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 and went to third on a throwing error. She then scored on a passed ball.
The Spartans cut their deficit to 2-1 in the fourth inning when Adrianna Wegner scored from second on a fielder’s choice and an errant throw. They took the lead in the fifth inning. Hannah Grahl singled to lead off the inning and later scored on another Vikings’ throwing error. Payton Kastenschmidt scored from third on what proved to be the winning run on an infield error.
Kayla Schwebke went the distance to get the victory for the Spartans. She allowed six hits while striking out nine. Grahl went 3-for-4 at plate to lead the Laconia offense.
A valiant pitching effort by Olivia Tucker was spoiled. She suffered the loss despite striking out 11 without allowing an earned run. The Vikings collected six hits, all singles.
The Spartans’ second championship comes in their fourth State Tournament appearance. The Vikings finish runner-up in their eighth trip to State.
DIVISION 4
Thorp 9, Southwestern 2
Thorp (28-2) won its first State championship by topping Southwestern (25-2) 9-2 in the Division 4 final Saturday at Goodman Diamond in Madison.
The Cardinals scored first with three runs in the second inning. After Megan Schesel singled in the first run of the game, Cassidy Stroinski singled with two outs to bring in a pair of runs. They increased the lead to 4-0 in the third inning on a Wildcats’ throwing error.
Southwestern got on the board in their half of the third on an RBI single by Madison Kuhl.
Both teams scored in the fourth inning. Taylor Stroinski drew a two-out walk for Thorp and stole second. She then scored on an errant throw with her steal of third base. The Wildcats answered with a solo home run by Claire Splinter.
The Cardinals added two runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to clinch the title. Kaitlyn Tysnik singled in a run in the fourth and Megan Schesel added a sacrifice fly. Jordan Chapman and Elektral Zurakowski produced RBI singles in the sixth to complete the scoring.
Lizzy Schimke went the distance to record the win. She surrender eight hits and struck out eight. Offensively, Zurakowski and Taylor Stroinski each had three hits for the Cardinals.
Katie Fritz and Maddie Kuhl had a pair of hits each for the Wildcats, who finish runner-up in their first State Tournament appearance.