There’s a first time for everything

‘Cats softball makes first trip to state

By Casey Krautkramer

Edgar’s varsity softball team dominated Sevastopol, 11-0, in a WIAA Division 5 sectional championship on Thursday at the Woyak Sports Complex in Plover. The Wildcats earned their first trip to the state tournament in the school softball program’s history.

Wildcats sophomore pitcher Makayla Wirkus threw a complete game no hitter against the Pioneers, in helping lead the team to the state tournament. She struck out eight batters.

“I’m just in shock we are going to state; the whole team is in shock,” Wirkus said after the sectional finale. “We want to win a state championship.”

Edgar, 17-6, was awarded the No. 3 seed at the WIAA Division 5 state tournament and plays against No. 2 seed Barneveld, 21-6, at 8 a.m. this Friday, June 10, at Goodman Diamond in Madison. The first Division 5 state semifinal has No. 1 seed Wisconsin Rapids Assumption, 19-2, playing against No. 4 seed Thorp, 12-11, at 8:30 p.m. this Thursday, June 9.

Senior Karlin Lipinski led Edgar with three RBIs in its sectional finals victory. Junior Ashley Erickson hit two for two with two RBIs and a pair of runs scored. Wirkus was two for five with two RBIs and junior Reagan Borchardt was two for four with an RBI and pair of runs scored.

Edgar co-head softball coach Kevin Brown told the team in the postgame huddle after beating Sevastopol that they shouldn’t be content with simply making it to the state tournament. He wants the team to win the state championship.

“If we don’t win a state championship, it happens and it’s still a great accomplishment for the girls to play in the state tournament,” Kevin Brown said. “As a coach, I am too competitive to just be happy with making it to state; I want to win the state title.”