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The Holmen Merchants 18-and-under summer softball team began its abbreviated season by being swept 6-3 and 4-3 in a doubleheader at Logan June 25.

Game two was tied 3-3 going to the bottom of the fifth and final inning. Logan had the bases loaded with one out, before catcher Lauren Schaller threw behind the trail runner at first.

First baseman Bri Wesely was able to tag the runner out for the second out of the inning. But in the ensuing commotion, Logan was able to score the winning run.

Kate Shefelbine took a complete-game loss. Shortstop Kylee Siolka and Marissa Fraser were among the Merchants to have hits in the game.

Schaller took the loss in the first game, but was relieved by Wesely, who pitched the final four innings. With Mississippi Valley Conference co-Pitcher of the Year Kallie Mechling graduating earlier this spring, Holmen's high school team will be looking for a new No. 1 pitcher next spring.

Schaller threw well in limited duty last spring, including throwing a no-hitter against Onalaska. But she also is the club's No. 1 shortstop.

It could leave the door open for Wesely to ascend into Mechling's shoes. Wesely was the top pitcher on the varsity reserve this spring, a route Mechling followed to her 2008 success after being behind 2007 MVC Player of the Year and current UW-Eau Claire Emily Pierce as a junior. Pierce played largely as a runner for the national champion Blugolds this spring.

“Bri threw very well at Logan and overall is very consistent with her pitches,” Merchants head coach Travis Kowalski said. “She'll get a look as the starter next spring. She's very similar to Kallie in that she isn't overpowering, but is usually very good at consistently hitting her spots.”

Siolka had a single and stolen base, while Shefelbine had a single in the opener.

In addition to the changes at pitcher, next spring's varsity will be looking to replace third basemen Hannah Galstad and Kayla Oliver in 2009, both of whom graduated earlier this year. Talia Smith played third base in the first game, with Allie Dienger moving to center and Taylor Sprain playing left.

The games at Logan were the Merchants first of the season after their scheduled June 11 and 18 games were not played. Holmen hosts a 5 p.m. doublehader with Arcadia Wednesday at 5 p.m. at the Viking Elementary Fields. With the scheduled July 16 game with Sparta also postponed due to Sparta's lack of available players, the Merchants will complete their season with a July 23 5 p.m. doubleheader with Logan at Viking Elementary.