THIS WEEK IN SOFTBALL
AREA RANKINGS
Through Sunday
1. Greenfield (23-1)
2. Oak Creek (19-3)
3. Kewaskum (18-0)
4. Arrowhead (15-1)
5. Burlington (17-5)
6. Wilmot (16-3)
7. New Berlin West (19-3)
8. Whitnall (20-4)
9. Menomonee Falls (18-4)
10. Kenosha Bradford (18-7)
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Josie Klein, Burlington: The Demons closed out their first Southern Lakes Conference title since 1989 with the help of a strong week from their senior pitcher. She won three league games, the big one a 5-1 victory at Wilmot last Tuesday that gave Burlington a two-game lead with two to play. Klein tossed a complete game with two strikeouts and went 2 for 4 at the plate with a RBI. She followed that with a five-inning, two-hit effort in a 10-0 victory over Waterford Thursday and a three-hit shutout of Delavan Darien on Friday. The senior helped Falls clinch its eighth straight Greater Metro title by scoring wins over Divine Savior Holy Angels on Wednesday and West Allis Hale on Saturday. She struck out 26 in 14 innings, walked three and posted a 2.00 earned-run average. Poetzel also hit .750 for the week with two doubles.
Erin Rice, East Troy: The junior shortstop went 5 for 13 (.385) with three doubles and three home run to lead the Trojans to a 3-1 record last week. Her OPS was a robust 1.312.
TEAM OF THE WEEK
Whitnall: What a run for the Falcons. They won four games last week, a stretch that netted them a share of the Woodland East title. The run started with a 16-3 victory Tuesday over Cudahy, the third-place team in the division. That was followed by a 7-2 win over previously undefeated Greenfield on Wednesday. The run ended with a 13-12 win over Union Grove on Friday in which the team rallied from an 11-1 deficit after 41⁄2 innings. Alyssa Trensch, a sophomore, threw a complete game and struck out five against Greenfield. Sophomore Abby Cunningham went 2 for 4 with two RBI. Senior Mackenzie Sutton went 2 for 5 with two runs. They helped the Falcons enter the week with eight straight victories
COMING UP
Whitnall at New Berlin West, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday: The champion of the Woodland West plays host to a Whitnall squad that won a share of the Woodland East.
WIAA postseason: Tournament plays begins in Division 2-5 on Tuesday. Division 1 regionals begin Wednesday. Regionals finals for all divisions are slated for Friday.
Honorable mention Kenzie Poetzel, Menomonee Falls: