MADISON, Wis. – Five teams claimed championships at the 50th State Girls Softball Tournament at Goodman Softball Complex Saturday.
In Division 1, top-seeded Hamilton (30-1) defeated second-seeded Muskego (28-3) 8-3 in the championship game. The Chargers scored four runs in the third inning and three more in the sixth inning to overcome an early 2-1 deficit to take a comfortable 8-1 advantage.
Aubrie Peterson was the offensive star of the game, going 3-for-4 and driving in six runs, which ranks second-most in the history of the State Tournament. Her two-run double in the third inning ignited the four-run outburst, and her three-run double in the sixth provided the crushing blow to the Warriors’ comeback aspirations.
The Chargers out-hit the Warriors 9-6 in the game. Ava Serembiczky knocked a pair of hits and scored twice to lead the offense. Bitsy Palicka was credited with the win in the circle, surrendering six hits and striking out six.
Hamilton advanced to the final with a 10-5, five-inning win over West Allis Hale/Central in the regionals and a 3-2, nine-inning win over Sun Prairie East in the semifinals.
The Chargers won the State title for the first time in their 13 State Tournament appearances, and Muskego finished runner-up in its second State experience.
Third-seeded Fox Valley Lutheran (26-3) rolled to a 9-1 victory over fourth-seeded Pewaukee (21-10) in the Division 2 title game.
Two big innings propelled the Foxes to the title. They plated four runs in both the fourth and sixth innings to cruise to the victory.
The Foxes pounded out 12 hits in the game. Madison Babcock starred at the plate and in the circle. She went 2-for-2 with a home run and a game-high four RBI. She yielded just three hits and struck out 12 to record the complete-game victory in the circle. Lexi Hanson led all batters with three hits in the game, including a home run and a double.
Harper Gould scored the Pirates’ only run in the game, scoring on a wild pitch after belting a triple in the third inning.
To advance to the championship game, the Foxes downed second-seeded Turner, 8-0.
Fox Valley Lutheran won the program’s first championship in its second State Tournament appearance, and Pewaukee finished runner-up in its first experience at State.
Top-seeded Lomira (27-3) shut out third-seeded Lodi (21-8) 5-0 in the Division 3 championship game to earn the title.
The Lions scored the only run they would need in the bottom of the first inning with back-to-back doubles after two outs. They added two runs in the third and fourth innings to clinch the win.
Haleigh Caspary was credited with the win in the circle for Lomira, scattering five hits with five strikeouts in seven innings. Trista Gassner and Lilian Christian each had two hits to lead the Lions’ offense. Mariah Lane led Lodi at the plate with a pair of hits, including a double.
Caspary threw a one-hit shutout for the Lions in their 10-0 semifinal victory over Spooner in five innings.
Lomira won its first State title in three State Tournament experiences, and Lodi placed runner-up in its second State experience.
Second-seeded Mineral Point (28-4) captured the Division 4 crown with a 6-0 shutout over Johnson Creek (26-5) in the championship game.
The Pointers jumped out front early, scoring four times and added additional insurance with single runs in the third and sixth innings to account for the scoring. They were led at the plate by Austy Kinch and Aida Tuttle with two hits apiece. Tuttle scored twice and belted a double and a triple.
Bockhop was stellar in the circle with 10 strikeouts and surrendering just three hits. Attigun Benz accounted for two of the Bluejays’ three hits, including a double.
Mineral Point advanced to the championship game with a 2-0 victory over Marathon in the State semifinals. The Pointers won their second championship in four State Tournament appearances, and Johnson Creek finished runner-up in its fifth experience.
Second-seeded Almond-Bancroft (28-1) captured the Division 5 crown with a prolific offensive display in a 16-8 victory over top-seeded Belmont (22-7) in the championship game.
The Eagles pounded out a Division 5 State Tournament record 20 hits in the game, including five doubles, which ties a Division 5 mark. Five players collected three hits, including Mya Dernbach, Riya Ceballo, Sophia Chapa, Oakley Omernik and Emalee Petrick. Aliyah Newby drove in a team-high four runs with her two hits and Lexi Carlton scored four times, which also tied a Division record. Carlton was also credited with the win in the circle for the Eagles, and Ceballo earned a save.
Belmont’s 13-hit attack was led by Lexi Riechers. She went 3-for-4 at the plate and smashed a Division 5 record two home runs and drove in four runs while scoring three times.
Almond-Bancroft won its first State championship after finishing runner-up in the Eagles’ first appearance last season. Belmont finished runner-up in its ninth State Tournament.
State Tournament Results & Boxscores