Adams Carlson Mortuary

NORTH MANKATO -- Mankato West senior catcher Hannah Hastings didn’t really know what to think when Mankato East eighth-grade pitcher Madie Clarke issued the left-handed slugger an intentional walk with two on and two out in the Scarlets’ first at-bat in Saturday’s Section 2AAA winners’ bracket final at Caswell Park.“Not really knowing that they were going to walk me, I didn’t really go up to the plate thinking about it,” Hastings said. “But when they walked me, it’s a free baserunner.”What happened in her second at-bat was pivotal as Hastings launched a three-run rocket over the center-field fence to erase a 1-0, third-inning deficit. The blast sparked the defending state champion Scarlets to a 6-3 win.Senior left fielder Maija Russell ripped two doubles and a single for the winners, who also received two hits from senior right fielder Tristan Danay and senior center fielder Jenna Helget.“I believe it was a fastball down the middle, maybe a little bit inside,” Hastings said of her home run. “I went for a high change-up on my first swing so I just shook it off and had a little laugh because I know I shouldn’t have swung.”East (15-8) capitalized on a lead-off walk to the speedy Morgan Keim-Wolfe, who eventually scored on a single by Madisyn Kozitza. After sophomore Makenzie Hendley’s single up the middle put two runners in scoring position, West junior second baseman Emily Veroeven’s sliding snag of a Brianna Adam’s blooper saved two runs.Keim-Wolfe made a nifty diving catch to steal a hit away from Danay in the bottom of the first. West junior right-hander Briggs Carlson settled in to work a 1-2-3 second frame before giving up a hit — a double by senior catcher Torey Richards and an Adams single — in each of the next two innings.Carlson then set down the side in order before a sixth-inning single by Richards was followed by a double play turned by Veroeven. Carlson allowed eight hits while striking out two and walking two.Veroeven walked and Grunst bounced a single over third baseman Hannah Bauman’s head in front of Hastings’ third-inning bomb. West (20-3... (Mankato Free Press)

Thompson, 79, of La Crosse passed away Friday, April 21, 2017, at the Bethany-Riverside Nursing Facility with her children and Sally the cat curled up at her feet.Janice was born June 24, 1937, to Leland and Lydia (Zumstein) Carter in Mauston, Wis., and graduated from La Crosse Central High School in 1955. On May 28, 1964, she married James O. Thompson and they later divorced. Janice worked at Dolly Madison Dairy and retired as a homemaker.Janice was involved in bowling in La Crosse and the State of Wisconsin for many years. She coached youth bowling at Sports Bowl and King Pin Bowl in La Crosse and West Bowl in West Salem. She served on many Board of Directors and was a lifetime member of the La Crosse 600 Club. Janice was honored for bowling in 50 Wisconsin State Tournaments; however, her biggest honor was being the first woman in La Crosse to bowl a 300 game in October of 1980. She was a 50 year member of the Women of the Moose, where she achieved all degrees and volunteered many hours during lunches, dinners and bingo. Janice was also a member of First Presbyterian Church in La Crosse, for over 60 years and was proud to sing in the choir.She is survived by her children, Kimberly (Stephen) Yancey of Belleville, Ill., and Jeffrey Thompson of La Crosse; her sister, Karen (James) Jamesson of La Crosse; sister-in-law, La Von Carter of Davenport, Iowa; and nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Wayne L. Carter.Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 26, at First Presbyterian Church in La Crosse, with the Rev. Dr. J. Taylor Haley officiating. Burial will follow in Woodlawn North Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Schumacher-Kish Funeral and Cremation Services of La Crosse and from noon until the time of services Wednesday at the church.We would like to thank the staff at Bethany Riverside, 200 wing, for their loving care of Janice during her stay and the kindness shown to Jeff and Kim during her final days. (La Crosse Tribune)