The Fastpitch Chronicle

The greatest thing every year at the WIAA State Softball Tournament is that every team playing on this day has made it to the Final Four. Of course six teams on day one have also made it to the Final Four. 

The Division 1 teams that advance to the state tournament must win a game to be in the Final Four. The quarter finals in D1 are akin to the sectional final level in the other four divisions.

Action got underway with two of the three private schools from Wisconsin Rapids and Stevens Point. This game was a five-inning contest with Stevens Point Pacelli beating Wisconsin Rapids Assumption 10-0

Here are the box scores and play-by-play report of that game.

The next three games were "barn-burners."

In the first Division 3 Semi-final undefeated and top seeded Mishicot took on Laconia. It was a tight game all the way with Mishicot getting a run in the first and adding a second run in the bottom of the sixth. In the top of the seventh Laconia rallied when  Gwen Westphal was hit hit by a pitch. Kaylee Taplin, the DP then fouled out to 1b. Cambree Johnson then reached on a fielder's choice with Westphal being out at second 6-4. With two outs  Wiercinski pinch ran for Johnson. When shortstop and leadoff batter Emma Bohn bounced a one-hop shot into the glove of third sacker Karsyn Krause the game appeared to be over. However Krause's throw to first was way off line and wound up bouncing off the dugout into short rightfield allowin Bohn to reach second and advanced to second; Wiercinski advanced to third. Then pitcher Addison Pluim helped her own cause with a double to left field tying the game.  Rightfielder Aubrey Mauer then singled sending Pluim home with the lead and eventual game winner. Mishicot threatened in the bottom of the seventh when first sacker Katelyn Callahan collected her fourth hit and second triple of the game with two outs but Pluim coaxed a pop out to third to end Mishicot's run at a Division 3 title.

Here is the box score and play-by-play 

Next up was #2 seeded and defending champion Brodhead pitted against Prescott. In the second  inning Prescott scored the game's first run when Cadyn Hillebrand drew a base on balls and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by pitcher Ella Stewart. Rightfielder Grace Ptacek then singled sending Stewart racing home. In the Brodhead third the Cardinals knotted the game when third sacker Leah Rear singled to right field. Schwartz grounded out to 1b unassisted but  Rear advanced to second. When Tatum Ceslok singled down the rightfield line Rear scored. In the Prescott seventh three runs crossed to make the score 4-1. Rohl popped up to 1b. Sterud hit by pitch. Zuehlsdorf singled to left field; Sterud advanced to second, advanced to third on an error by lf. French intentionally walked; Zuehlsdorf advanced to second. Blomquist pinch ran for French. Richter doubled to center field, 3 RBI; Blomquist scored; Zuehlsdorf scored; Sterud scored. Hillebrand struck out looking. Stewart grounded out to 2b.

Here is the box score and play-by-play from the WIAA game report

Division 2 Semi-Final 
#4 seeded Lake Mills vs #1 seeded Mosinee and what a game it was. Lake Mills got off to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first with Mosinee scoring one in the bottom of the third. Lake Mills countered with a single run in the ensuing half inning but Mosinee got one more in the following inning then erupted in the bottom of the fifth with seven runs including an inside-the-park home in the gap in leftcenter. But Lake Mills would not go away. The Capitol North champions scored three in the top of the sixth including a two-run homer over the 218 marker in leftcenter to make it 9-8. Then in the top of the 7th Lake Mills knotted the game at 9-all when Emily Wallin hit an rbi double. However Mosinee closed it out with a sacrifice fly to left to advance to the title game.

Here is the box score and play-by-play on the WIAA website

Game #2 in the Division 2 
Waupun 2, New Berlin Eisenhower 1

Here is the box score and play-by-play

Division 1 Semi Finals

Kenosha Bradford 1, Watertown 0

Here is the box score and play-by-play from the WIAA website

Milton 5, Kaukauna 3

The Ghosts drew first blood in the bottom of the first when Paige Bodenheimer  singled up the middle then stole second base. Karly Meredith grounded out to 2b and Bodenheimer advanced to third. Gwen Baker then got Taryn Christopher to strike out looking. Jozy Ebben then followed with a  single to left field scoring Bodenheimer.

The Red Hawks didn't fold up though. In the top of the third Lynden Briggs reached first on an error at shortstop and pitcher Gwen Baker pushed her on to second with a sacrifice bunt. Olivia Schuetz entered as a courtesy runner for Baker and Kylie Reed with one out moved Briggs to third with a one-out sacrifice bunt. When Ella Noble laced a Karly Meredith offering into the leftcenter field gap scoring Briggs. Kenzie Marquardt followed with another double, this one to rightfield. Milton suddenly lead 2-1.

Kaukauna countered in their half of the fifth with two more runs to take a 3-2 lead.  Bodenheimer reached fist on a bunt single.  Meredith followed with a single to left field moving  Bodenheimer  to second. Christopher then bunted to move both runners up a station. Ebben reached on an error at second and advanced to second on the throw. Summer Schmidt's sacrifice bunt sent Meredith home. 

In the Milton seventh things really started to heat up and get interesting. Trailing 3-2 the Red Hawks sent had 8-9-1 for an order that needed to get things going.  Briggs singled. and moved to second on a Meredith wild pitch. Pitcher Gwen Baker drew a base on balls Schuetz entered as a courtesy runner. Reed struck out swinging. Milton chose to give up and out and had Knoble sacrifice bunt and move Schuetz to second and  Briggs to third. Kaukauna intentionally walked Marquardt to load the bases.  Schultz pinch ran for Marquardt. With the game on the line catcher and clean up hitter Jenna Benash stepped in. She singled to right field sending both Briggs and Scheutz home leaving Schultz at second. When Christopher dropped a fly ball Schultz scored and the Red Hawks, just like that had a 5-3 lead. 

Kaukauna had a last chance batting in the bottom of the seventh but Baker had other ideas and retired the Ghosts 1-2-3 and advanced to the championship game on Saturday against Kenosha Bradford.

Here is the box score and play-by-play from the WIAA website.