TRYING FOR TWO — Martin County West shortstop Taylor Elliott (3) throws to first base after forcing out Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial runner Jacie Schultz (left) at second base during Valley Conference softball action Friday at the Fox Lake Sports Complex in Welcome. Maverick second baseman Emily Dunlop (right) and left fielder Emily Anderson (background) watch the toss. (Photo by Greg Abel)

WELCOME — Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial’s Nos. 1-3 batters — Ella Voges, Avery Voges and Jacie Schultz, respectively — wreaked offensive havoc during Friday’s Valley Conference softball game at Fox Lake Sports Complex.

The hard-hitting trio combined for seven of the Knights’ 13 hits, a dozen runs scored and seven RBIs to power a 17-4, six-inning triumph over the Martin County West Mavericks in Welcome.

Avery Voges, who went 3-for-4, blooped a one-out double to set the table for LCWM’s two-run first at-bat before crossing the plate on Schultz’s RBI single. Schultz, who went 2-for-4 with a co-best four RBIs, later scored on Rachel Sickler’s blistering liner off the MCW third baseman’s foot for an RBI infield hit.

Staked to a 2-0 lead, the southpaw-hurling Schultz struck out the Mavericks in order during the home half of the first to quickly send the Knights back to the batter’s box.

LCWM sent a dozen batters to the plate in the second, erupting for six runs on four hits to extend the lead to 8-0. Ava Snow walked and Malorie Wyman was hit by a Lina Arnold pitch before both advanced a base on Dani Freyberg’s sacrifice bunt. Snow and Wyman then trotted home when Ella Voges hammered a three-run home run over the center-field fence.

Avery Voges singled and wheeled to third on an outfield error before scoring when Schultz’s hot grounder was mishandled. Olivia Harazin singled before Sickler clouted a double to produce one of her co-best four RBIs on the contest.

Trailing 10-0 on the heels of two unearned LCWM runs in the top of the third, Kiley Bettin and her MCW teammates spoiled the hard-throwing Schultz’s no-hit and shutout bids during the home half of the third.

Kiley Bettin drilled a leadoff single before twin sister Kelly Bettin smacked a hit one out later. Arnold reached on an ensuing fielder’s choice before Maverick courtesy runner Miah Olson scored when Ivy Kokoruda’s RBI single skipped away from the Knights’ centerfielder. Arnold also scored on the play, while Kokoruda reached third base.

Emily Dunlop got plunked with a delivery to put Mavericks on the corners before both Hailee Schuett and Emily Anderson smacked RBI singles to narrow the gap to 10-4 after three complete innings.

Avery Voges relieved Schultz to open the fourth frame and did not allow a run on two hits, while striking out five without issuing a walk in three innings of work.

Ella Voges and Avery Voges each singled and combined to score two of their eight total runs in the LCWM fourth, while Wyman’s sacrifice fly plated Lilli Graupman, who had singled, for a solo run in the fifth.

The Voges sisters drew back-to-back walks in the sixth before coasting home when Schultz cranked a deep three-run HR to center for a 16-4 lead. Harazin and Sickler then drilled back-to-back doubles to cap the Knights’ run production.

Ella Voges went 2-for-3 with a HR, three RBIs and four runs scored, Sickler went 3-for-4 with two doubles and four RBIs, while Harazin went 2-for-4 with a two-base hit.

Schuett and Kelly Bettin, who each produced two hits for MCW, added two-out doubles in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively.

Schultz struck out five, hit one batter and did not issue a walk in three innings to net the win. The left-hander gave up four runs — all unearned — on five hits.

Martin County West (1-3) plays host to Adrian/Ellsworth today in a doubleheader starting at noon at Fox Lake Sports Complex in Welcome.

Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial (2-0) is scheduled to travel to St. James Area on Monday for a 5 p.m. nonconference game.

LCWM 262 214 — 17 13 1

MCW 004 000 — 4 7 3

Jacie Schultz (WP), Avery Voges (4) and Ava Snow. Lina Arnold (LP), Kelly Bettin (3) and Ivy Kokoruda.

LOB–LCWM 9; MCW 4. 2B–LCWM: Rachel Sickler 2; Avery Voges and Olivia Harazin 1 each. MCW: Hailee Schuett and Kelly Bettin 1 each. HR–Ella Voges (LCWM) and Jacie Schultz (LCWM). SF–Malorie Wyman (LCWM). SAC–Ava Snow (LCWM) and Dani Freyberg (LCWM).

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Prep Baseball

Martin County West 14, Cleveland 4 — Jaxson Rohman went 5-for-5 with two RBIs, three runs scored and five stolen bases to engineer the Mavericks’ run-rule, six-inning rout over the Clippers on Friday in Cleveland.

Blake Jagodzinske pounded out a game-best four RBIs on the strength of three hits and scored two runs for MCW, while teammate Jacob Fiala went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored.

Alex McCabe went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs to pace Cleveland.

Blake Jagodzinske allowed two earned runs on four hits, struck out six and walked one in four innings pitched to earn the victory for MCW.

Wyatt Williamson closed out the final two frames, giving up two runs — one earned — on one hit. Williamson struck out one and walked two.

Martin County West (1-1) plays host to MACCRAY today in a noon doubleheader at Fox Lake Sports Complex in Welcome.

MCW 200 039 — 14 16 2

CLE 100 111 — 4 5 3