WHITTEMORE-PRESCOTT - April 28, 2005 - Whittemore-Prescott's softball team hadn't played in more than a week, so a little rust was to be expected. But despite giving an uncharacteristic number of walks, the Cards had little problem dispatching Lincoln-Alcona on Thursday, winning 15-4 and 18-3 in a pair of games that lasted a total of nine innings. The victories kept W-P unbeaten at 14-0.

"Our pitchers appeared a little rusty," said W-P coach Sam Harrison. "They average two walks in seven innigs and tonight we walked eight in nine innings -- way above our average."

On the other hand, the Cards' hitting didn't appear to have suffered with the layoff.

In the opener, W-P scored in all four innings in which it batted, highlighted by a seven-run third. Annalise Gordon had two doubles, a triple and three RBI's; Sarah Leslie added a single and a double; and Kaylon Leslie and Erin Grezeszak each added hits.

As if the Cards needed the help, Alcona pitchers allowed nine walks and one hit batter.

W-P trailed 2-0 after the first inning of the second game, but exploded for 10 runs in the third and six in the fourth to end it early. Julie Janish had three hits and scored three times; Kaylon Leslie had a home run and a single; Sarah Schmidt belted a two-run homer; and Sarah Leslie, Theresa Janish, Melissa Perrin and Kristie Degesie all had hits.

"We hit the ball with authority, " Harrison said. "But (we) failed to execute our short game."

W-P has a chance to work on their short game and keep the winning streak going at the Boyne tournament on Saturday, then rejoins NEMC action on Thursday, May 5 at Ogemaw Heights.