SOFTBALL: Wilmot shuts down top-ranked Broncos

Junior Kalyssa Koehn scored one of three runs in the Lady Panthers' 3-0 shutout of host Union Grove Wednesday (Submitted/The Report).
Junior Kalyssa Koehn scored one of three runs in the Lady Panthers’ 3-0 shutout of host Union Grove Wednesday (Submitted/The Report).

By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer

Against the No. 1 ranked team in Wisconsin, Wilmot softball coach Pat Dopke stated they could compete with any school, even Union Grove.

After Sarah Hutchinson’s stellar pitching performance against Westosha Central a week earlier, where the Lady Panthers put a scare into the state title holders, the junior hurler shut down the Broncos 3-0 Wednesday.

Hutchinson tossed all seven innings, held Union Grove to three hits, struck out five and walked only one to pick up the win.

At the plate, Hutchinson went 1 for 3 with a solo home run in the top of the fourth inning.

“Sarah had an awesome game, a great game all around,” Dopke said. “Including that big home run.”

With Wilmot at a 2-0 edge entering the fourth inning, Hutchinson helped her own cause, belting a leadoff solo home run off Broncos’ losing pitcher Allie Trudeau, who lasted three innings before getting yanked.

Through three innings, Trudeau allowed three earned runs on two hits, walked two and struck out five.

Entering play, Hutchinson knew how difficult the entire Union Grove lineup is, and vowed to battle against the top-ranked team in the state.

“They have a strong lineup all the way through, so you have to stay on your toes,” Hutchinson said.

Additionally, she believed it is a step in the right direction after a season of growth.

“It feels really good and it is nice to come through and put it all together,” Hutchinson added.

Wilmot pushed the Broncos early, courtesy of a two-run first inning, starting with a Sam Schloegl leadoff walk.

Schloegl, who went 1 for 3, advanced to third on a Montana Platts sacrifice.

Following the Platts sacrifice, junior Kalyssa Koehn hit a grounder, which led to a Schloegl run down between third and home plate but returned to third safely.

In the next at bat, junior Riley Regnier singled in Koehn and Schloegl to cap off the inning.

The shutout win did not come as a surprise to Dopke, noting last week’s showdown against Westosha Central, when the Lady Panthers lost 3-2.

“We can play with anybody,” Dopke said. “We have always battled Union Grove and we got them early tonight.”

“I am really proud of the way we did, and hope this carries into the post-season,” Dopke said.

In an ironic twist, the Lady Panthers’ win gives cross-town rival Westosha Central an outright Southern Lakes Conference title.

Dopke acknowledged it might have been a possibility after discussions with Westosha Central personnel last week.

“As much as the girls don’t like it, it is the way it happened,” Dopke said.

Wilmot jumped to 13-10 overall after Wednesday’s game.


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