Appleton East softball wins regular-season finale at Appleton North

AppletonSportsPage.com

APPLETON – Ava Smarzinski, Torie Neubauer and Allisyn Briggs each drove in two runs as the Appleton East softball team defeated Appleton North 8-2 in the Fox Valley Association and regular-season finales for both teams on Thursday at North High School.

The Patriots used a six-run fifth inning to take an 8-0 lead and held on from there, finishing the regular season at 7-14 overall and 7-11 in the FVA.

Smarzinski had a single and two doubles, and Neubauer, Maddie Heisler, Grace Fecteau and Miley Bee each had two hits for Appleton East, which finished with 14 hits overall.

Alyssa Wald and Meg Carew knocked in runs for Appleton North (6-17, 4-14 FVA).

Aubrie Erickson went the distance on the mound for East, striking out two and allowing five hits.

Both teams will open postseason play on the road Tuesday as Appleton East travels to Kimberly and Appleton North plays at Hortonville in WIAA Division 1 regional semifinals.

Patriots 8, Lightning 2
Appleton East   000   260   0   –   8   14   1
Appleton North   000   020   0   –   2   5   1
WP: Aubrie Erickson. LP: Sophia Wald.
SO: Erickson 2; S. Wald (5 inn.) 1, Claire Therkildsen (2 inn.) 2. BB: Erickson 3; S. Wald 4, Therkildsen 1.
Top hitters: AE, Ava Smarzinski 3×4, 2 2Bs, 2 RBI, run; Torie Neubauer 2×5, 2B, 2 RBI; Maddie Heisler 2×3, run; Grace Fecteau 2×3, RBI; Miley Bee 2×4, 2 runs; Allisyn Briggs 2 runs, 2 RBI. AN, Payton Willenkamp 2×3; Meg Carew 1×3, RBI; Alyssa Wald 1×2, RBI.
Records: Appleton East 7-14, 7-11 Fox Valley Association; Appleton North 6-17, 4-14 Fox Valley Association.