(WIAA) – The 49th Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association State Softball Tournament will take place Wednesday-Saturday, June 11-14, at Goodman Diamond on the University of Wisconsin campus in Madison, Wis.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE AND PAIRINGS: The single elimination tournament features five divisions. Eight teams qualify in Division 1 and four each in Divisions 2, 3, 4 and 5. All teams are seeded in each of the divisional brackets. The second game of each session will begin approximately 30 minutes following the first game.
Division 1
Quarterfinals – Wednesday, June 11
Game-1: #2 Kaukauna (24-0) vs. #7 Sun Prairie East (22-7) – 11 a.m.
Game-2: #3 Hamilton (25-3) vs. #6 Oregon (23-3) – 1:30 p.m.*
Game-3: #1 Kenosha Bradford (27-1) vs. #8 Cedarburg (22-7) – 4 p.m.
Game-4: #4 D.C. Everest (25-2) vs. #5 Watertown (21-4-1) – 6:30 p.m.*
Semifinals – Thursday, June 12
Game-5: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 – 7 p.m.
Semifinals – Friday, June 13
Game-6: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 – 9 a.m.*
Championship – Saturday, June 14
Game-7: Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6 – 6:30 p.m.*
Division 2
Semifinals – Friday, June 13
Game-1: #1 Jefferson (24-5) vs. #4 Whitnall (19-10) – 4:30 p.m.
Game-2: #2 Denmark (23-7) vs. #3 Lakeland (20-8) – 7 p.m.*
Championship – Saturday, June 14
Game-3: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 – 4 p.m.
Division 3
Semifinals – Friday, June 13
Game-1: #1 Fall Creek (24-5) vs. #4 Valders (20-6) – 11:30 a.m.
Game-2: #2 Poynette (24-2) vs. #3 Laconia (22-7) – 2 p.m.*
Championship – Saturday, June 14
Game-3: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 – 1 p.m.*
Division 4
Semifinals – Thursday, June 12
Game-1: #1 Pacelli (27-1) vs. #4 McDonell Catholic (17-8) – 2 p.m.
Game-2: #2 Mishicot (24-3) vs. #3 Mineral Point (24-5) – 4:30 p.m.*
Championship – Saturday, June 14
Game-3: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 – 10:30 a.m.*
Division 5
Semifinal – Thursday, June 12
Game-1: #1 Belmont (24-3) vs. #4 Ithaca (21-5) – 9 a.m.*
Game-2: #2 Almond-Bancroft (24-6) vs. #3 Thorp (18-9) – 11:30 a.m.
Championship – Saturday, June 14
Game-3: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 – 8 a.m.
* Games begin approximately 30 minutes following previous game.
TEAM TOURNAMENT HISTORY: The WIAA has been sponsoring the State Softball Tournament since 1976. Stevens Point leads all programs in State titles won with nine. Kimberly has claimed seven titles, and Marion, Oakfield and Poynette have six. Denmark, Kaukauna and Pacelli have won five. Stevens Point has appeared in the most State Tournaments with 18. Oakfield is next on the list with 17 and Ashwaubenon has qualified 16 times. Chippewa Falls and Kimberly have 14 appearances, followed by Cedarburg, Pacelli and Poynette with 13.
LAST YEAR: Second-seeded Kenosha Bradford won the Division 1 title last season with a 9-3 win over fourth-seeded Milton in the championship game. In Division 2, third-seeded Waupun won the title with a 7-3 victory over top-seeded Mosinee in the final. Third-seeded Prescott captured the Division 3 crown with a 3-1 win over fourth-seeded Laconia in the championship game. In Division 4, top-seeded Fall Creek blanked second-seeded Cuba City 7-0 in the title game to win the crown, and Pacelli, the #2 seed, earned its second straight crown with a 4-3 win over top-seeded Oakfield in the Division 5 final.
