POYNETTE - With two games separating the Brodhead softball team from a berth at state, the Cardinals faced an opponent undaunted by big games. However it was the Cardinals, not the Poynette Pumas, the 2011 Division 3 state champion and D3 runners-up last year, who came up clutch Tuesday night. Brodhead broke up a tied game in the fifth inning and held on to win, 4-3.
"They're always one of the best in the state," Brodhead coach BJ Bockhop said of Poynette. "Their coach has been there almost 40 years. They've won state titles. Not too many teams can say they were able to beat a Bob Tomlinson-coached team."
Poynette got on the board first, scoring a run in the top half of the second inning. The Cardinals responded quickly though, scoring two in the bottom half of the inning when Tabby Harnack scored off an error on an Amber Pickel bunt and Taurie Burns proceeded to knock in Harnack. The Cards expanded their lead to 3-1 in the third when Harnack drove in Burns for a second time. Poynette tied the game back up in the fourth with two runs, before Harnack drove in Burns for a third time in the bottom of the fifth in what proved to be the deciding run of the game.
Bockhop said that his team remained confident even after Poynette evened the game back up in the fourth.
"We didn't get flustered at all tonight," he said. "We knew with our gameplan coming in we'd be okay. We came in thinking we were the better team. We came in with that attitude where we knew if it was close in the late innings we'd be able to get a clutch hit."
Amanda Pickel started on the mound for Brodhead. Although Pickel walked seven and hit three batters, she was able to minimize the damage.
"She wasn't too far off. There was a tight zone and she just could not get in rhythm. Fortunately, our defense helped her out a lot tonight," said Bockhop.
Having knocked off the Pumas, just one game stands between Brodhead (17-8) and a berth at the state tournament. Fortunately for the Cardinals, that game will be played in their own backyards, as they will host Mineral Point in the sectional final on Thursday. Bockhop said that it was exciting to be playing for a sectional championship at home, but he also knows that defeating the Pointers and star player Beth Wood won't be easy
"It feels great. We host the sectional final. We're home against Mineral Point. We have homefield advantage. Hopefully we can deliver," he said. "Wood is a phenomenal pitcher and she hit over .600 in conference. If we can keep her bat down and get some hits off her, we could end up in Madison."
In Division 4 play, Belmont knocked off Monticello, 4-3.
Monticello junior Claire Bruns pitched five innings and gave up one run on eight hits. Monticello sophomore Courtney Leuzinger pitched two innings in releif and gave up three runs on two hits.
The Ponies led 3-1 going into the seventh and the Braves stunned them with three runs.
Monticello finished the season as Six Rivers East co-champions and won a regional title by knocking off Barneveld 7-4.
"They're always one of the best in the state," Brodhead coach BJ Bockhop said of Poynette. "Their coach has been there almost 40 years. They've won state titles. Not too many teams can say they were able to beat a Bob Tomlinson-coached team."
Poynette got on the board first, scoring a run in the top half of the second inning. The Cardinals responded quickly though, scoring two in the bottom half of the inning when Tabby Harnack scored off an error on an Amber Pickel bunt and Taurie Burns proceeded to knock in Harnack. The Cards expanded their lead to 3-1 in the third when Harnack drove in Burns for a second time. Poynette tied the game back up in the fourth with two runs, before Harnack drove in Burns for a third time in the bottom of the fifth in what proved to be the deciding run of the game.
Bockhop said that his team remained confident even after Poynette evened the game back up in the fourth.
"We didn't get flustered at all tonight," he said. "We knew with our gameplan coming in we'd be okay. We came in thinking we were the better team. We came in with that attitude where we knew if it was close in the late innings we'd be able to get a clutch hit."
Amanda Pickel started on the mound for Brodhead. Although Pickel walked seven and hit three batters, she was able to minimize the damage.
"She wasn't too far off. There was a tight zone and she just could not get in rhythm. Fortunately, our defense helped her out a lot tonight," said Bockhop.
Having knocked off the Pumas, just one game stands between Brodhead (17-8) and a berth at the state tournament. Fortunately for the Cardinals, that game will be played in their own backyards, as they will host Mineral Point in the sectional final on Thursday. Bockhop said that it was exciting to be playing for a sectional championship at home, but he also knows that defeating the Pointers and star player Beth Wood won't be easy
"It feels great. We host the sectional final. We're home against Mineral Point. We have homefield advantage. Hopefully we can deliver," he said. "Wood is a phenomenal pitcher and she hit over .600 in conference. If we can keep her bat down and get some hits off her, we could end up in Madison."
In Division 4 play, Belmont knocked off Monticello, 4-3.
Monticello junior Claire Bruns pitched five innings and gave up one run on eight hits. Monticello sophomore Courtney Leuzinger pitched two innings in releif and gave up three runs on two hits.
The Ponies led 3-1 going into the seventh and the Braves stunned them with three runs.
Monticello finished the season as Six Rivers East co-champions and won a regional title by knocking off Barneveld 7-4.
