Staff photo by Travis Rosenau Sleepy Eye’s McKenna Strong makes a throw from center field in the Indians’ win over Cleveland on Saturday at Caswell Park in North Mankato.

Prep softball

Sleepy Eye wins twice, advances to meeting with MLA/C Tuesday

NORTH MANKATO — Sleepy Eye downed Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart 7-2 before moving on to top Cleveland 12-8 on Saturday at Caswell Park in the elimination bracket of the Section 2A softball playoffs.

McKenna Strong was 3 for 4 with four RBIs and a triple against BLHS, while Martina Nienhaus was 2 for 3 with an RBI.

Kathryn Schroepfer got the win in the circle for the Indians in Game 1, pitching seven innings with seven strikeouts and one earned run allowed.

In Game 2, Schroepfer got the win again. Nienhaus was 3 for 3, while Jackie Nessett was 2 for 3 with two RBIs and Strong had two RBIs.

Sleepy Eye now takes on Mountain Lake Area/Comfrey at 5 p.m. on Tuesday. The winner of that game will face Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s later that night.

Nicollet tops JWP,

eliminated by MLA/C

NORTH MANKATO — The Nicollet softball team downed Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton 10-1 on Saturday in the Section 2A elimination bracket at Caswell Park but fell 5-2 to Mountain Lake Area/Comfrey 5-2 in its second game of the day, ending their season.

In the win over JWP, Marah Hulke took the win in the circle for the Raiders, pitching all seven innings and allowing two hits and a walk with 14 strikeouts. She also led the Nicollet bats with a 3-for-4 game at the plate, including a double, an RBI and a run scored.

Hayley Selby was 2 for 4 with three RBIs and a run for the Raiders in Game 1.

In the second game of the day for Nicollet, Selby took the loss, striking out five and allowing seven hits and a walk.

Hulke and Selby each went 2 for 3 with one run scored apiece. Nicole Hall and Halle Johnson each added a hit for Nicollet.

Boys’ tennis

ST. PETER — The New Ulm boys competed in the Section 2AA South individual boys’ tennis tournament on Saturday at Gustavus Adolphus College, with Colton Collum making it to the third round before being eliminated in singles action.

Collum, the fourth seed, got a first-round bye before defeating Evan Zimmer of New Prague 3-6, 6-4, 7-5. Collum then fell to No. 1-seeded Mark Williams of Mankato East 6-3, 6-4.

Also in singles play, Josh Rakoczy of New Ulm fell to Alex Hall of Hutchinson 6-3, 6-4 in the opening round.

In doubles action, Aaron Eikanger and Ethan OConnor fell to Wedzina and Homich of Mankato East in the first round.

Isaac Blumhoefer and Max Gieseke of New Ulm also fell in the first round to Mankato East’s Braswell and Hardesty.