Natasha Smith and Emerie Vasquez each picked up a win on the mound in their first varsity start as the Waupaca Comet softball team opened the season Saturday, April 9, with wins over Nekoosa and Rhinelander.
The Comets handed Nekoosa a 9-2 defeat and held off a late rally to knock off Rhinelander 7-6.
Waupaca 9, Nekoosa 2
The Comets started strong, as Megan Grenlie led off with a single, stole second and third and scored on Carli Navin’s fly ball to center field.
Smith doubled in the second and scored on Grenlie’s single before Waupaca added two runs in the third, one in the fourth and fifth and three in the sixth.
Smith finished 3×3 with a single, double and triple and also scattered six hits over seven innings to get the win. Megan Grenlie, Taylor Grenlie and Jessica Barg each had two of Waupaca’s 12 hits and Taylor Grenlie scored three runs.
Waupaca 7, Rhinelander 6
Waupaca spotted the Hodags two runs in the first inning and one in the fifth before tying the game with three runs in the top of the sixth and adding four more in the seventh.
Emily Nelson, Allie Walkush and Vasquez all scored for Waupaca in the sixth, while Navin, Taylor Grenlie, Smith and Walkush scored in the seventh.
The Hodags scored three times in the bottom of the seventh to cut the lead to one, but couldn’t get any closer.
Vasquez gave up seven hits and struck out four batters to get the win.
Megan Grenlie, Navin and Alyssa Manteufel led Waupaca at the plate with two hits each, as the Comets outhit the Hodags 10-7.
The Comets hosted Iola-Scandinavia Tuesday, April 12, and will open Eastern Valley Conference play at 4:45 p.m. Tuesday, April 19, at Appleton Xavier.