Preble softball cruises to five-inning victory over West De Pere in sectional semifinals

GREEN BAY – They say it’s hard to beat a team three times in one season, but for the Green Bay Preble softball team, the opponent doesn’t seem to matter. 

Using the strong pitching of senior Tenley Kuehn, a potent hitting attack and some shaky West De Pere defense, the Hornets cruised to a 12-2 five-inning victory on Tuesday, June 2, in a WIAA Division 1 sectional semifinal game at the Finger Road Softball Complex in Green Bay. 

Preble (25-1) beat the Phantoms (19-10) for the third time this season, with all three victories coming by at least nine runs. 

With the victory, the Hornets advanced to the sectional finals, where they will play Stevens Point Area Senior High on Thursday, June 4, with a chance to advance to the state tournament for the first time ever. 

“Tenley has done a stellar job all year long – she has poise and has battled with runners on base,” Preble Coach Caitlin Krueger said. “We have confidence with our pitchers, but West De Pere can hit the ball. When they put the ball in play, our defense got the job done.” 

Kuehn held the Phantoms to five hits, and the Hornets committed only one error defensively. 

Preble jumped on West De Pere right off the bat in the first inning, scoring five runs on five hits with the help of two errors. 

With one out, Camille Konkol hit a hot liner to right field that was misplayed, resulting in the speedy sophomore scampering all the way home for the first run of the game.

Maya Darmawan, Kuehn, Gracie Day and Chloe Savage also had hits, with Kuehn, Savage and Izzy Neerdaels collecting an RBI in the inning. 

With Preble leading 7-1 entering the top of the fifth inning, the Phantoms scored a run to close the gap, eventually loading the bases with one out. 

Kuehn – who also collected two hits on the day – recorded a strikeout before coaxing a flyball to end the threat. 

The Hornets then put up another five-spot in the bottom of the frame to send the Preble fans home happy. 

Konkol and Bella Smits each knocked in a pair of runs in the inning. 

Hannah Van Haden smacked a two-run homer in the fourth inning for two more runs.

Smits, Savage and Konkol also collected two hits on the night. 

For the Phantoms, Brooke Shoemaker had a pair of singles, while Mallory DeMoulin, Jocelyn Vieth and Braelynn Rukamp each recorded hits.