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Highland's girls softball team won the week and more.
The Cardinals, using their multi-talented pitching staff, won three non-conference games last week including two at the talent heavy Poynette Jamboree.
Then Tuesday, on a rain soaked field at Shullsburg, the Cardinals eclipsed a 3-1 Shullsburg/Benton lead with three runs in the seventh to win the Six Rivers West match-up. That makes the Cardinals 9-2 in conference play and 14-6 overall.
With Bailee Rose on the mound without her best stuff and without Karen McMannes who was at a wake, the Cardinals finally got to S/B pitcher Hattie Rennert in the top of the seventh. Alyx Hach reached on an infield error and scored on a long triple by Halie Kosharek. Kosharek then scored on a squeeze bunt by Jessica Kosharek to tie the game. With two outs Brooke Michek plated the winning run with a sharp single to centerfield.
The Cardinals led once before in the game and that was in their first at bat. Rose walked with one out, advanced on an error and scored on Michek's single.
S/B answered in the bottom of the first. Kelsie Goffinot singled, Lily Carver reached on a fielders choice and both moved up on a passed ball. And error sent both across the plate for a 2-1 lead.
Goffinot singled and later scored on a passed ball in the third to make it 3-1.
Both teams battled even until the Cards put on their last inning rally.
Rose went the distance, battling her way to a four hitter with no earned runs. She fanned seven and walked one.
S/B made some noise in the bottom of the seventh as two girls reached to put the winning runs on first and second but Rose finished it with a strikeout and then coaxed a grounder for an infield out to end the game.
Michek had half of Highland's hits with a 3x4 day at the plate. Halie Kosharek, Rose and Morgan Biba all had singles.
"We were a little flat at the start," said assistant coach Rick McMannes. "But we came to life at the right time."
Highland started off their Jamboree stay with a 10-2 win over New Lisbon, the second place team in the Dairyland with an 8-2 league record.
The Cardinals had the mercy rule in effect with a 10-0 lead after four but two errors helped New Lisbon score a run in the fifth and a walk, a hit batter and a single added a run in the seventh.
Rose walked with one out and scored on singles by the Kosharek cousins. An error let Halie Kosharek score and Brittini Mueller scored on a second error of the frame for a 3-0 lead.
The Cards sent in four runs in the second on hits by Biba, McMannes, a sac by Rose that let her reach base and singles by Mueller and Michek.
The lead swelled to 10 with three runs in the third. After McMannes walked, Rose unleashed a triple and Halie Kosharek duplicated it for two runs. Jess Kosharek then drove in her cousin with a single.
McMannes went six frames and had a shutout on the board until the errors. She ended up fanning five, walking one, giving up four hits with two runs, one earned.
Rose fanned two, walked one and gave up a hit in her relief inning.
The Koshareks both were 2x4 with McMannes, Rose, Mueller, Michek and Biba all garnering one hit.
The Cardinals finished their successful venture to the Jamboree with a 9-5 win over Independence-Gilmanton in a game shortened to five inning via the time limit. It may have taken longer to say Independence-Gilmanton than it did to play the game.
Jessica Kosharek hurled four innings with four strikeouts, six walks and two hits that led to five runs.
McMannes worked the fifth, facing four batters with a walk and three infield outs.
McMannes swung the big stick for the Cardinals with three singles in as many trips and she scored twice.
Rose had a double and was on base all three times with two runs scored.
Halie Kosharek scored twice and singled in a run.
Michek had a single her first time up in the second.
I/G had five errors that helped the Cards.
In their non-conference contest with Ithaca the Cardinals eased their way to a 7-1 win.
Rose got the win with six innings of work. She fanned 12, spaced two hits and did not walk a batter.
McMannes struck out one and gave up three hits along with the lone Lady Bulldogs run in the seventh.
McMannes and Halie Kosharek were both 2x4 to lead Highland. Rose, Mueller and Maddie Drury each had one hit.
McMannes led off with a single and scored on an error in the first for a 1-0 lead.
Four hits--singles by McMannes, Rose and Mueller along with a double by Halie Kosharek added up to three runs in the fifth.
The Cards finished with a three run sixth. Drury singled, McMannes reached on a fielders choice and Rose got to first on an error that sent in a run. Halie Kosharek then singled.
The Cardinals are on the road Thursday and Friday as they travel to Barneveld and Boscobel.