BARNEVELD - Those who expected a repeat of last year's regional matchup between Argyle and Barneveld were led far, far astray.
Last year, senior ace Kayla Coffey willed the Orioles past Barneveld, 2-1, in a pitchers' duel. This year, Argyle (7-11) ran up the light bill in Tuesday's WIAA Division 4 softball regional championship. The Orioles put 21 runs on the scoreboard in a 21-13 slugfest victory.
"We just hit the ball like crazy," Argyle coach Heidi Ganshert said. "There was nothing they could do about it."
Ganshert sent 18 batters to the plate during a 12-run fourth inning that staked fourth-seeded Argyle to a 17-3 lead before top-seeded Barneveld stayed alive with six runs in the bottom half.
The Orioles' top three hitters went 5-for-5 with a walk in the blowout fourth that featured nine hits and five walks issued by makeshift starter Kelsey Clausen.
Senior catcher Kelli Fischer had two hits and two RBI in the fourth, but sent a message earlier when she bashed a no-doubt, two-run homer to left in the second inning.
"I knew it was gone, no question about it," Ganshert said.
Kelsey Ostby and Tina Dammen joined Fischer in collecting three hits apiece.
Argyle freshman starter Kelsey Bartels hung on to get the win, fanning five and walking seven.
DIVISION 4
NO. 1 BURLINGTON CATHOLIC CENTRAL 13, NO. 4 ALBANY 1
The Comets' surface temperature cooled significantly upon entering the Hilltoppers' atmosphere.
Burlington Catholic Central hit the ball with force up and down the lineup and scored five times in the second to take a 7-0 lead from which it would not look back.
The five runs came across after Megan Schulz couldn't haul in a line drive at third base with two outs recorded.
"That's when the floodgates kind of opened," Albany coach Connie Wunschel said.
Albany couldn't scratch out a hit off the Hilltoppers' flame-throwing starter Michelle Smith, but managed two hits in the seventh.
"I told the girls not to define their season by tonight's game," Wunschel said. "I'm terribly impressed with them and what they did this season."
DIVISION 2
NO. 2 BRODHEAD 3, NO. 3 EDGERTON 0
While her performance wasn't quite as dominating as Monroe ace Renee Schuttler's on Tuesday evening, Brodhead freshman Erika Stampfli set up a marquee matchup in pitching a two-hitter against rival Edgerton.
The new Cardinals' ace only allowed four baserunners, as she walked two and fanned six over the distance. Her offense came to life with two runs on a hit in the third. Freshman Tia Collins scored two runs for the Cards, who meet Monroe at Twining Park at 5 p.m. Thursday for a Wisconsin highway 11 showdown with a sectional berth at stake.
Last year, senior ace Kayla Coffey willed the Orioles past Barneveld, 2-1, in a pitchers' duel. This year, Argyle (7-11) ran up the light bill in Tuesday's WIAA Division 4 softball regional championship. The Orioles put 21 runs on the scoreboard in a 21-13 slugfest victory.
"We just hit the ball like crazy," Argyle coach Heidi Ganshert said. "There was nothing they could do about it."
Ganshert sent 18 batters to the plate during a 12-run fourth inning that staked fourth-seeded Argyle to a 17-3 lead before top-seeded Barneveld stayed alive with six runs in the bottom half.
The Orioles' top three hitters went 5-for-5 with a walk in the blowout fourth that featured nine hits and five walks issued by makeshift starter Kelsey Clausen.
Senior catcher Kelli Fischer had two hits and two RBI in the fourth, but sent a message earlier when she bashed a no-doubt, two-run homer to left in the second inning.
"I knew it was gone, no question about it," Ganshert said.
Kelsey Ostby and Tina Dammen joined Fischer in collecting three hits apiece.
Argyle freshman starter Kelsey Bartels hung on to get the win, fanning five and walking seven.
DIVISION 4
NO. 1 BURLINGTON CATHOLIC CENTRAL 13, NO. 4 ALBANY 1
The Comets' surface temperature cooled significantly upon entering the Hilltoppers' atmosphere.
Burlington Catholic Central hit the ball with force up and down the lineup and scored five times in the second to take a 7-0 lead from which it would not look back.
The five runs came across after Megan Schulz couldn't haul in a line drive at third base with two outs recorded.
"That's when the floodgates kind of opened," Albany coach Connie Wunschel said.
Albany couldn't scratch out a hit off the Hilltoppers' flame-throwing starter Michelle Smith, but managed two hits in the seventh.
"I told the girls not to define their season by tonight's game," Wunschel said. "I'm terribly impressed with them and what they did this season."
DIVISION 2
NO. 2 BRODHEAD 3, NO. 3 EDGERTON 0
While her performance wasn't quite as dominating as Monroe ace Renee Schuttler's on Tuesday evening, Brodhead freshman Erika Stampfli set up a marquee matchup in pitching a two-hitter against rival Edgerton.
The new Cardinals' ace only allowed four baserunners, as she walked two and fanned six over the distance. Her offense came to life with two runs on a hit in the third. Freshman Tia Collins scored two runs for the Cards, who meet Monroe at Twining Park at 5 p.m. Thursday for a Wisconsin highway 11 showdown with a sectional berth at stake.
