Eagles’ softball team has rough playoff path

The path will be daunting. Then again, that’s what happens when the regular season doesn’t go quite like you’d hoped. Sauk Prairie’s girls softball team received the No. 8 seed in its half of the sectional. The Eagles host ninth-seeded Sparta Thursday at 5 p.m. in a WIAA Division 2 regional quarterfinal. The winner travels to top-seeded Mount Horeb for a regional semifinal on May 21. Sauk Prairie is currently 3-17 after dropping four of five games last week. Here’s a recap of the Vikings’ week: • Madison Edgewood 6, Sauk Prairie 3 — The visiting Crusaders scored three runs in the top of the sixth to break a 3-3 tie and down the Eagles on May 6. Alayna Robertson and Lexi Cegielski both had RBIs for Sauk Prairie. Riley Kerl threw well for the Eagles, allowing just one earned run and striking out six while working all seven innings. • Reedsburg 7, Sauk Prairie 0 — The host Beavers used a four-run second inning to build a comfortable early lead and never looked back. Sauk Prairie managed just four hits. Lily Nurkula took the loss for the Eagles. • Portage 17, Sauk Prairie 1 (6) — The visiting Warriors scored four runs in the fifth and 12 more in the sixth to break open a close game that was eventually stopped due to the mercy rule. Portage finished with 15 hits, while the Eagles committed four errors. Riley Kerl took the loss for Sauk Prairie. • Sauk Prairie 9, McFarland 0 — Lexi Ciegelski had a terrific night at the plate, while Riley Kerl shined in the circle and lifted the visiting Eagles past the Spartans. Ciegelski went 3-for-3 with a home run, three RBI and three runs scored. Alyssa Robertson also had two hits and scored a run, while Kerl had two RBI. Kerl was also terrific on the mound, allowing just three hits while striking out 10 in working all seven innings. Kerl walked just two and threw strikes on 67 of 101 pitches (66.3%). • Stoughton 2, Sauk Prairie 1 — The visiting Eagles managed just three hits and fell to the Vikings on May 10. Thea Harpold led Sauk Prairie’s offense with two hits and Riley Kerl allowed just one earned run for the Eagles. Kerl gave up six hits, struck out seven and didn’t walk a battle.