a number one seed in the Division 5 tournament thanks to a perfect 8-0 record in the Northern Lights conference and a stellar 15-6 overall record prior to Monday's contest against Phillips.

Phillips would jump out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Mataya Eckert scored on an infield single by Trinity Smith.  Eckert reached base after a 10-pitch walk and would score on a throwing error at third base on the infield hit by Smith.

The Loggers' lead would grow to 3-0 in the second inning when Eckert laced a 2-out double to the right centerfield gap to score Marlo Edwards and Macy Hertlein.

Phillips got another run in the third inning when Lily Miller doubled to left centerfield and scored two batters later on another 2-out hit - this time by Paula Pomeroy.  The Loggers' lead grew to 4-0 on the clutch hit from Pomeroy.

The Granite Diggers responded with a run in their half of the third when Brenna Nortunen scored on a sacrifice fly by Olivia Stricker.  The Loggers would strand the bases loaded to escape the third with a 4-1 advantage.

Phillips would then erupt for six runs in the top of the fourth inning to go up 10-1.

Mel Tingo started the Loggers' fourth inning with a single to right field.  Ali Kalander followed with a bunt single, and Eckert reached on a walk to load the bases for Smith.  As usual, the talented freshman delivered with another big hit - this time, a 2-RBI double to left centerfield to score Tingo and Kalander.

Eckert would then score on an infield single by Annaka Tobias.  Smith and Tobias would score two batters later when Raelee Williams sent a 2-RBI double to centerfield.  Tobias actually got caught in a rundown between third base and home plate before scoring on a throwing error in the rundown. 

The Loggers' final run in the fourth inning came on an infield hit from Pomeroy to plate Williams for the 10-1 lead.

Mellen responded with a run in the bottom of the fourth when Amaya Haderly scored on a flyout to foul territory down the first base line.
 
The Loggers got their final two runs in the top of the fifth when Smith tripled in Delaney Fore and then scored on a 6-3 groundout by Tobias.

Tobias then finished the game on the mound by getting out of a bases loaded jam to secure her eighth win of the season.

The Loggers tallied 13 hits on the evening.  Smith continued her brilliant season by going 3 for 4 with 4 RBI and a pair of runs.  Eckert also went 1 for 1 with 2 runs scored, 2 walks, and 2 RBI.  Tobias, Pomeroy, and Williams each picked up a pair of RBI.

Tobias scattered 4 hits and 5 walks to go with 4 strikeouts and just 1 earned run. 

Phillips (9-7) will face Gilman (11-8) at home on Thursday in a final tune-up before tournament action begins. 

Phillips received a bye in the opening round of the tournament but will host Frederic/Luck (4-10) on Tuesday, May 27.  Opening pitch is 5:00 p.m.


MAY 12, 2025:

The Phillips Loggers softball team came up short 8-0 at home against the Edgar Wildcats on Friday. 

The scoreboard might imply that the Loggers were dominated, but a closer look at the box score would suggest that the game was not as lopsided as one would imagine.  The Loggers actually tallied more hits than the visiting Wildcats but were unable to come up with timely hits when runners were on base.  Phillips had runners on base in every inning and also had runners in scoring position in five innings.  But the Wildcats were able to squash promising innings for the Loggers with strong defense and an early lead that would help set a tone.

Edgar got on top in the first inning when Bella Kaiser scored on a Jorja Knetter sacrifice fly to centerfield.  Kaiser singled to lead off the game and advanced to third on a fielding error to set up Knetter with the scoring opportunity. 

The Loggers had a great opportunity to match the Wildcats' lone run in the first inning when Mataya Eckert had a leadoff single, and Trinity Smith walked.  A sacrifice bunt by Annaka Tobias advanced each runner with just one out, but Edgar got a strikeout and a groundout to strand Eckert and Smith.

Edgar would then use four hits to score four runs in the second inning to open a 5-0 lead.  Grasci Yonker led off the inning with a single and later scored on an RBI-double by Riley Mueller.  Two batters later, Emma Hartway tripled to right centerfield to plate Mueller.  Hartway then scored on an RBI-single from Kaiser.  Three pitches later, Kaiser scored on another Loggers' fielding error.  The Loggers would escape further damage but trailed 5-0 heading into the bottom of the second.

Phillips got a 2-out bloop double by Mel Tingo in the bottom of the second when the freshman sent a soft flyball over first base and just inside fair territory.  The Loggers were unable to come up with another hit to take advantage of the scoring opportunity, however.

Annaka Tobias would work a 1-2-3 third and would face just four batters in the Edgar fourth to stay within striking distance at 5-0.

But the Loggers' hopes for a late inning rally would vanish in the top of the fifth when Brandi Halversen led off with a bunt single and later scored on a RBI-single by Alyssa Kolano.  Knetter and Kolano each scored on infield ground balls to take a commanding 8-0 lead.

Phillips got 2-out singles from Smith and Tobias in the bottom of the fifth but were once again held scoreless.

