Make it Five in a Row for the Bulldogs
For the fifth year in a row, the New London Bulldogs softball team will be ending their season in Madison at the state tournament. The Bulldogs jumped out to a 7-0 on Denmark early and held on to win 7-4.
Kali Rohan collected two extra-base hits, including a solo home run in the fourth inning, while Leah Porath also rounded the bases with a solo shot of her own.
“That second one felt really good,” said Rohan.
New London was able to take advantage of a few miscues in the field from the Vikings, providing Porath with a comfortable seven-run cushion throughout most of the game.
“I am so happy for this team,” said Leah. “Everyone is so deserving of this opportunity. People dream of getting to state just once, I get to go four times, it is unbelievable.”
Porath cruised for five innings in the circle until the Denmark lineup found success their third time through the order. They would push four unanswered runs across in the sixth, but would be unable to overcome the big deficit.
“Every year we talk about the different team we have and this year, talk of State seemed kind of crazy,” said head coach Tony Porath. “Hopefully we can go down there a get a victory or two.”
For the second year in a row, New London’s senior class will have experienced a state appearance in all four years of their softball careers, a remarkable accomplishment not seen often in high school sports.
“There must be something in the water in New London, but I’ll take it,” said Porath.
New London will face Tuner at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Friday, June 9.
Shiocton Breaks Through in Division 4
For the first time in school history, the Shiocton Chiefs are going to the state tournament in softball. The Chiefs downed Oshkosh Lourdes in the sectional final 6-4.
Shiocton got the scoring going early in the opening inning. Allison Erickson cleared the bases with a three-run double to give the Chiefs the early 3-0 advantage.
“We got off to a quick start,” said Coach Dave Wilcox. “We had a couple of girls that were lower in the lineup come up big for us.”
Erica Gassner hit a solo home run in the second inning and the Chiefs would tack on more runs with a sacrifice fly and a double to push the lead to 6-0.
Oshkosh Lourdes wouldn’t go quietly, striking for four runs in the fifth, but Sydney Wilcox buckled down and shut the door for the final six outs to send the Chiefs to state.
“I took it upon myself to lead by example being the only senior,” said Sydney Wilcox. “We all knew we could do it, but to actually do it, it hasn’t hit us yet.”
Wilcox, recently named Conference Player of the Year in the CWC-8, showed her leadership in the circle by striking out 12 and bouncing back after giving up seven hits.
“Sydney is the cog that turns the wheel,” said Wilcox of this daughter. “We have been so close so many times. This is truly a program win, not just a 2017 Shiocton Softball win.”
Weyauwega-Fremont Rallies for State Appearance
In Division 3, Weyauwega-Fremont had their hands full with Southern Door, falling behind early 3-0 and after four innings, but the Chiefs would rally to eventually rally to take a 5-4 lead after scoring five runs in the fifth inning. Hailey Krause hit the game winning double in the bottom of the 7th to secure the win. Krause and Jenna Knorr led the team going 2 for 4 on the day.
Weyauwega-Fremont returns to state for the first time since 2009 and will play Marshall in the first round on Friday.