The Perham Yellowjackets started its toughest stretch of the fastpitch season with a doubleheader at the No. 8 ranked Class AAA team in Detroit Lakes on May 2 at Snappy Park.
The Lakers used the long ball in game one, hitting four home runs on their way to a 9-6 victory, and built up a strong lead in game two, cruising to a 12-3 win in a doubleheader sweep of the Yellowjackets.
The Yellowjackets hit their share of home runs in game one, but couldn’t not overcome the power surge from the Lakers.
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Katie Zepper connected for a solo home run, while Erin Winter hit a grand slam home run in the first game for the Yellowjackets.
However, Rachael Perkins hit two home runs for the Lakers, while Emily Schiltz and Mackenzie Braukmann went yard as well.
Madilyn Kirchner struck out 13 batters, allowing six runs on seven hits while earning the game one win.
The Lakers put up crooked numbers in the second, third and fourth innings, staking themselves to a 9-1 lead. The Yellowjackets rallied for five runs in the fifth, including the grand slam home run from Winter.
Zepper suffered the loss on the mound for Perham. She allowed nine runs on 14 hits. She struck out five, while walking two batters. However, the long ball was her weakness, giving up four home runs in the game. Perkins drove home four runs, while Schiltz and Sydney Prussia had three hits for the Lakers.
Zepper finished with two hits at the dish for Perham, while Katelyn Pedersen added a pair of hits. Winter finished with two hits and four runs batted in. Mattie Scheidecker added a hit as well in the first game.
Errors proved costly for the Yellowjackets in game two. They committed six of them, which allowed the Lakers to take advantage.
The Lakers jumped ahead with three in the first and three in the second, before Perham rallied for a run in the third and two in the fifth. Mattie Scheidecker drove in the run in the third with an RBI double, while Aixa Kolofale went yard for Perham in the fifth, scoring two runs, cutting the Detroit Lakes lead to three.
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However, the Lakers responded with a six run inning, putting the finishing touches on the doubleheader sweep.
Kirchner earned the win on the hill in game two. She went five innings, allowing three runs, while walking four and striking out one.
Katie Johnson took the loss for Perham in game two. She allowed 12 runs on seven hits. She struck out seven, while walking four. She was undone by six Perham errors. Scheidecker led the way at the plate with two hits and an RBI. Kolofale had a hit and drove in two, while Katelyn Pedersen, Winter and Hannah Ekse had hits as well.
The Yellowjackets return to Heart O’Lakes Conference play when they host the Hawley Nuggets at Arvig Park on May 4, beginning at 4 p.m.
Robert Williams from the Detroit Lakes Tribune contributed to this story.
