Pulaski, Bonduel softball teams win regional semifinals

The Pulaski and Bonduel softball teams both earned regional semifinal playoff wins on May 23, while five other area teams were eliminated after losses.

Third-seeded Pulaski rolled to a 15-0 win over 14th-seeded Green Bay West/East in Pulaski. Top-seeded Bonduel eased to a 17-2 victory over eighth-seeded Crandon in Bonduel.

Fifth-seeded Oconto Falls was topped 1-0 by fourth-seeded Marinette in Marinette. Fourth-seeded Wittenberg-Birnamwood fell 13-4 to fifth-seeded Wrightstown in Wittenberg, while seventh-seeded Gillett/Suring was defeated 10-0 by second-seeded Amherst. Fifth-seeded Tigerton lost 13-3 at fourth-seeded Wild Rose, while seventh-seeded St. Thomas Aquinas Academy/Lena was eliminated after a 17-2 loss at second-seeded Florence.

In Pulaski's four-inning win, the Red Raiders scored five runs in the first inning, two in the second, six in the third and two more in the fourth.

Molly Molthen, Cassie Benberg, Nicole Berna and Hailey Wiedeman all delivered two hits for Pulaski. Paige Abendroth scored three runs, while Benberg and Molthen scored twice each.

Morgan Vertz and Abendroth teamed up in the circle to post the shutout. Vertz struck out eight batters over the nine outs she got and only allowed one hit. Abendroth struck out a pair to work around a couple hits in her inning of work.

Pulaski is set to host sixth-seeded Bay Port in a regional final at 3:30 p.m. on May 25.

In Bonduel's three-inning victory, the Bears trailed 2-0 after a half inning before scoring eight runs in their half of the first. Bonduel added eight runs in the second and one in the third.

Abby Stoltenow, Hailee Thompson and Allison Zernicke all posted two hits for the Bears, while Stoltenow, Thompson, Zernicke, Tatum Sporisky and Nakiyah Henning all drove in two runs.

Thompson homered and scored three runs. Stoltenow, Sporisky, Henning, Allison Zernicke and Hailey Zernicke all crossed home plate twice. Henning earned the win in the circle.

Bonduel will face fifth-seeded Manawa in a regional title game on May 25 in Bonduel.

In Oconto Falls' loss to Marinette, each team was limited to three hits. The hosts scored the only run in the third inning after a dropped third strike with two outs.

Ashlyn Allen posted two of Oconto Falls' hits, with Amelia Danielczak providing the other.

Lily Kurek was dealt the loss in the circle after pitching all seven innings. She struck out four batters along the way.

Witt-Birn was outhit 14-8 and committed five errors in its season-ending loss.

The Chargers led 4-1 entering the fourth inning before Wrightstown scored six runs. The visitors added a run in the fifth, four in the sixth and one in the seventh to pull away.

Rory Salvesen, Brieleigh Ladika and Lillian Lemieux all recorded two hits for Witt-Birn. Salvesen stole three bases.

Jami Wendler took the loss in the circle after working all game. She struck out six batters. Only five of the runs she allowed were earned.

Tigerton also committed five errors in its six-inning playoff loss to Wild Rose.

Jessalyn Zimdars, Skyler Hauser and Abby Swartz all had two hits for the Tigers, while Zimdars also scored two runs.

Hauser took the loss in the circle after pitching all game. Six of the runs she allowed were unearned.

No statistics were available from the STAA/Lena and Gillett/Suring playoff losses.

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