Softball - Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association

State Titles Crowned in Softball

DIVISION 1

Stevens Point 16, Watertown 4

Stevens Point (29-3) won its membership-leading ninth State championship with a 16-4 victory over Watertown (22-6) in the Division 1 final Saturday at Goodman Diamond.

The Panthers’ pounded out 20 hits in the game, one short of the tournament record. They scored a run in the top of the first on an RBI single by Payton Gaber.

The Goslings plated three runs in the bottom of first inning. They scored a run on a Panthers’ errant throw and then on a pair of singles from Katie Crogan and Paige Miller.

The Panthers exploded for six runs in the third inning with the key blows coming on a two-run double by Aubrey Drohner and a three-run homer by Halle Pavelski. They scored two more times in the fourth on a ground out and an infield single by Brooke Tuszka.

Jordan Kawlewski, Drohner and Pavelski each had RBI singles in a four-run fifth inning. They added three more runs in the sixth inning. Kawlewski belted an RBI double, and Shaylee Kluck drove in a run with a single in the frame.

The Goslings added a solo run in the sixth inning on another run-producing single by Crogan.

Kawlewski, Drohner, Kluck, Pavelski and Tuszka each collected three hits in the game. Pavelski drove in a game-high five RBI. Rachel Sullivan tied a Division 1 record by scoring five runs in the game, all as a pinch runner. She also tied the tournament record for runs with seven.

Aubrey Drohner was credited with the victory, pitching a complete game. She surrendered 11 hits and struck out one.

Crogan led the Goslings’ 11-hit attack with two hits and a pair of RBIs. Miller also connected for a pair of hits.

The Goslings finish runner-up for the second straight year. They have played in nine State Tournaments.

DIVISION 2

New Berlin West 2, Delavan-Darien 1

New Berlin West (26-5) edged Delavan-Darien (25-7) 2-1 in the Division 2 final to win its first State title Saturday at Goodman Diamond in Madison.

Camryn Klotz delivered the big hit for the Vikings to ignite a two-run third inning. She belted a line drive into the right field corner for a triple to score Leah Marrari, who walked to lead off the inning. Cheyenne Sowinski drove in Klotz with a base hit to score the second run in the inning.

The lone Comets’ run came in the fifth inning. Shelby Gramly singled to score Sydney Anderson, who singled to lead off the inning and advanced to second on passed ball.

Sowinski was credited with the victory for the Vikings. She struck out four hitters and allowed five hits. She aided her cause at the plate with two hits and an RBI. Klotz also collected a pair of hits in the game.

Jennah Speth took the loss despite setting a State Tournament record with 36 strikeouts in two games. She struck out 14 Vikings and yielded five hits. The Comets recorded five hits in the game, all singles.

DIVISION 3

Laconia 3, Grantsburg 2

Laconia (29-0) finishes the season undefeated en route to its second straight Division 3 State championship with a 3-2 win over Grantsburg (26-3) in the final at Goodman Diamond in Madison, Wis.

Grantsburg got on the board first with an unearned run in the top of the first inning on a throwing error. The Vikings manufactured a run to score again and lead 2-0 in the third inning. Britta Roufs drew a lead-off walk, stole second a

Division 2, 3 & 4 Teams Advance to State Softball Finals

DIVISION 2

Delavan-Darien 1, Northwestern/South Shore 0 (9)

Delavan-Darien rode the arm of Jennah Speth to advance to the Division 2 final with a 1-0 triumph over Northwestern/South Shore in nine innings. The game was suspended in the eighth inning Thursday evening and completed Friday morning.

Speth recorded a State Tournament record 22 strikeouts in the game. She yielded just two hits and one walk in the game. Only two Tiger base runners advanced to second base.

The lone run scored in the game was unearned. With one out in the top of the ninth, Speth reached second on a two-base error in the outfield. Morgyn DeLara, who had both the Comets’ hits, followed with an RBI single through the left side of the infield to score the eventual winning run.

The shutout spoiled a quality pitching performance by the Tigers’ Cheyenne Johnson, who didn’t allow an earned run on two hits, striking out 15 batters. The Tigers’ two hits were singles off the bats of Cassidy Friend and Brooklyn Oswskey.

New Berlin West 4, New London 3

New Berlin West (25-5) advances to the Division 2 final following a 4-3 win over New London (25-5) in the semifinals Friday morning.

The Vikings scored in the first inning on a Charlotte Ropas RBI single. She drove in another run in the third inning to give West a 2-0 lead. In the fourth inning, the Vikings expanded their lead to 3-0 on an RBI single by Cheyenne Sowinski.

West added what proved to be an important insurance run in the sixth. Ropas drove in her third run of the game with single to the left side.

The Bulldogs got on the board in the sixth inning. McCoy Mix delivered a run-scoring single. After Abbey Elsholtz scored on a wild pitch, Erin O’Connell clubbed an RBI double to left center to narrow the deficit to 4-3. The next two hitters grounded out to end the New London rally.

