Paynesville Area
The Paynesville Area Bulldogs set the tone early versus the Eagles. Over the first three innings, the Bulldogs scored 10 runs, capped by a five-run third inning. Meanwhile, the Eagles didn’t get its first hit of the game until a Hayley Berg single in the fifth inning. It all added up to a 12-2 road loss via the 10-run rule in six innings on May 12.
Offensively, the Eagles finished with four hits. Berg led the Eagles, finishing two for three with an RBI and one run scored.
Kamryn Mathies took the loss in the pitching circle, giving up 10 runs, nine earned, on nine hits and six walks, and struck out four over three innings.
ACGC (Game one)
The Eagles did not play well early versus the Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City Falcons, Eagles head coach Dave Dziengel said. Over the first two innings, the Eagles gave up eight runs, four in each inning; six of these runs were unearned. The team rallied back from the slow start, highlighted by an eight-run third inning, to earn the 11-8 win in game one of a home doubleheader May 13.
“We played and pitched much better innings 3-7,” coach Dziengel said via email. “It was a great come-from-behind win after being down 8-1 to start the game.”
After that eight-run third inning, the Eagles had taken the lead for good, at 9-8. The team added an insurance run in the fourth, and another in the sixth to provide for the final margin.
Offensively, the Eagles finished with 12 hits. Alison Thielen finished three-for-four with three runs scored and two RBI to lead the Eagles. Zoey Schmidt, Siena Hemmesch, and Bella Rausch each recorded two hits to also pace the Eagles.
Kamryn Mathies earned the pitching win, giving up eight runs, six unearned, on nine hits and five walks, and striking out six over seven innings.
ACGC (Game two)
Trailing 4-2 heading into the sixth inning, the Eagles tied the game with two runs in the top of the sixth, only to allow the Falcons to retake the lead with a run in the sixth. Even though the Falcons retook the lead in that inning, it could have turned out worse for the Eagles.
With runners on first and third with two outs, Eagles catcher Laura Heuring threw out the runner at third base for the final out of the inning. Coming off that play, the Eagles rallied yet again, this time scoring six runs in the -seventh to sweep the doubleheader with a 10-6 win – the team’s final regular-season game.
“We completed the sweep with another come-from-behind victory. Kamryn (Mathies) got ahead in the count and pitched pretty well,” coach Dziengel said via email. “It was a great game, and a great way to end the regular season.”
In that seventh inning, the Eagles scored its six runs on six straight hits, an error, and a sacrifice bunt.
Offensively, the team finished with 14 hits. Alison Thielen and Siena Hemmesch each had three hits, and Laura Heuring, Hayley Berg, and Bella Rausch each posted two hits to pace the Eagles.
Mathies earned the pitching win, giving up six runs, five earned, on eight hits and three walks, and striking out five over seven innings.
With the two wins, the Eagles finished the regular season 8-12 and would open the Section 6AA Softball Tournament as the 10th seed at seventh-seeded Foley on May 19.
“I’m proud of the work that the girls have put into our first 20 games,” coach Dziengel said via email. “We look forward to the playoffs.”
For the full tournament bracket, visit www.mshsl.org/tournaments/2025-section-6aa-
softball-girls-tournament.