Tigers fall in state semis

Stratford loses 5-0 lead to the Waterloo Pirates

By Casey Krautkramer

Stratford lost, 6-5, to Waterloo in Thursday night’s matchup of varsity softball teams. Both teams were appearing in the state tournament for the first time in school history.

The second WIAA Division 4 game of the night, pitting the Tigers against the Pirates, was originally scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. but didn’t begin until 7:50 p.m. at Goodman Diamond on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus.

It was a pitcher’s dual early on between Stratford sophomore Laney Pankratz and Waterloo senior Grace Marty. Other than Tigers senior centerfi elder Bailey Linzmaier’s single in the bottom of the first inning, there were no other hits between the two teams in the first three innings.

Both offenses started to get on track in the fourth inning. Waterloo junior catcher Brenna Huebner walked with one out in the top of the fourth inning, and she advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Junior first baseman Katrina Freund singled to left field to give the Pirates a pair of runners on base with only one out. Pankratz pitched out of the jam by getting freshman third baseman Emma Baumann to fly out to Linzmaier in centerfield and then striking out Marty swinging to end Waterloo’s threat to score a run.

Stratford’s offense fully heated up in the bottom of the fourth inning by scoring four runs on six hits with an error and two runners left on base. Linzmaier singled to left field and sophomore catcher Emma Roeper’s RBI triple to right center scored Linzmaier for the game’s first run.

Still in the fourth inning, Stratford senior left fielder Tessa Berg popped up to the shortstop and freshman first baseman Tria Tubbs was hit by a pitch. Junior second baseman Kressa Wenzel’s RBI single to right field scored Roeper from third base. Tubbs advanced to third base on Wenzel’s RBI single. Senior third baseman Sonia Peterson’s RBI single scored Tubbs but Peterson was thrown out while attempting to reach second base.

Still, in the fourth inning, Stratford senior right fielder Lexie Christopherson singled to left field and she advanced to second base on Pankratz’s single up the middle. Freshman shortstop Gracie Schmidt fouled out to right field to end the inning.

Waterloo further threatened to score its first run in the top of the fifth inning. Junior second baseman Leeah Dorn doubled to left field. Senior designated hitter Kailee Rahn struck out swinging. Sophomore left fielder Alix McCarthy grounded out to the pitcher Pankratz on a sacrifice bunt in which Dorn advanced to third base. Pankratz got out of another jam by striking out junior centerfielder Briana Lauersdorf swinging to end the Pirates’ threat yet again to score a run.

Stratford scored its fifth run of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning. Linzmaier reached base on an error by the centerfielder. Roeper hit a pop fly out to third base and Berg grounded out to shortstop. Tubbs’ RBI single with two outs scored Linzmaier. Wenzel grounded out to the pitcher Marty to end the inning.

It appeared that Stratford’s 5-0 lead would be too much for Waterloo to overcome, considering the Pirates only had two innings left to score runs. Every softball team competing in the state tournament has had to endure some adversity during the playoffs to reach Madison, and Waterloo was no different. The Pirates rallied to score three runs on four hits while leaving a pair of runners on base in the top of the sixth inning to trim the Tigers’ lead to 5-3.

Stratford nearly scored an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Peterson walked and senior Tessa Miller pinch ran for her at first base. Miller advanced to second base on Christopherson’s sacrifice bunt. Miller attempted to score on Pankratz’s double but she was thrown out at home plate. Schmidt grounded out to shortstop to end the inning.

Waterloo’s offense kept humming in the top of the seventh inning by scoring three runs on three hits and an error while leaving one runner on base. Freund scored an unearned run to give the Pirates a 6-5 lead against the Tigers.

Stratford batters went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning to end the game. The Tigers conclude their season with an 18-10 record.

A season to remember

Stratford began their playoff journey to an inaugural state tournament berth by easily beating Spencer, 16-0 in three innings. Stratford then defeated Marawood Conference South foe Edgar, 5-0, in a home regional championship. Stratford then won two tough road sectional games to qualify for the state tournament. Stratford downed Marawood South Conference foe Auburndale, 10-8, and then defeated Blair-Taylor, 4-1.

Tigers head coach Mandy Pankratz said her players will always remember this 2023 season.

“The playoff run and the state appearance are something that these girls will always remember,” she said. “It didn’t end the way we wanted it to but they battled until the end. I am so proud of this group of girls who truly displayed what it means to be a team and they made great memories along the way.”

Coach thanks seniors

Pankratz will absolutely miss the strong leadership her team’s nine senior players provided this season in helping lead the Tigers softball team to its first state tournament appearance in school history.

Those seniors are Ava Weix, Lexie Christopherson, Tessa Miller, Bailey Linzmaier, Tessa Berg, Trista Larocque, Lauren Kraus, Sonia Peterson and Kenidi Palmer. Berg, Linzmaier, Peterson and Weix were the team captains this year.

“We will miss our nine seniors,” coach Pankratz said. “Each one of them brought something different to our group and they will be hard to replace. One of the best parts of coaching is seeing all the awesome things these athletes do after they leave high school. “This group is doing a little bit of everything from the medical field to education to the arts and everything in between. Hopefully, their experiences in athletics helps them in their journey. We thank them for being wonderful role models for all young female athletes.”

Coach Pankratz returns six talented young players next season including her daughter, Laney Pankratz, who is the team’s ace pitcher. Other top returning players next season are Tria Tubbs who is the team’s number two pitcher and starting first baseman, starting second baseman Kressa Wenzel, starting shortstop Gracie Schmidt and starting catcher Emma Roeper. Reserve left fielder Ashley Hollatz also returns to the team next season.

SCORING BARRAGE- Stratford junior second baseman Kressa Wenzel (8) scores during the team’s four-run bottom of the fourth inning against Waterloo.STAFF PHOTO/CASEY KRAUTKRAMER

OUT AT HOME- Stratford senior pinch runner Tessa Miller attempts to score on Laney Pankratz’s hit in the bottom of the sixth inning, but she is tagged out by Waterloo junior catcher Brenna Huebner.STAFF PHOTO/CASEY KRAUTKRAMER

JUST UNDERNEATH THE TAG- Stratford sophomore catcher Emma Roeper attempts to tag Waterloo junior Briana Lauersdorf at home plate, but it was too late as Lauersdorf was able to touch home plate first to score another run during the Pirates’ three-run top of the seventh inning on Thursday night in Madison. Stratford head softball coach Mandy Pankratz and assistant coach Kellen Kafka are pictured in the team dugout.STAFF PHOTO/CASEY KRAUTKRAMER

SOLID SINGLE- Stratford senior Lexie Christopherson smiles after she is congratulated by her first base coach, Kellen Kafka, following her fourth-inning single Thursday in Madison.STAFF PHOTO/CASEY KRAUTKRAMER