BRODHEAD - Brodhead ace pitcher Erika Stampfli has been in a pitcher's duel many times in her career.
But Stampfli couldn't work out of a jam in the bottom of the seventh inning on Tuesday. Poynette senior Brittany Kaltenberg hit a two-out game-winning RBI chopper over Brodhead third baseman Amanda Pickel's head to give the Pumas a thrilling 2-1 win over the Cardinals, in a WIAA Division 3 sectional semifinal.
"Erika threw a heck of a ballgame. Maybe I should have watered down the field more," Brodhead coach Steve Krupke said, after two of the Pumas' hits came on infield choppers. It's a heck of a team. They (Poynette) are No. 1 for a reason. They put the ball in play more than we did. If we would have put the ball in play more we may have got some breaks too."
Stampfli remained confident, even after she walked Samantha Reigel and hit Nicole Prey in the seventh, locked in a game tied at 1. Stampfli pitched a complete game four-hitter. She struck out 11.
"I knew we still had a chance," Stampfli said. "I believed in us. I thought we would pull through it. We really made Poynette earn it."
Brodhead senior Tia Collins went 2 for 3 with two stolen bases to lead the Cardinals. Collins, who will play softball at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay next season, took the loss hard. The Cardinals (20-5) have lost in the sectional final the last two years. With the win, Poynette (25-1) will move on to the sectional title game Friday at Wisconsin Dells where the Pumas will play Onalaska Luther.
"It's heartbreaking," Collins said. "I thought we had the momentum after that inning. I thought we would have been able to pull it out."
Poynette junior Kirsten Tomlinson pitched a complete game three-hitter. She struck out 15.
Tomlinson baffled the Cardinals for the first three innings as she retired the first nine batters she faced. She struck out seven of the first nine hitters. Collins broke up Tomlinson's no-hit bid in the fourth with a bunt single. Tomlinson, who has tossed three no-hitters this season, used a tantalizing rise ball to record several strikeouts. The Cardinals were 0 for 7, hitting with runners in scoring position and left five on base.
"She throws hard and hits her spots," Krupke said of Tomlinson. "Speed is part of it. Location is a huge part of it too. She doesn't make mistakes. She doesn't give you anything to drive. She's the best we have seen."
The game looked like it may have been headed to extra innings after the Cardinals rallied from a 1-0 deficit to tie it in the seventh. Brodhead senior Mariah Mohns lined a single to right. Stampfli hit a grounder to Poynette shortstop Tiffany Brisky, who flipped to second base, but Mohns beat the throw. Brodhead's Shi Strommen walked to load the bases. Brodhead's Jana Covert then came through with a suicide squeeze bunt that rolled about seven feet from home plate. Mohns scored the game-tying run before Poynette catcher Holly Hornback could come out and field the ball and get back to the plate for a force out.
"I was jumping up and down I was so excited," Collins said. "It was real clutch."
Poynette coach Bob Tomlinson is retiring at the end of the school year from Poynette. He is in his 32nd year coaching softball and he still has a passion to coach next season.
"I don't have anything to prove," Tomlinson said. "These girls have something to prove. I want to be coaching softball some place. I'm a 24-7 and 365 a day softball guy."
But Stampfli couldn't work out of a jam in the bottom of the seventh inning on Tuesday. Poynette senior Brittany Kaltenberg hit a two-out game-winning RBI chopper over Brodhead third baseman Amanda Pickel's head to give the Pumas a thrilling 2-1 win over the Cardinals, in a WIAA Division 3 sectional semifinal.
"Erika threw a heck of a ballgame. Maybe I should have watered down the field more," Brodhead coach Steve Krupke said, after two of the Pumas' hits came on infield choppers. It's a heck of a team. They (Poynette) are No. 1 for a reason. They put the ball in play more than we did. If we would have put the ball in play more we may have got some breaks too."
Stampfli remained confident, even after she walked Samantha Reigel and hit Nicole Prey in the seventh, locked in a game tied at 1. Stampfli pitched a complete game four-hitter. She struck out 11.
"I knew we still had a chance," Stampfli said. "I believed in us. I thought we would pull through it. We really made Poynette earn it."
Brodhead senior Tia Collins went 2 for 3 with two stolen bases to lead the Cardinals. Collins, who will play softball at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay next season, took the loss hard. The Cardinals (20-5) have lost in the sectional final the last two years. With the win, Poynette (25-1) will move on to the sectional title game Friday at Wisconsin Dells where the Pumas will play Onalaska Luther.
"It's heartbreaking," Collins said. "I thought we had the momentum after that inning. I thought we would have been able to pull it out."
Poynette junior Kirsten Tomlinson pitched a complete game three-hitter. She struck out 15.
Tomlinson baffled the Cardinals for the first three innings as she retired the first nine batters she faced. She struck out seven of the first nine hitters. Collins broke up Tomlinson's no-hit bid in the fourth with a bunt single. Tomlinson, who has tossed three no-hitters this season, used a tantalizing rise ball to record several strikeouts. The Cardinals were 0 for 7, hitting with runners in scoring position and left five on base.
"She throws hard and hits her spots," Krupke said of Tomlinson. "Speed is part of it. Location is a huge part of it too. She doesn't make mistakes. She doesn't give you anything to drive. She's the best we have seen."
The game looked like it may have been headed to extra innings after the Cardinals rallied from a 1-0 deficit to tie it in the seventh. Brodhead senior Mariah Mohns lined a single to right. Stampfli hit a grounder to Poynette shortstop Tiffany Brisky, who flipped to second base, but Mohns beat the throw. Brodhead's Shi Strommen walked to load the bases. Brodhead's Jana Covert then came through with a suicide squeeze bunt that rolled about seven feet from home plate. Mohns scored the game-tying run before Poynette catcher Holly Hornback could come out and field the ball and get back to the plate for a force out.
"I was jumping up and down I was so excited," Collins said. "It was real clutch."
Poynette coach Bob Tomlinson is retiring at the end of the school year from Poynette. He is in his 32nd year coaching softball and he still has a passion to coach next season.
"I don't have anything to prove," Tomlinson said. "These girls have something to prove. I want to be coaching softball some place. I'm a 24-7 and 365 a day softball guy."
