ROSE CREEK – Getting a couple of days of practice in did wonders for the Southland Rebels.

Wednesday, April 26, 2000

ROSE CREEK – Getting a couple of days of practice in did wonders for the Southland Rebels. The young Rebels, a slew of freshman and sophomores, started the year with seven straight losses and – due to weather – no practices to work on game-situation problems. With a week of practice since their last game, the Rebels got a chance to work on those problem areas and senior pitcher Megan Oxley got a chance to strengthen and rest her surgically repaired knee.

Oxley was in close to top form Tuesday and the defense behind her made the plays as the Rebels won Game One of a Southeast Conference doubleheader 2-1. LeRoy-Ostrander/Grand Meadow then got its bats on track to take the night cap 13-0 in five innings.

Oxley pitched a three-hitter in the first game. She struck out two and walked one.

"This is the best I felt all year," Oxley said. "I got people out with my fastball."

"She’s (Oxley) more confident about her knee after a couple of good practices," Southland coach Karleen Retterath said.

Jenny Linderman got the start for LOGM in game two. She was quite masterful in her five innings of work. She struck out eight with one walk and one hit batter, and gave up three hits. She also had a good day at the plate with three singles, including two in an 11-run, eight-hit, LOGM fourth inning. The LOGM offense got rolling in the second inning when Jill Johnson smashed a triple. Johnson then scored on a Linderman single.

"We have been a little inconsistent with our bats," LOGM coach Bill Benkstein said. "The inconsistency has led to three splits (Southeast Conference doubleheaders) to start the year. Jill was SEC Honorable Mention last year and is batting over .400 this year.

LOGM (3-3) is at Houston Thursday. On Saturday they play in the four-team Pine Island tourney.

Hayfield 9, Pine Island 5

The Vikings picked up their fist win of the season. They are now 1-5 on the season.

"We strung some hits together and scored five runs in the second," Hayfield coach Jana Wagner said.

Megan Woslager was the big hitter for Hayfield going 2-for-3 with a double and four RBI. Leslie Koski was 2-for-4. Cathy Kiefer picked up the win. She struck out six, walked five, and gave up five hits.

NRHEG 4, Blooming Prairie 3

The home-standing Panthers scored a run in the bottom of the seventh to beat the Blossoms.

Blooming Prairie had six hits in the game. Steph Thompson was 2-of-3 as was Megan Ingvalson. Ingvalson had two RBIs in the game.

Abbey Bergstrom took the loss. She gave up two earned runs and five hits. She struck out one and walked one.

"Both teams made the plays in the field," Blooming Prairie coach Chad Gimbel said. "The ball was put in play and the defenses did the job. Its tough to lose but its a little easier when you play well."

Blooming Prairie, in a make-up game, hosts Alden Conger on Thursday.