Pequot Lakes edges Verndale in softball opener

PEQUOT LAKES -- Freshmen pitcher Emma Hoglund and the Pequot Lakes Patriots defeated the Verndale Pirates 5-4 in nine innings in a Park Region Conference softball game Tuesday.

Hoglund had 12 strikeouts in her first varsity outing while Steph Tomte had seven strikeouts for Verndale.

Pequot won the game in the ninth inning when April Miller led off with a triple. Cathy Hoenig then hit a sacrifice fly to drive in the game-winning run.

Verndale 000 020 200 -- 4 1 2

Pequot Lakes 200 200 001 -- 5 3 4

Verndale -- Steph Tomte and Crystal Schoon; Pequot Lakes -- Emma Hoglund and Amanda Monnier. WP -- Hoglund. LP -- Tomte. Conference -- PL 1-0, V 0-1. Overall -- PL 1-0. Next game -- Pequot Lakes hosts Park Rapids 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Verndale at Pillager 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Menahga 25, Pillager 6

MENAHGA -- The Pillager Huskies softball team was overpowered Tuesday, losing to the Menahga Braves 25-6 in a Park Region Conference game.

Laura Rahm was the losing pitcher for Pillager, giving up 10 runs in two innings.

Pillager 203 01 -- 6 3 4

Menahga 735 (11)0 -- 25 8 2

Pillager -- Laura Rahm, Pamela Lease (3) and Katie Rasinski. LP -- Rahm. Conference -- P 0-1. Overall -- P 0-1. Next game -- Pillager hosts Verndale 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.