Park of Cottage Grove's Madi Meduna loves swinging at the first pitch. Especially, it seems, when it’s the first pitch of the first regular-season game.

The sophomore's first look resulted in a crushed double that the Wolfpack (1-0) built upon to take down  Providence Academy (0-1) 7-0.

Meduna looks forward to getting better as a team. That’s why she swung the first pitch.

“What really gets me excited are those plays that give us that extra ‘oomph’ as a team,” Meduna said.

Meduna certainly possesses that extra “oomph”. A varsity player for the Park of Cottage Grove Wolfpack since eighth grade, she has evolved into the Wolfpack’s leading hitter. Last year, she was an all-state player as a freshman.

After that season-opening double, Meduna added two singles to help keep the offense ticking.

“She’s just put a lot of work into the offseason,” coach Bob Loshek said. “And she can hit the ball. Hard.”

On top of Meduna’s impressive game, junior Riley Perryman hit two doubles and Park of Cottage Grove put 11 total runners on base.

But Loshek is more proud of the Wolfpack’s solid defense than their at-bat success.

“That’s what’s going to win us games,” he said.

Senior Hanna Mortenson pitched two perfect innings in the Wolfpack’s win.

Although Park of Cottage Grove held Providence Academy to zero, both teams walked away feeling accomplished.

Providence Academy lost to the defending Class 4A, Section 3 champions last year by 10. This year, the gap lessened. After graduating two vital players last year, coach Brad Horstman couldn’t complain. The Lions are a young team, with one seventh-grader, one eighth-grader, and three freshmen.

“We are just trying to make a name for ourselves,” Horstman said. “It’s fun for our girls to play a team like that. They look forward to the challenge.”

Clare Hillen had three strikeouts and Clare Delmore hit a double and made it to base twice for Providence Academy. 

Park of Cottage Grove sophomore Madi Meduna smacked the first pitch the Wolfpack's regular season with a double, and followed it with two more singles throughout the game, while senior Hanna Mortenson dominated the pitcher’s mound in Park of Cottage Grove’s 7 - 0 victory over Providence Academy Wednesday night at the Providence Academy Dome. 

The Wolfpack (1-0) put 11 runners on base, two of whom were driven home by Megan Morris on a baseline grounder. Mortenson pitched two perfect innings. 

Junior Clare Hillen pitched a full game and struck out nine for the Lions (0-1) and fellow junior Clare Delmore had two hits.

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