Softball falls in sectional semi

• Deven DuCharme reaches for a line drive

Senior Deven DuCharme reaches for a line drive during a Raider softball game at Grandview Park earlier this season. DuCharme was named to the All-Big Rivers Conference First Team for her play during Hudson’s regional championship season. Photo by Bob Burrows
• Kindra Witthus follows through on a hard line drive

Sophomore Kindra Witthus follows through on a hard line drive to left during a game at Grandview Park earlier this season. Witthus was named to the 2011 All-Big Rivers Conference First Team at catcher. Photo by Bob Burrows

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The Raider softball team jumped out to a 2-0 l ead over Chippewa Falls in a WIAA sectional semifinal last Tuesday before the Cardinals scored nine unanswered runs to post a 9-2 victory.

Hudson’s season ended with a regional championship and an overall record of 12-7 while Chippewa Falls went on to win the sectional title with a 2-1 win over D.C. Everest last Friday. The Cardinals improved to 23-2 and will open WIAA State Tournament play against Appleton East this Thursday, June 16.

Last Tuesday in the sectional semifinal at Chippewa Falls, Hudson took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when Bridget Warren walked with the bases loaded to force in Deven DuCharme. Two batters later, Lexi Smith scored on a Cardinal error to extend the Raider lead to 2-0.

Chippewa Falls responded with three runs in the bottom of the second, then scored three more runs in each of the fourth and sixth innings to earn the win.

Smith, Sydney Berger, Maya Triebold, Kindra Witthus and Alex Johnson had one hit each for Hudson while DuCharme walked and stole a base. Smith was tagged with the loss in the circle, allowing nine earned runs on 10 hits with three strikeouts and two walks in five-plus innings of work. Johnson went the rest of the way, allowing no runs on no hits with one strikeout and two walks.

Five Raiders named to All-BRC team

Five members of the Hudson softball team have been named to 2011 All-Big Rivers Conference teams.

Senior Deven DuCharme and sophomore Kindra Witthus were named to the All-BRC First Team while senior Sydney Berger and junior Lexi Smith earned Second Team honors and junior Maya Triebold received honorable mention.

It’s the second straight year DuCharme and Witthus have earned All-BRC honors. Both were named to the 2010 Second Team.

Tags: sports, softball, raiders, prep