WIAA SOFTBALL: Panthers pitching, defense lead to regional championship

No. 2 seed Wilmot, which won the WIAA Division 1 regional title, hosts No. 3 Janesville Craig Tuesday in the sectional semifinal Tuesday (Jason Arndt/The Report).

No. 2 Wilmot hosts No. 3 Janesville Craig Tuesday

By Jason Arndt
Editor

In two regular season meetings, the Wilmot Union High School softball team swept Southern Lakes Conference opponent Union Grove 26-12, but Friday’s WIAA Division 1 regional championship contest brought a battle in the pitcher’s circle.

The Panthers, however, won the battle as they defeated Union Grove 2-1 to claim the regional title and advance to Tuesday’s sectional semifinal against No. 3 Janesville Craig.

With the victory,  No. 2 seed Wilmot extends its win streak to 12 games, dating back to the second game of a doubleheader against Delavan-Darien May 3.

Wilmot pitcher Sarah Hutchinson, who held the Broncos to three hits, struck out two and walked two through seven innings.

Aside from one pitch in the fourth inning, when Hutchinson allowed a solo home run to Brooklyn Ottelein, the Panthers’ defense helped Hutchinson seal the win.

Ottelein, who allowed six hits through six innings, had two unearned runs and struck out three to take the loss for Union Grove.

“Our bats were a little quiet today, which is okay, because our defense came up huge,” said Panthers’ coach Jennifer Jacobson. “Defense definitely won this game for us, Sarah pitched really well.”

Additionally, Hutchinson helped herself in the bottom of the first inning, when the pitcher advanced on a fielding error to score sophomore Haley Lamberson and junior Montana Platts.

Platts went 2-for-3 to lead the Panthers.

In the next six innings, the Panthers mustered four hits, despite making contact.

“We were hitting the ball hard, but right at somebody, so it wasn’t like the couple times against these guys,” Jacobson said.

Next for No. 2 seed Wilmot is a sectional semifinal clash with No. 3 Janesville Craig (20-4).

Last year, the Panthers defeated Janesville Craig 16-1 in three innings to capture the regional title.

“We are ready for it,” Jacobson said. “These girls are ready for it, just got to keep working hard.”

No. 7 Union Grove concludes its season at 10-14.


Posted

in

,

by

Tags: