One game away from state

Stratford beats archrival Edgar in regional final

By Casey Krautkramer

Stratford senior third baseman Sonia Peterson made the final play in a 5-0 WIAA Division 4 regional championship win against Edgar on Thursday and a 10-8 sectional semifinal victory against Auburndale on Tuesday.

Peterson caught Edgar senior left fielder Jessica Mucha’s foul ball hit down third base in the top of the seventh inning to seal the regional title. She was obviously excited to make the game-winning catch at Hilge“It felt inforward she said. “All week we were looking forward to our matchup against Edgar, and just knowing that fly ball was hit right to me gave me the confidence to make the catch. It just felt liberating after I made the catch. It was just amazing.”

Peterson fielded a ground ball hit to her by Auburndale senior second baseman Kimmie Lundgren in the bottom of the seventh inning on Tuesday and she quickly threw the ball to freshman first baseman Tria Tubbs in time for the final out.

Stratford sophomore starting pitcher Laney Pankratz caught Auburndale junior centerfielder Regynn Tau’s pop-up for the first out in the seventh inning. Pankratz then struck out Auburndale sophomore first baseman Taylor Anderson, who was three for three batting in the game until the last inning, after she fouled off numerous balls for the second out in the seventh inning.

After Tubbs kept her foot on first base while catching Peterson’s throw for the final out, the Tigers celebrated. They are now only one win away from making the school’s first ever trip to the state tournament in softball.

Wins against Edgar

Pankratz and Edgar junior Makayla Wirkus each pitched scoreless innings until the bottom of the sixth inning of the regional championship, when Stratford broke through to score five runs.

Stratford senior centerfielder Bailey Linzmaier began the sixth inning rally with a single that took a tricky bounce over Edgar sophomore third baseman Alyson Kolano’s head. Stratford catcher Emma Roeper then flied out to Edgar junior centerfielder Taylor Lemmer.

Linzmaier stole second base when Wirkus’ pitch got past Edgar junior catcher Morgan Streveler. Linzmaier scored on freshman shortstop Gracie Schmidt’s double. Then Schmidt scored on Tubbs’ double.

Stratford junior second baseman Kressa Wenzel reached first base on an error by Edgar sophomore leftfielder Riley Mueller when the ball hit off her glove. Peterson walked to load the bases with one out.

Tigers senior rightfielder Lexie Christopherson then hit a line shot past Edgar senior first baseman Leah Davis, after fouling off three straight pitches, to score two more runs. Senior pitch runner Ava Weix replaced Christopherson at first base.

Wirkus struck out Pankratz for the second out in the sixth inning, but Schmidt’s RBI double scored Peterson to give the Tigers their fifth run in the inning.

Stratford improves its season record to 17-9 this season while Auburndale ends this season with a 15-8 record. Stratford now plays at Blair-Taylor at 5 p.m. this Thursday, June 1, in the WIAA Division 4 sectional championship. Blair-Taylor beat Osseo-Fairchild, 6-2, on Tuesday to advance into their home sectional final. Blair-Taylor has a 26-3 record this season.

The winner between Stratford and Blair-Taylor this Thursday will advance to the WIAA state tournament semifinals at either 4:30 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 8, at the Goodman Diamond in Madison. The WIAA Division 4 state championship is at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 10.