THE DIVISION 1 FIELD: Defending champion Kenosha Bradford is the top seed in the bracket. The Red Devils are making the program’s sixth State Tournament appearance overall. Their most notable experience prior to capturing the crown last season was a runner-up finish in 2013. The Red Devils have an additional appearance as a member of a co-op with Kenosha Reuther in 2019, which resulted in a loss in the semifinals. They finished atop the Southeast Conference standings this season. The Red Devils earned the opportunity to contend for back-to-back titles by defeating Oak Creek 8-2 in the sectional final played at Muskego. Kaukauna is the #2 seed. The Galloping Ghosts return to the State Tournament for the seventh time overall and for the fifth year in a row. They captured the gold trophy in each of their first five State appearances, including 2010, 2017, 2021, 2022 and 2023. They advance to the State quarterfinals again this season from the Pulaski Sectional by edging Green Bay Preble in the final by a score of 2-1 in eight innings. They are the champions of the Fox Valley Association this spring. Hamilton is seeded third. The Chargers qualify for the second year in a row and for the fourth time in the last five seasons. It’s the 12th time the Chargers have advanced to State overall. Their furthest advance toward a title in the program’s previous 11 appearances was to the semifinals in 1980 and 1987. They earn another shot at a title by working overtime to beat Wisconsin Lutheran 3-2 in nine innings in the final of the sectional final hosted by Hamilton. The Chargers are the champions in the Greater Metro Conference this year. Fourth-seeded D.C. Everest embarks on its first-ever experience in the State Tournament following the Evergreens’ 6-0 shutout over Menomonie in the Stevens Point Sectional final. They finished atop the standings in the Wisconsin Valley Conference this season. Watertown, the fifth seed, advances to State for the second year in a row and for the 11th time overall. The Goslings’ previous experiences at State have produced four runner-up finishes, one in 1981, another in 1984 and then again in 2015 and 2016. They are the champions in the Large Division of the Badger Conference this season. The Goslings are the representatives from the Oshkosh North Sectional after a 2-0 win over Neenah in the final. Oregon, the sixth seed, earned the school’s first trip to State in classic fashion. The Panthers outlasted Milton, last year’s runner-up, with an 8-7 victory in 11 innings. During the regular season, they finished runner-up behind State qualifier Watertown in the Large Division of the Badger Conference. Sun Prairie East is the #7 seed in the bracket. The Cardinals qualify for the third consecutive season after the school district split into two schools in 2023. They advanced to the semifinals in 2023 and fell in the quarterfinals last season. Sun Prairie, before it split into two schools, made eight appearances, winning its lone championship in 2018 and finishing runner-up in 2012, 2019, 2021 and 2022. This season, Sun Prairie East finished in a first-place tie in the Big Eight Conference with Middleton, and they advance to the State quarterfinals following a 3-2 victory over Middleton in the Baraboo Sectional final. Eighth-seeded Cedarburg returns to State for the second straight season and for the fourth time in the past five seasons. It’s the Bulldogs 13th trip to State overall. Their furthest advance in the tourney was to the semifinals in 1981, 1992 and 2001. This season, they placed third in the North Shore Conference standings, and they advance to the State quarterfinals with a 2-1 triumph over Brookfield East in the final of the Brookfield Central Sectional.
THE DIVISION 2 FIELD: Top-seeded Jefferson returns to the State semifinals for the first time since 2022 and for the fifth time overall. Their most notable experience in the State Tournament was a runner-up finish in 2022. This spring, the Eagles placed first in Rock Valley Conference. Their return to the final four comes by virtue of a 6-0 shutout over West Salem in the sectional final held at West Salem. Second-seeded Denmark qualifies for the State Tournament for the ninth time overall and for the first time since 2018. The Vikings have won four State championships. Two came back-to-back in Class B in 1982 and 1983. They also captured Division 2 crowns in 1991 and in 1997. The Vikings also have a runner-up finish in 1985 on their ledger. Last week, they ousted former defending champion Waupun with a 6-3 victory in the final of the Winneconne Sectional to earn their berth in the tournament field. They placed second in the North Eastern Conference standings this season. Lakeland, the third seed, qualifies for the first time in the history of the program. The Thunderbirds have made the most out of the five runs they’ve scored in their four tournament games leading up to the State Tournament. They have allowed just one run on their path through the Rice Lake Sectional, which culminated with a 1-0 shutout of Rice Lake in the final. The Thunderbirds finished fourth in the Great Northern Conference during the regular season. Fourth-seeded Whitnall will make its fourth appearance overall and its first since winning the State title in 2018. In their previous two experiences, the Falcons fell in Division 1 semifinals in 1994 and 1995. They are back in the State Tournament following a 7-6 win over Whitewater in the Whitewater Sectional final. The Falcons finished first in the East Division of the Woodland Conference during the regular season.
