Whitnall rallies to reach title game
MADISON - Whitnall seems to be at its most comfortable with its backs up against the wall.
Just ask Portage.
The Falcons’ bats woke up late to rally and down the Warriors, 2-1, in a Division 2 state softball semifinal Friday night at the University of Wisconsin’s Goodman Diamond. Whitnall advanced to face Mosinee in the title game Saturday.
"We knew we were going to hit, we just needed to get the swings going," Whitnall coach Tom Hickman said. "Better late than never."
The Falcons (25-5) trailed, 1-0, after the first inning on Portage junior Joia Simonson's RBI groundout and that lead held up for most of the game.
Whitnall went 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position through the first five innings against Warriors pitcher Meghan Witt. Opportunities abounded for the Falcons in the first, third and fifth innings to score with runners on and less than two outs, but no runs came of the threats.
Then Kathryn Bay took matters into her own hands.
The Whitnall senior ripped a gametying triple on a 3-0 delivery from Witt with two outs in the sixth, scoring Abby Cunningham from first base.
"Honestly, I just knew I was going to get a good pitch to hit there and just hoped I could put a good swing on it," Bay said.
Whitnall junior Haley Wynn broke the tie with a run on Madison Lenzke's RBI groundout in the top of the seventh. Wynn led the inning off with a walk and advanced to third following an errant throw to first base on the next batter, Emily Kreiser's, infield single.
Leading, 2-1, Wynn, whom Hickman has called the team's "Energizer Bunny", had to go out and pitch to seal the win.
"My coaches have told me to use 90 percent of my fullest energy," Wynn said. "It keeps me very level-headed and balanced so that I don’t get too jacked up.”
Mosinee 8, Denmark 7: Before even coming to the plate against Denmark, Mosinee trailed, 7-0.
The Indians (23-4) responded with one of the most improbable comebacks in state history, scoring the next eight runs, including the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth, to reach the title game.