Red Hawks swept by West Salem to end Coulee play

Any remaining hopes for the Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau softball team to nab a share of the conference championship this season were dashed with a sweep at the hands of West Salem this past week.

That sweep allowed the Panthers (16-4, 11-1) to lock up the Coulee title outright.

Following two final non-conference games, the Red Hawks (13-7, 8-4) will shift focus to the upcoming Division 3 playoffs. They are a No. 3 seed with a first-round bye and will host La Crosse Aquinas in the regional semifinals next Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in Galesville.

West Salem 4 G-E-T 0

The G-E-T offense went quiet at an inopportune time, collecting just three total hits in a loss to the Panthers last Monday in West Salem.

Caroline Mack, Kinley Andersen and Ellie Cox each singled for the Red Hawks in the loss, with Cox also drawing a walk. G-E-T’s best scoring opportunity wound up coming in the top of the first with runners at second and third and one out, but they failed to cash in.

The first two batters singled in the fourth as well, but after that West Salem pitcher Josie Brudos set down the next 12 G-E-T batters in order. The Panthers scored two runs in both the second and third innings to give Brudos all the run support she needed.

West Salem 7 G-E-T 2

A four-run rally in the top of the first set a strong tone early as West Salem handled its business to sew up the outright conference title this past Thursday in Galesville.

Kinley Andersen gave the Red Hawks a needed jolt with a leadoff home run to left to kick off the bottom of the first. However, the Panthers tagged G-E-T for three more runs in the top of the third to make it 7-1. Caroline Mack’s sac fly in the bottom of the sixth produced her team’s only other run on the evening.

Halene De Jager finished 2 for 2 with a walk and a run scored.