Behind a two-homer day by Taylor Smola, Stevens Point knocked off defending WIAA Division 1 state champion today in Schofield.
Smola hit a two-run blast to break up a 3-3 game in the top of the fifth inning and SPASH held on from there to earn another trip to the state tournament. Smola had hit a solo shot in the top of the second to tie the game at 1-1.
Kayla Bowe opened the game's scoring with a one-out solo blast in the bottom of the first inning.
Angela Lange picked up the hard-earned win for the Panthers. She allowed jsut four hits, struck out three including two in the bottom of the seventh. Shelby Crank absorbed the loss for the defending champions.
"I'm pretty pumped right now," said SPASH Head Coach Tom Drohner. "That's a great team that we just beat."
The sectional title sends SPASH to the state tournament for the 11th time in Drohner's career. They will be looking to win the 8th state title in that time span. Chippewa Falls ended a four-year run to the state tournament.
This year's sectional pools marked the first time that these two schools were grouped together in the same sectional. SPASH's departure opened up the door for other teams from the sectional to the east, won this year by Oshkosh West.
SPASH will now play Germantown in the Division 1 quarter final at 9:00 am on Thursday.
In Chippewa Falls earlier in the day Shell Lake held on for a 3-2 win over Pepin/Alma. Leading 3-0 heading to the seventh inning, Shell Lake saw Pepin/Alma's Breanna Ellison hit her 7th home run of the season but the Eagles could not get the tying run home after.
Word from the Assumption vs Newman Catholic sectional final has not been received as of this time.
According to the WIAA website, Belmont and New Lisbon will play a Sunday game in Boscobel. That game starts at 3 PM. The winner advances to the state tournament next weekend.
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