Trinity Smith relieved Annaka Tobias on the mound in the sixth inning and limited the Wildcats to just one walk over the final two innings.  Smith also recorded a pair of strikeouts in her brief pitching appearance.

The Loggers got two runners on base in both the sixth and seventh innings but ultimately were shutout.   

Loggers' freshman Trinity Smith went 2 for 3 with a double and a walk, while Annaka Tobias also went 2 for 2 with a sacrifice.  As a team, the Loggers struck out just three times, while collecting as many walks.  The team is improving each week but could really turn a corner with some timely 2-out hitting.

Annaka Tobias took the loss but pitched well overall.  The freshman gave up seven hits and a walk.

The Loggers (8-6) travel to Spencer (2-10) this Thursday in non-conference action.  Phillips will then travel to Marathon (8-7) on Friday.


MAY 8, 2025:  PHILLIPS LOGGERS VS. RIB LAKE REDMEN

   
Photo by:  Steve Teeters

The Phillips Loggers softball team kept their chances of a conference championship alive on Thursday night when they rallied to beat the Rib Lake Redmen 6-5 in Phillips.

The Loggers' victory snapped a two-game losing streak after the team had previously rattled off wins in five of their prior six games.  Phillips lost 13-1 to a talented Stratford squad last Friday and then lost 8-3 to this same Rib Lake team on Tuesday.
 
The Loggers took an early 1-0 advantage when Mataya Eckert singled and scored on a throwing error after stealing third base. 

Rib Lake would respond with a 2-run second inning to recapture the lead, however.  Madelyn Dallmann doubled to the left centerfield gap and was later joined on the bases by Lily Butler.   

Addison Gumz then punched a 2-out single into shallow center field to plate Dallmann and Butler to close out the Redmen scoring in the second.

An inning later, the Loggers regained the lead after Trinity Smith and Annaka Tobias each doubled and scored.  Tobias plated Smith with a hit down the third base line and later scored on a Raelee Williams' sacrifice bunt to go up 3-2.

The score would remain 3-2 until the top of the sixth inning.  The Redmen got three runs in the frame when they used two walks, another big 2-out hit from Gumz, and an RBI-single from Tahlia Scheithauer to grab a 5-3 lead.

The Redmen lead quickly evaporated when the Loggers came right back with an answer in their half of the sixth that started with a single by freshman Delaney Fore.  The single brought the top of the order to bat with just one out and another scoring opportunity. 

The Loggers previously failed to capitalize on great scoring threats in the second and fifth innings but finally broke through when it mattered most. 

In the span of three pitches, the Loggers got hits from Fore, Eckert, and Smith.  The last of the three hits was a 2-run double to draw even at 5-5.  Two batters later, Smith scored the go-ahead run on a 2-out RBI-single by Lily Miller.

Clinging to a 6-5 lead in a back-and-forth game, the Loggers looked to close out the game in the top of the seventh.  Annaka Tobias got the first batter to fly out to shortstop, but a 1-out single from Madilyn Blomberg turned into a legitimate scoring threat when a 1-base error allowed Blomberg to advance to second base on the hit.  Tobias then got two huge outs with a flyout to second base and a game-ending strikeout to secure the Loggers' dramatic victory.

The Loggers collected ten hits on the night.  Eckert, Smith, Tobias, and Miller each tallied two hits apiece.  Eckert and Smith both scored twice.  Smith has been on a tear with runners on for most of the year.  Her two RBI on Thursday pushed her season total to a team-leading 17.

Tobias scattered 8 hits and 5 walks to go with 3 strikeouts.  The win was Tobias' seventh of the year. 

The Loggers (8-5) face another strong challenge on Friday when Edgar (10-7) travels to Phillips in a Marawood crossover game.  Game time is 4:45 p.m.

Rib Lake (3-1 in conference / 7-3 overall) faces Newman Catholic (0-10) on Friday.  But then closes out its Marawood North schedule with two tilts against Chequamegon (1-3 in conference / 5-7 overall) next week.  A loss from Rib Lake in either game would mean Phillips would have at least a share of a conference title.


MAY 1, 2025:  LOGGERS VS. BLUEJAYS, PART 2

   
Photo by:  Steve Teeters

The Phillips Loggers softball team defeated the Athens Bluejays 6-4 on Thursday night in Marawood North Conference action.  The Loggers exacted revenge after losing to the Bluejays on Tuesday and kept their chances of a conference championship alive with the victory.

The Loggers found themselves trailing early when Abby Diethelm doubled to left centerfield to score Karly Eckert after the Bluejays leadoff hitter walked to start the game. 

Annaka Tobias got out of the first inning trailing 1-0 when she registered back-to-back strikeouts to end the Bluejays' scoring threat in the first inning. 

The Loggers quickly regained the lead in the bottom of the first when Trinity Smith and Tobias each scored.  Smith belted a double to deep center field and scored on an RBI-single from Tobias.  Three batters later, Tobias scored on a Paula Pomeroy walk.

