After having three games canceled due to weather, the Holy Family softball team finally opened its season against Belle Plaine, defeating the Tigers 5-2. Micaela LaRose pitched a complete game with 10 strikeouts and five walks.

For the Fire, base running was key. The game was scoreless until the third inning when Katie Gestach advanced to third base on a throwing error and scored on a wild pitch. In the fourth inning, Ally Bauer walked, stole a base, advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored off a hit by Patrisha Wilson. In the sixth inning, Erin Dennehy was hit by a pitch, stole second, advanced to third on a pass ball, and scored off a hit by Bauer.

The Fire committed only one error allowing Belle Plaine to score two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

On Thursday the Fire traveled to Jordan, last season’s conference champs. Jordan took advantage of Holy Family’s early errors and by the third inning the Fire were down 6-2. Despite scoring three runs in the seventh inning, Holy Family ended up losing 10-5.

At the Hutchinson Invitational last weekend, Holy Family played three great games, defeating Dassel Cokato 6-5, and losing to Hutchinson and Wilmar.

Track sprints out of the gates at NYA

Following solid performances at their home quadrangle, the Holy Family boys and girls track & field teams once again exhibited quality performances – this time at the Norwood-Young America Quadrangular last Tuesday.

The boys rode a wave of top honors and multiple place winners in all but two events, taking the team title by more than 30 points.

Jared Wimmer continued his undefeated season in jumps, once again sweeping the long and triple jumps. Joe Knoblauch and Greg Klingelhutz flexed the muscle for the sprint teams with their one-two finish, respectively, in the 100-meter dash. Knoblauch’s victory moved him onto the Minnesota State Honor Roll.

Klingelhutz went on to help the sprint crew claim a victory in the 4x400 relay. The distance teams were equally as impressive, with Paul Weigel winning the 3,200 and Brian Curran taking the 1,600, effectively leading a charge that would claim eight out of 10 places in both events and a 4x800 relay victory.

The Fire girls raced their way to five more Minnesota State Honor Roll standards, scoring points in all but three events.

Holy Family sprinters Nikki Elliot ran 12.6 in the 100 dash and Katie Kemmerer clocked in at 12.9 to move up on the honor roll in the event. The pair also helped lead the 4x100 relay team to an impressive victory with a time of 51.5 and a high place atop the State Honor Roll.

Kemmerer capped her day with another Honor Roll performance of 26.7 in the 200 sprint. Distance runner Brenna Wetsch paced a strong distance squad to taking five out of 10 places while taking double victories in the 1,600 and 3,200 races. Wetsch also improved her status on the Honor Roll with a 12:17 performance in the 3,200.

Tennis team gaining momentum

The Holy Family boys tennis team had another strong week, starting with a 6-1 win over Fairmont.
The No. 1 doubles team of Tim Menden and Matt Makis won 6-0, 6-0 to get the Fire off to a strong start. Sam Puff came from behind to win 7-6 (7), 6-1 at first singles.

On Tuesday, the Fire lost a very close conference match to Orono 4-3. Hugh Byrnes came from behind in the third set of the No. 4 singles match to force a tiebreaker, and won 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (6).

The Fire suffered a 5-2 conference loss to Providence Academy on Thursday. Dan Wilson and
Remington Riehl won a convincing match at No. 3 doubles, 6-2, 6-2. The other Fire win came at first doubles, with Menden and Makis winning a three-set thriller 2-6, 6-1, 7-5.

The Fire fell back into their early success pattern, taking home a quad title on Saturday at St. James.

Holy Family started the day off strong with a 7-0 win over Yellow Medicine East. Taylor Curtis won his match at second singles 6-0, 6-0.

Mullen started things off in the second round against Luverne, with a 6-0, 6-1 win at No. 3 singles. With the dual tied 3-3, the match came down to No. 4 singles. Tyler Smith battled his way back in the second set, winning 6-2, 7-6 (4) and setting the team up with a 4-3 win.

The Fire clinched their tournament win against St. James in the third round with a 4-3 victory, winning at No. 2 singles and sweeping the doubles. Ryan Menden and Mullen were especially impressive at No. 2 doubles in a 6-2, 6-4 win.

Girls golf team wins MRC opener

Holy Family’s girls golf team easily won the first MRC tournament on Thursday, at Dahlgren Golf Course in Chaska.

The Fire shot 212 as a team in the 9-hole tournament to top Jordan by 24 strokes.

Annie Gaslin led the Fire with a score of 51 to tie for medalist honors with Becky Koepp of Belle Plaine.

Kelly Schumer and Bridget Cummings each finished in 53 for Holy Family, with Nicole Stenerson shooting 55, senior captain Jackie Geisler shooting 61 and Karly Pratt carding 65.