Sowinski and Ropas each had two hits top pace the Vikings’ offense. Sowinski was also credited with the victory, tossing a complete game with eight strikeouts.

Molly O’Connell collected two hits to lead the eight-hit Bulldogs’ offense. O’Connell was charged with the loss, yielding seven hits and striking out 12.

DIVISION 3

Grantsburg 10, Poynette 0 (5)

Grantsburg (26-2) scored runs in four of the five innings in a 10-0 win over Poynette in the Division 3 semifinals Thursday afternoon.

Olivia Tucker fired a three-hit shutout for the Pirates. She struck out nine and allowed just one runner to reach second base in the game.

The only run Tucker needed came in the second inning when Rhiana Pochman was hit by a pitch to force in a run. The Pirates added two runs in both the third and fourth innings. Megan Miller drove in one of the runs in the third and Briena Jensen dr

Four Advance to Div. 1 State Softball Semifinals

Stevens Point 8, Kenosha Tremper 3

Stevens Point advances to the semifinals with an 8-3 win over Kenosha Tremper Thursday in a game that included a 2:11 rain delay Thursday.

The Panthers (27-3) jumped out to a five-run lead in the first inning with the first five batters reaching base. The big blow in the frame was an RBI double to center by Brooke Tuszka.

They added a pair of runs in the second inning on a two-run home run by Aubrey Drohner to expand the lead to 7-0. After the Trojans (17-11) scored a run on an RBI single by Emilee Nelson the third inning, the Panthers added a run in the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly by Payton Graber to lead 8-1.

Tremper scored a run in the fifth inning on an RBI single by Hailey Crabtree, and on a home run by Amari Whittington in the sixth. The Trojans loaded the bases with one out later in the inning but were unable to capitalize.

Ally Miklesh, Jordan Kawlewski and Shaylee Kluck and Brittney Flugaur each had a pair of hits for the Panthers. Drohner went the distance to record the victory. Nelson and Crabtree led the Trojans at the plate with two hits apiece.

Pulaski 8, Divine Savior Holy Angels 0

Liz Pautz pitched a gem to toss the 10^th no-hitter in State Tournament history as Pulaski (27-1) defeated Divine Savior Holy Angels (22-7) 8-0 in the quarterfinals to advance to the semifinals Friday evening.

Mallory Ruechel provided the only runs needed by driving in two runs with a single to give the Red Raiders a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Rylie Anklam drove in a run with a single to give Pulaski a 3-0 lead.

The Red Raiders scored two in the second inning. Jena Socha brought in a run with a sacrifice fly and Madi Winter doubled to right to increase the lead to 5-0.

Pulaski scored two more runs in the fifth inning on an RBI single by Ashley Gibbons and on an error. The Red Raiders added more insurance with a run in the sixth inning on a RBI triple by Winter.

Pautz tied a Division 1 record with 16 strikeouts, allowing just one base runner to advance to third base in the game.

Offensively, Winter collected three hits with a pair of doubles, and Anklam added two hits to lead the Red Raiders.

Watertown 7, Verona 1

Watertown (21-7) advances to the semifinals following a 7-1 victory over Verona (22-7) in the quarterfinals.

Ellee Jensen went 4-for-4 at the plate and tossed a three-hitter with seven strikeouts to lead the Goslings to victory.

Katie Crogan drove in a run in the first inning, and Jensen added an RBI single in the second inning to give Watertown a 2-0 advantage. The Goslings took control of the game with two unearned runs in the fifth inning and three more in the sixth. Megan Bacchi provided the key hit in the sixth with a two-run single.

The lone Wildcats’ run came in the seventh inning

State Softball Tournament Preview

The 41st Annual Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association State Softball Tournament will take place Thursday-Saturday, June 9-11, at Goodman Diamond on the University of Wisconsin campus in Madison, Wis. Ticket prices for the tourney are $8 per session for quarterfinals and semifinals, $6 for each championship game and $14 for an all-day ticket on Thursday and Friday. Tickets are available at the stadium or online with a convenience fee per session ticket:

http://www.expressoticketing.com/wiaa/pickevent.aspx?ECN=14

Softball, Spring Baseball Tournament Series Brackets Posted

The 2016 Softball and Spring Baseball Tournament Series Brackets have been posted on the WIAA website. To access the softball brackets, click on the link below. Use the links at the top of the bracket to view the other divisions and sectionals.

http://halftime.wiaawi.org/CustomApps/Tournaments/Brackets/HTML/2016_Softball_Girls_Div1_Sec1_8.html

To access the spring baseball brackets, click on the link below. Use the links at the top of the bracket to view the other divisions and sectionals.

http://halftime.wiaawi.org/CustomApps/Tournaments/Brackets/HTML/2016_Baseball_Boys_Div1_Sec1_4.html

The State Softball Tournament will be held at Goodman Diamond in Madison on June 9-11. The State Spring Baseball Tournament is scheduled for June 14-16 at Neuroscience Group Field at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute.