Madison, Wis. – Champions were determined in five Divisions at the State Softball Tournament at Goodman Diamond Saturday.
Top-seeded Kaukauna (30-0) won its third straight championship in Division 1 and its 81st consecutive game with a 4-0 win over Superior (27-1) in the championship game.
Karly Meredith was the catalyst offensively and in the circle. She fired a complete-game, five-hit shutout. She also drove in two runs with an RBI double in the third inning to give the Galloping Ghosts a 3-0 advantage. Kally Meredith scored three of the team’s four runs and added a single offensively.
Kaukauna wins its fifth championship in as many appearances in the State Tournament, and Superior finishes runner-up in its sixth State experience.
Defending champion and second-seeded Freedom (27-2) blanked fourth-seeded New London (19-7) 8-0 in the title game to win its second championship in a row in Division 2.
The Irish pushed across four runs in the fourth inning to take control of the game. Rachel Koss belted the big blow in the inning with a double driving in a pair of runs. Koss, Kaia McVay and Rylie Murphy each led the offense with two hits. Peyton VandeLoo tossed a five-hit shutout to be credited with the victory in the circle.
Freedom wins its second championship in four State appearances, and New London finishes runner-up in its eighth experience at State.
In Division 3, top-seeded Brodhead (27-2) won the championship by edging third-seeded Mayville (20-5) 1-0 in eight innings.
The two teams hooked up in a pitchers’ duel, and Mckenna Young came out on top, hurling eight innings to get the complete-game victory for Brodhead. She yielded just two hits and struck out 16 in the game. The only run of the game was scored by Taetum Hoesly, who collected three hits in the game. She scored the game-winner on a walk-off double by Jerrica Schwartz. Allie Dahl also contributed with two hits in the game.
Brodhead has now won two championships in their two State Tournament appearances, and Mayville finishes second in its fifth trip to State.
Fourth-seeded Iola-Scandinavia (23-9) displayed an impressive offensive arsenal in a comeback 10-6 victory over third-seeded Waterloo (16-6) in the Division 4 title game.
Trailing 6-3 in the top of the seventh inning, the Thunderbirds exploded for seven runs – highlighted by an inside-the-park grand slam by Brooklyn Berrens.
The Thunderbirds collected a Division 4 record 17 hits in the game. Maddie Much led the way with a tournament-record five hits, including a double. Clara Koles and Ava Printz each had three hits. Much was also credit with the victory in the circle.
Grace Marty collected three of the 11 hits in the game for the Pirates, and Emma Baumann drove in three runs with a pair of hits.
Iola-Scandinavia wins its first softball championship after making its first-ever appearance at State last season. Waterloo finishes runner-up in its first-ever appearance in the State Tournament.
In Division 5, top-seeded Pacelli (28-1) defeated third-seeded Oakfield (25-4) in the first championship game of the day, 9-6.
After scoring two runs in the first inning, the Cardinals took control of the game with five runs in the second inning. Hannah Trzinski delivered the big hit in the frame with a three-run triple. The Oaks scored five times in the final three innings to close the deficit to within three runs.
Trzinski drove in four runs with her two hits and was credited with the victory in the circle. Katy Ilkka, Sydney Gavin and Kaylin Yenter also had two hits for the Cardinals.
Savannah Tapp led Oakfield with three hits and Stella Hofman and Aly Lamonska each chipped in with two hits apiece.
Pacelli wins its fourth State championship in its 11th appearance in the tournament, and Oakfield finishes runner-up in its 16th State appearance, which ranks second-most of any member school.
Complete Tournament Results & Boxscores