Softball: Despite homers from Meverden and Klatt, D.C. Everest late comeback falls short in D-1 regional final loss at Hortonville

The D.C. Everest softball team wasn't able to overcome 7 errors and a 4 run deficit in a 6-5 loss at Hortonville in a Division 1 regional final on Thursday. The Evergreens finish their season at 16-11 while the Polar Bears improve to 23-3 and will meet Stevens Point in a sectional semifinal next Tuesday. SPASH rolled past De Pere 16-1 in five innings.

It was a slow start for Everest, who was retired in order in both the 1st and 2nd innings. In the bottom of the 2nd, Hortonville got on the board with the help of 3 Everest errors in the inning. The Polar Bears extended their lead to 3-0 in the 3rd on a 2 run double by Breanna Drechsel.

The Everest offense came alive in the 4th. Allison Blarek led off with a single and Mara Meverden followed with a home run over the left field to make it 3-2. It was the 2nd home run of the playoffs for Meverden, who hit one against Wausau West on Tuesday that put DCE on the board in that game as well. Everest could have had more in the inning but stranded the bases loaded.

Hortonville scored once in the bottom of the 4th and added two more in the 5th to extend their lead to 6-2. Everest wasn't done, however, as they rallied for three runs with 2 out in the 6th. Ava Hahn singled with one out and Ailsa Chmielewski walked with 2 out to put runners on 1st and 2nd. That would lead to another example of the Evergreen power that has sparked the offense all season long as Aubrey Klatt drilled a 3-run home run to left field to pull DCE back to within one at 6-5.

After retiring Hortonville in the 6th, the Evergreens last chance in the 7th started with a Meverden single. However, the Polar Bears were able to work through the 4, 5 and 6 hitters in the Everest order to finish off the win. Meverden finishes her outstanding high school career with a 3 for 4 game, HR and 2 RBI. Another of the Everest seniors, Klatt, was 2 for 4 with the homer and 3 RBI. Ava Hahn also had two hits for Everest.