MADISON — Brodhead went down fighting in an effort to defend its title as WIAA Division 3 state champion. This year, however, the second-seeded Cardinals left the bases loaded with the heart of its order up, losing 4-1 to 3-seed Prescott in a state semifinal game June 7.

“The bottom of the order did a great job of turning the lineup over,” Brodhead head coach Steve Krupke said of walks from Tatum Ceslok and Tessa Kloepping. “All of us were barreling the ball. Prescott put a nice inning together and strung some nice hits together, but we never strung any hits together. What this group did, I wouldn’t change a thing. They showed up ready. I just wish better for them.”

Brodhead proved up to the task early, as starting pitcher Ava Risum worked out of a first-inning jam. After a leadoff strikeout, Prescott first baseman Rory Zuehlsdorf tripled to right. Risum bore down, striking out Leah French on a 3-2 changeup and then Megan Ricther on four pitches.

But Prescott’s Ella Stewart also faced four batters in the bottom of the frame. Sophia Leitzen led off with a single to left that Lydia Feran nearly made a diving catch on. Jaelyn Hilliard moved Leitzen into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt, but Stewart retired Risum and Leah Rear.

In the top of the second, Cadyn Hillebrand worked a leadoff, full-count walk. It was the first free pass Risum issued in 81 batters, dating back to Brodhead’s regional semifinal win over Columbus on May 21. Stewart then moved Hillebrand over with a sacrifice bunt. Risum nearly escaped the inning unscathed, striking out Talli Roth for the second out, but Grace Ptacek lined an RBI double to center to put Prescott up 1-0.

After a four-batter inning from Brodhead, Prescott threatened again in the third. No. 1 hitter Kelsey Sterud reached on a bunt single that died right in front of catcher Jerrica Schwartz. Although Risum got Zuehlsdorf to fly out, Sterud moved into scoring position with a ball in the dirt. Risum’s change up retired French for the second time, and Leitzen ended the inning catching a pop up on the infield.

Stewart made quick work of Brodhead in the third, as she retired Kloepping and Leitzen on two pitches. Hilliard extended the inning by drawing a 3-2 walk, but Risum popped up in foul territory to end the frame.

It wasn’t until the bottom of the fourth that Brodhead scored. Rear led off with a bloop single in no-man’s land behind first base. Stewart retired Allie Dahl and Schwartz, but Ceslok came through with a two-out RBI single that hugged the right field line.

“Her first at bat was a very good at bat too — she flirted with 10 pitches I’m guessing,” Krupke said of Ceslok’s first at-bat. “She saw a lot of pitches, and that helps in the next at bat.”

Solid defensive plays retired Prescott’s bottom of the order in the fifth, keeping the game knotted at one. Dahl snagged a ball up the middle and made a throw off her back foot. Sterud, who reached on a bunt single in the third, attempted another bunt. Risum was on the ball this time, throwing to Dahl at first for the out.

“I didn’t want to see that top of the order come up ever again. Getting those first two outs — you can afford to make a mistake here or there and not get hurt too bad,” Krupke said.

After two stellar defensive plays, Brodhead let a ball drop between three fielders to extend the inning. French, who was 0-for-2 with two strikeouts, doubled to right to put runners on second and third. Risum bore down and got Megan Ricther to fly out on three pitches.

“This team has always had each other’s backs,” Krupke said. “Someone makes a mistake, someone else steps up for them.”

Prescott left another runner stranded on third in the sixth, as Risum struck out the final two batters. It wasn’t until the top of the seventh that Prescott cashed in. After a pop up to Ceslok at first, Risum hit leadoff batter Sterud. Zuehlsdorf, who finished 3-for-4, singled through the left side and Sterud went from first to third on a bobble by Karli Krumwiede in left. Krupke elected to intentionally walk No. 3 batter French to create a force out at each bag, but Ricther made Brodhead pay with a bases-clearing double to left. Risum left Ricther stranded, striking out Hellebrand and getting Stewart to ground out.

Down to their last outs in the bottom of the seventh, No. 7 batter Ceslok drew a five-pitch walk. Krumwiede nearly grounded into a double play, as Zuehlsdorf fielded the ball, stepped on first and fired to second to get Ceslok on a tag. Richter bobbled the ball, as Ceslok slid in safely. Kloepping drew a four-pitch walk, turning the order over to the top. Leitzen singled up the middle, loading the bases for Hilliard. Normally a left-handed slapper, Hilliard switched to swing away from the right side of the plate. She struck out looking, leaving it up to Risum. The game nearly ended on a pop up in foul territory, but catcher French and third baseman Jeanne Rohl collided, knocking the ball out of Rohl’s glove. Instead, Risum flew out to center to end the contest.

Leitzen led the Cardinal offense, going 2-for-4. Ceslok drove in the lone run, going 1-for-2 with an RBI and a walk. Risum suffered the loss, giving up four earned runs on nine hits. She struck out nine and walked two. 

Zuehlsdorf paced Prescott, going 3-for-4 with a run scored. French and Hillebrand were the only other batters to reach twice with a hit and walk each. Stewart got the win, giving up one earned run on six hits. She struck out four and walked three.

Brodhead ended its season with a 19-5 record, winning back-to-back conference titles and making its second straight appearance in the Division 3 state tournament. The senior class of Hilliard, Kloepping, Schwartz and Leitzen compiled an 81-15 record.

“This group of seniors is probably the winningest in Brodhead softball, and that says a lot,” Krupke said. “That tells the whole story right there. I’m really proud of this group. I know a lot of coaches say that. This is my 16th or 17th year, and this is the best group I’ve ever had. They were a really bright spot in my life for the last four or five months.” 

Prescott advanced to the WIAA Division 3 state championship against 4-seed Laconia. The Spartans knocked off top-seeded Mishicot 3-2 with three runs in the top of the seventh. It was The Indians’ first loss of the season. In the championship game, Prescott defeated Laconia 3-1 for the program’s first state softball title.