THE DIVISION 3 FIELD: Top-seeded Fall Creek moves up into Division 3 after winning the Division 4 title last season in the Crickets’ first-ever appearance at State. The Crickets downed Grantsburg 5-3 to win the Cumberland Sectional final. They are the champions in the West Division of the Cloverbelt Conference this season. Last year’s runner-up is second-seeded Poynette, which is making its 13th State appearance and its first since 2022. The Pumas have won six championships. They won the Division 2 title in 1998 and the Division 3 crowns in 2005, 2011, 2018, 2019 and 2022. In addition, they have four runner-up finishes, which came in 1999, 2003, 2012 and again in 2015. The Pumas are the champions in the North Division of the Capitol Conference this spring, and they have advanced to the semifinals in quest of their seventh State title following a 5-1 victory over Richland Center in the sectional final play at Poynette. Laconia is seeded third. The Spartans return to the tourney field for the seventh time in the program’s history. They have advanced to the championship game in each of their previous six experiences at State. They had a run of four straight appearances from 2014-17 that produced three straight championships in 2015, 2016 and 2017, and a runner-up finish in 2014. In addition, the Spartans finished runner-up in 2009 and again last season. This year, they shared the Wisconsin Flyway Conference title with Lomira. The Spartans continue their quest for a State championship by clubbing Shoreland Lutheran in the sectional final played at Laconia, 10-0 in six innings. Fourth-seeded Valders began celebrating the program’s first-ever trip to State following its 8-2 triumph over Xavier in the Chilton Sectional final. The Vikings tied Brillion for the Eastern Wisconsin Conference championship during the regular season.
THE DIVISION 4 FIELD: Pacelli, which has won the past two Division 5 titles, moves up to Division 4 and has been issued the top seed in the bracket. The Cardinals make their seventh appearance in the last eight tournaments – excluding the canceled season of 2020 – and their 13th overall. They won a Division 3 title in 2012, Division 4 titles in 2003 and 2015, and Division 5 titles in 2023 and 2024. They advanced to the championship game in 2011 in Division 3 and in Division 4 in 2017, which resulted in runner-up finishes. Prior to joining the WIAA, the Cardinals won six consecutive titles from 1992-97 while a member of WISAA. This season, they are the champions in the South Division of the Central Wisconsin Conference. The Cardinals advanced to State through the Necedah Sectional, culminating with an 11-0, win over Melrose-Mindoro in the final. Mishicot is the #2 seed in the bracket. The Indians are making their fourth State appearance in the past five tournaments (not including the canceled 2020 season) and their seventh overall. They won the Division 4 championship in 2021 and advanced to the championship game in 2019, which resulted in a runner-up finish. Their experiences the past two seasons were in Division 3. They qualify in Division 4 this season following a 6-1 victory over Manawa in the Crivitz Sectional final. The Indians finished first in the Big East Conference this season. Third-seeded Mineral Point makes its third State Tournament appearance and its first since 2013 when the Pointers won the Division 3 championship. Their only other experience at State resulted in a loss in the 1983 Class C semifinals. They blanked Waterloo 7-0 in the sectional final played at Mineral Point to punch their ticket to Madison. The Pointers were the co-champions of the Southwest Wisconsin Athletic League this spring with Cuba City. Fourth-seeded McDonell Catholic makes its eighth appearance at State and its second in the past three seasons. The Macks won back-to-back Division 5 championships in 2017 and 2018, and they also won the Division 4 State title in 2008. In addition, they have finished runner-up twice, in Division 3 in their first-ever tournament experience in 2005 and again in Division 4 in 2011. This season, the Macks finished second in the West Division of the Cloverbelt Conference. They rolled to a 9-0 win over Shell Lake in the final of the Chippewa Falls Sectional final to continue their quest for a fourth title.
THE DIVISION 5 FIELD: Top-seeded Belmont returns to the State semifinals for the first time since 2019 and for the eighth time overall. The Braves won the State championship in Division 4 in 2002 and added a Division 5 title in 2019. They advanced to the Division 4 finals on two other occasions, finishing runner-up in 2003 and 2006. They earned a berth in this year’s State Tournament by cruising to a 9-2 victory over Johnson Creek in the Barneveld Sectional final. The Braves are the co-champions of the Six Rivers Conference this season with Barneveld. Almond-Bancroft was issued the #2 seed in the bracket. The Eagles are making their third State appearance. Both their two prior experiences came in Class C back in 1982 and 1984, when they finished runner-up and lost in the semifinals, respectively. This season, the Eagles finished second in the South Division of the Central Wisconsin Conference behind Division 4 qualifier Pacelli. Their path to State culminated with a 5-0 shutout over Three Lakes/Phelps in the final of the sectional played at Almond-Bancroft. Third-seeded Thorp makes its second straight appearance in the tournament and its ninth overall. The Cardinals are seeking their second State title, having won their first in Division 4 in 2016. They also have three runner-up finishes. Those came in 2018 and in back-to-back appearances in 2008 and 2009. The Cardinals’ return to the tournament field comes after rolling to a 13-5 win over Northwood/Solon Springs in the sectional final played at Thorp. The Cardinals finished tied for fourth in the West Division of the Cloverbelt Conference this spring. Ithaca’s only other State experience came in 2014, which resulted in a loss in the Division 4 semifinals. This season, the fourth-seeded Bulldogs downed Columbus Catholic 10-4 in the Blair-Taylor Sectional final to earn their berth in the tourney. They were runners-up in the Ridge & Valley Conference this spring.
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