Softball: Marathon makes statement with sweep of Assumption including no-hitter by Podjaski.

The Marathon High School softball team makes an early-season statement in the Marawood-South after sweeping a doubleheader from Assumption on Monday. The Red Raiders won the opener in walk-off fashion 3-2 and dominated the nightcap 13-3 in 6 innings. In Game 1, it was a pitchers' duel between Marathon's Allison Podjaski and Assumption's Ari Cavanaugh. The game was scoreless until the top of the 6th when the Royals' scored on an error to lead 1-0. Marathon responded in the bottom of the inning when, with two out, Mayven Schneider walked and stole 2nd. That was followed by a Danica Staus single to left that scored Schneider and tie the game at 1. Assumption regained the lead on another Marathon error in the top of the 7th. Trailing 2-1 heading into their last at-bat in the bottom of the 7th, Marathon put runners on 1st and 3rd with 2 out. Sophia Conn singled to left to score Ripley Skrzypchak to tie the game and the winning run then came across on an error by the Assumption left fielder. Podjaski was nearly flawless in the circle for Marathon, tossing a no-hitter with 16 strikeouts and just two walks. Both Assumption runs were unearned.

Marathon took charge early in the second game with three runs in the 1st inning and four more in the 2nd to lead 7-0 and cruise to a 13-3 win in 6 innings. Rehgan Martin had three hits and 2 RBI for Marathon (7-1 overall, 2-0 Marawood-South) while Danica Staus had two hits and 2 RBI and Brinly Stencil added a pair of hits and an RBI. Tyla Beilke-Seubert struck out 11 Royals in a complete game effort while allowing 3 runs and 6 hits in earning the win.

Marathon will be back in action tomorrow when they host Newman Catholic in another Marawood-South match up. Assumption (1-2, 0-2 Marawood-South) travels to Stratford for another conference game tomorrow.