I'm Phil Nee with sports.
The Richland Center softball team is slated to open up.
The Southwest Wisconsin conference today at home
with a game against landcaster.
First year head coach Jamie Gander
talked about what has gone well so far.
Well, I think we've been putting a bat on the ball.
You know, we've outhitted our first two opponents
14 to four and that's looked real good.
Last night at the Dells, we did get out hit,
but we were in position to win that game a couple times.
It just got away from us a little bit,
but yeah, we're doing a good job of hitting pretty glad
to get a couple of non-conference games in before the conference.
Yeah, it was real good.
You know, a new coaching staff, new kids, a lot of young kids
jumping into some new spots and just getting those reps.
You know, it was important this time of year
and look, look, going into landcaster here Thursday night
and see what we can do.
The Hornets with the opener coming up.
We'll have it on the radio tonight, of course.
Whether permitting a spring sports always goes.
The leadership for Richland Center's softball this year.
I asked Coach Kander about that.
Chloe Darling and Carly Meaden.
I think they were both all conference kids last year.
And we got Maddie McGlin who's jumped in and did a very good job.
She's our catcher.
Chloe's at first, Carly's at second.
Chloe's also doing some pitching for us.
So we're getting some great leadership by those seniors.
Getting some young players in there as well
that have a play to the varsity level, correct?
Yeah, quite a few.
You know, our juniors really, for the most part,
a couple of them had some varsity experience last year,
but as a whole, it was mainly those two seniors
and then those other girls trickled in and out from what I heard.
And then, you know, we do have a freshman pitcher,
Kyrie Fisher, that's doing very good for us.
And Ava Martin, a sophomore in right field.
And then it's pretty much made up of a couple other Savannah
Russell at second base.
And we had Abigail Williams in center
and Tatum Razick and left and JC Gander at third.
Sounds like you got a good group of all classes
represented for the Hornets this year.
We do, yeah.
And the nice part is, you know,
that we keep telling the JV and the varsity girls every night
and the varsity girls keep your spot.
You know, keep playing, working hard,
but those JV girls are pushing.
We got a great young crew on JV that had a really good win
last night again.
So they're getting pushed hard, Greg Shep's helping with them.
Liz Forehand, who was a player just a few years
ago, took that JV head coaching job.
Greg's helping her.
And then I also have Jackie Drabick and Dave Dardling helping me
along with Janet Fisher.
The Hornets take on landcaster.
That's a five o'clock first pitch time tonight.
Also at Richland Center.
The Hornets have returned from Missouri
and the baseball team slated to host
Austin this afternoon in the varsity and at JV Action.
There's also a track action at landcaster tonight.
That means we're going to underway at four o'clock
at landcaster high school.
Spectators are welcome for that event.
And the Southwest Wisconsin Conference golf match this afternoon
is at Plattville.
It gets underway at two o'clock at Plattville Country Club.
Some other games and matches going on this evening,
including River Valley soccer team hosting
Dodgeville Mineral Point.
The Riverdale girls are home against Iowa Grant for JV
and varsity action.
Ithaca, baseball and softball hosting Disoto.
Getting underway at five o'clock this afternoon
at the Ithaca Complex.
Weston will be at Seneca for baseball and softball.
And LaFarge will host Kickapoo
among the Ridge and Valley Conference events
scheduled for today in spring sports.
On the bowling scene, merchants bowling league.
It was a series high for Richland Locker, 2,908.
Grog or salvage, a 28.53.
Walsh's Ace Hardware, a 28.37.
Phoenix Center, a 10.16.
Richland Locker, a 9.84.
Walsh's Ace Hardware and Good Enough, 978.
Mike Carpenter at the top series is 7.32.
Casey Ewing and Isaac Davison, a 676.
Andy Keller, a 659.
Congratulations to Mike Carpenter on a 300 game.
He joins the 300 club with a big night last night.
Isaac Davison had a 262 and Casey Ewing a 257
in the merchants bowling league.
The Brewers with a big night last night
was already a blowout and they scored seven runs
in the ninth on the way to a 17-2 win at Colorado.
Leftfielder Jackson Cheerio, it is fourth home run
and knocked in five.
Grant Anderson picked up the win and relief on Wednesday night.
Milwaukee is one six times in the last seven games.
Here's manager Pat Murphy talking about his team's offense
last night.
He feel great for the guys when they have good nights.
Got like Ortiz on base five times.
You're happy for him.
He hasn't had the offensive results that you want so far.
So you see a guy like that.
Yelly continues to swing it better.
William's swinging it better.
Cheerio, what can you say, man?
I mean, the kid doesn't realize I don't think how great he will be.
Quinn Priester who came over in a trade from Boston
is slated to start for the Brewers this afternoon
as they look for the series sweep.
The Cubs lost to Texas six two San Diego two one over the Athletics
and Arizona beat Baltimore nine nothing.
In the National League Miami five nothing over the Metz
Pittsburgh two St. Louis one San Francisco eight six over Cincinnati.
The Dodgers six and Washington five Philadelphia four three over Atlanta.
In the American League, the Yankees four Detroit three Seattle seven six over
Houston Cleveland beat the White Sox three two Toronto two one over Boston.
Tampa Bay five the Angels four Minnesota four nothing over Kansas City.
The Badger spring practices have continued and have been beneficial.
Quarterback Billy Edwards Jr.
Talked about the Badger football kids.
Definitely we did a lot of work probably before we even set foot for our first spring
practice.
Whether it was OTA's walkthroughs throwing sessions kind of two three times a week on
our own.
So I really think the chemistry with all those guys, you know, tight in rooms
specifically for sure has come a long way.
It's been fun with the layers of the offense that continue to get put in kind of we figure
out.
There's some new routes.
There's some new timing things.
And I think the best thing with all the groups with all the skill guys but definitely
that tight in group is just the continuation of progress.
The Badger football program has picked up its fourth commitment from the recruiting class
of 2026.
Cornerback Carson Elams from the Indianapolis area chose Wisconsin over nine other division
loan offers.
Quarterback prospect Travis Burgess is visiting the Madison campus this week.
The competition for Burgess is fierce with programs like Auburn, Duke, North Carolina,
Pitt, Arizona State and Utah among his possible destinations.
The Badger's recruiting class of 26 does not include a quarterback yet.
In Green Bay, prep work is progressing for the 2025 NFL draft that starts two weeks
from tonight.
Workers raise the roof over the draft theater Wednesday.
The journal Sentinel reports the area will be blocked off and locked down in April 23
for a final sweep of the facilities to make sure everything is ready for the anticipated
crowd of 250,000.
The three day event runs April 24 through the 26th and is expected to have a 95 million
dollar impact on the Wisconsin economy.
Fans have to register on the NFL's one pass app if they want to enter the free draft
campus.
I'm Philney.
That's an update on sports.