Athens would get out of a bases loaded jam in the first to keep the score close at 2-1. 

After holding Athens scoreless in the second inning, the Loggers tacked on three more runs to go up 5-1 in their half of the frame.  Macy Hertlein reached base on an infield throwing error and would score with Mataya Eckert on a 2-RBI single from the hot-hitting Smith.  Raelee Williams then plated Smith on an RBI-single up the middle to close the Loggers' scoring in the second.

Athens responded with three runs in the third inning when they used a Loggers' fielding error, three hits, and a pair of walks to close the gap to 5-4.

The Loggers added an insurance run to go up 6-4 in the fourth inning when Tobias helped her cause with a leadoff walk, and two stolen bases before scoring on a Lily Miller groundout.

Tobias limited Athens to two hits over the next three innings but still had to make some tough pitches with runners on.  The young Loggers pitcher ended the game with a bases loaded strikeout to pick up her sixth victory of the year.

The Loggers collected ten hits on the night to go with five walks.  Trinity Smith went 2 for 3 with 2 runs, 2 RBI, and a walk.  The freshman also picked up her team-leading fourth double.  Eckert, Williams, and Pomeroy each collected two hits.

Tobias limited the Bluejays to six hits and just one earned run, while striking out four batters on a misty night in Phillips. 

The Loggers (7-3) head to Stratford (9-5) on Friday in a Marawood crossover game.


APRIL 29, 2025:  LOGGERS VS. BLUEJAYS

   
Photo by:  Steve Teeters

The Phillips Loggers softball team let a golden opportunity slip away in Athens when they lost to the Bluejays 6-5 on Tuesday night.

The Loggers took a 1-0 lead in the first when Mataya Eckert tripled to right centerfield before scoring on a sacrifice bunt by Trinity Smith.

The lead would then grow to 3-0 in the fourth inning.  Annaka Tobias started the inning with a double to left centerfield, which was followed by a single from Lily Miller.  Raelee Williams then delivered an RBI-single to left field to score Tobias.  Miller would also score on a double steal to give the Loggers the early 3-0 advantage.

Athens would respond with a run in the bottom of the fourth when Danica Diethelm doubled and later scored on a sacrifice bunt.  But Tobias would limit the scoring with some solid pitching to escape the fourth with a 3-1 lead.

Phillips got another run in the top of the fifth to go up 4-1.  Eckert got the Phillips offense going with a 1-out single to left field and a stolen base before scoring on an RBI-single from Smith.  That would be all the scoring the Loggers would get in the inning, leaving two runners stranded in scoring position.

   
Photo by:  Steve Teeters

Athens started the bottom of the fifth with a leadoff single, but it looked like the Loggers might have a good chance to leave the inning unscathed after getting a flyout for the second out of the inning.  With two runners on, the Loggers got a flyball to shallow centerfield but were unable to field it cleanly, resulting in a run and an extra out for Athens.  Before the Loggers were able to escape the inning, the Bluejays would plate four big runs.  Phillips now found themselves trailing 5-4 heading to the sixth inning.

The Loggers did respond with a game-tying run when Marlo Edwards came around to score on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Delaney Fore.  Fore laid down a nice bunt and reached safely following a throwing error to first base.  Edwards would race home from second base to score.  Unfortunately, the Loggers would strand the bases loaded, with the game now tied 5-5.

Things started well for the Phillips defense in the top of the sixth when Tobias got two outs against the bottom of the Bluejays' order. 

Now facing the top of the Bluejays order, Tobias would walk Karly Eckert on a 6-pitch at-bat before facing Alyvia Haelhke.  The at-bat turned out to be a pivotal moment in the game and also brought some controversy with it.

Haelhke sent a soft flyball immediately behind first base but towards the foul line.  The Loggers' second baseman, Marlo Edwards, made a diving attempt at the ball as it was falling towards foul territory.  Edwards was unable to come away with the catch, and the officials ruled the ball in-play.  Karly Eckert came home to score, which now gave Athens a 6-5 lead.  Phillips would get out of the inning two batters later but now had to come up with some late inning magic.

The Loggers got a leadoff single by Miller in the seventh and were able to get a 2-out error and a walk to load the bases.  But, once again, Athens turned away a great scoring threat by getting a called third strike to end the game.

Phillips had eight hits on the night.  Lily Miller went 3 for 3 with a run scored.  Mataya Eckert went 2 for 3 with two runs, a walk, and a stolen base.  Trinity Smith had a hit, two RBI, and two stolen bases.

Annaka Tobias had a tough luck outing in the loss.  The freshman allowed seven hits and four walks but was charged with just one earned run.  She also tallied six strikeouts.

Phillips (6-3, 2-1 in conference play) will look to avenge their loss to Athens (4-4, 1-2 in conference play) in a rematch this Thursday at home.