Trojans use big 2nd to post softball win; WHS baseball also gets a W

The Worthington Trojans scored six runs on eight hits in the second inning Tuesday and went on to top visiting Waseca 8-1 in a high school softball game.

The Trojans, now 4-4 overall, kept Waseca at bay in the top of the first, as the Bluejays failed to score despite two hit batters and two bases on balls. Worthington then got a run in the bottom of the first when Bailey Ponto led off with a double and scored on a Breeta Johnson RBI groundout.

Then came the big second for WHS. Taylor Nickel, Brooklyn Breetzman and Katie Welch all singled to load the bases, and Ponto then delivered a two-run double. Madi Polz followed that with a two-run single to make it 5-0, Trojans. Two more runs scored later in the inning on an RBI double from Emma Hietbrink and an RBI single from Leah Nelson.

An RBI single from Ponto in the fifth scored Worthington's eighth run. Ponto also got the pitching win, going all seven innings and allowing just three hits and an unearned run while walking three and striking out two.

Nelson also had three hits for the Trojans, and Hannah McNab and Welch had two each.

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In high school baseball, WHS got five runs in the top of third inning and went on to defeat Waseca 7-2. The Trojans are now 2-4 on the spring, with a home doubleheader scheduled for Thursday against Belle Plaine.

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The Trojans' boys tennis team played a tight match Tuesday at Fairmont but wound up falling 4-3.

No. 1 singles player Bennett Oberloh picked up 2-6, 6-3, 10-8 victory for the Trojans. Also getting wins for WHS were the No. 2 doubles team of Cristian Miranda and Coltin Olmanson, which won 6-2 7-6, and the No. 3 tandem of Ryker Fricke and Kingston Nguyen, which won 6-1 6-3.

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The Worthington Trojans finished closely behind Fairmont on Tuesday in a six-team track and field meet in Worthington, coming in with 137 points compared to the Cardinals' 148.

Several WHS athletes turned in strong performances. Tetlouch Gach won the 110 hurdles in a time of 15.86 seconds and the 300 hurdles with a PR time of 41.83. Jacari Swinea won the 100 meters in 11.54 and the 200 in 23.27. Fanuel Wolday took the 800 in 2:05.69 and the 1600 in 4:33.02. Permeye Okony was first i in the triple jump at 40 feet, 8.5 inches.

Other top individual efforts included; Gach, second place with a PR in the triple jump; Isaac Kinser, second with a PR in the 400; Christian Kleve, second in the discus; Hudson Scheepstra, third with a PR in the 300 hurdles; Welbaka Morke, third in the 200; Caleb Meyer, third in the high jump;  Henok Ergicho, third with a PR in the triple jump and fifth in the long jump; Isaish Bates, fourth with a PR in the 400; Asrat Bonnett, fourth with a PR in the long jump; and Lucio Ramirez, fifth in the 100 and 200.

The WHS 4x100 relay team also took first place with a PR, while the 4x400 and 4x800 relay teams were both second with PRs.

Worthington also placed second as a team in girls competition with 60 points. Fairmont dominated with 206.

Multiple Trojans earned top-five finishes. Grace Bates won the long jump with a leap of 15 feet, three inches, and Bella Lazzu was first in the high jump at four feet, eight inches. Bates was also second in the high jump and fourth in the 200. Kenadie Thiner was third with a PR in the 800 meters, fourth in the 1600 and fourth in the pole vault.

Other WHS placings included: Madison Sieve, second in the 800 and third in the 1600; Lauryn Ahlers. third in the pole vault; Mackenzie Platt, third with a PR in the long jump; Tiana Garcia, fifth with a PR in the triple jump; and Cassie Schulz, fifth in the 100.