Witt-Birn softball team claims regional title

The Wittenberg-Birnamwood High School softball team earned its first regional title since 2007 with a pair of one-run playoff wins in Wittenberg.

The top-seeded Chargers earned a walk-off 5-4 win over ninth-seeded Nekoosa in a Division 3 regional semifinal on June 14 before hanging on late for a 6-5 regional title victory over fifth-seeded Westfield on June 16.

“Everything. We’ve worked so hard all season for this,” said Witt-Birn’s Amara Schoepke on what a regional title meant to the team. “We have a lot of trust in (pitcher Jasmin Duranceau), we know that she’ll do her job and she knows we’ll do our job out in the field.

“Regional champs is really nice, it’s a good feeling. Haven’t had that in awhile.”

Regional title

The regional title game included shaky defense from both Witt-Birn and Westfield throughout.

Witt-Birn scored the game’s first run when Duranceau grounded a ball to short with two outs in the first inning. Duranceau reached on a fielding error, with McKenna Foster scoring on the play.

Westfield responded with two runs in the second after a Witt-Birn error before the Chargers pulled ahead with two runs in the bottom of the third.

After Duranceau and Kaylee Schram walked, Schoepke hit a popup on the right side of the infield. Schoepke was called out on a infield fly, but the ball wasn’t caught, which allowed courtesy runner Emily Niles to score from second and Schram to move to third on the play. Kiara Deruchowski then plated Schram on a line drive hit to left field.

A misjudged liner on a Westfield hit in the fourth allowed the visitors to score and tie the contest at three.

Witt-Birn pulled ahead for good in the bottom of the frame. Abi Fraaza grounded out to third for the second out, and on the throw to first, Foster sprinted home for the go-ahead run.

The Chargers added two crucial insurance runs in the sixth to take a three-run lead into the final inning.

Fraaza singled with two outs before scoring on a McKenna Metropulos triple to right field. Metropulos then scored on a passed ball.

A fourth Witt-Birn error in the seventh led to a two-run double from Westfield to make it a one-run game again. But as Duranceau did so many times for the team this season, the pitcher remained confident and got the next batter to line out to end the contest.

“After every (play) — maybe you can’t hear, I know some people say you can’t hear — but I’m always trying to lift (Jasmin) up if there’s ever a good hit or if there’s ever a bad play,” said Witt-Birn catcher Metropulos on how she helped Duranceau work around some of the miscues.

“I’m always trying to be like, ‘OK Jas, like right now, you’re hitting the spots, you’re there.’ Sometimes they’re not calling what they need but I’m always trying to reassure Jasmin and reassure the team that we’re OK, we need to just take a breath.”

Both teams ended the game with eight hits while committing four errors. The difference in the end was that Duranceau didn’t walk a batter and had a lot less traffic to deal with on the bases.

Witt-Birn drew seven walks in the contest and never was retired in order over its six innings at the plate. Duranceau worked 1-2-3 innings in the first, fifth and sixth.

Witt-Birn’s regional title advances the team into sectionals where a familiar foe awaits in Central Wisconsin Conference-East Division opponent Amherst. The teams will face off for a third time on June 21 in Wittenberg. The Chargers earned 4-2 and 5-2 wins over the Falcons this season.

Regional semifinal

Witt-Birn rallied two different times before securing its 5-4 walk-off win over Nekoosa in the regional semifinal clash.

After Nekoosa scored the game’s first run in the second, Witt-Birn used a three-run third to take the lead. An error on a ball put in play by Fraaza allowed both Paige Kurth and Foster to score runs. Another error on a liner from Duranceau allowed Fraaza to score.

Nekoosa scored twice in the fourth to tie it up and then once in the fifth to take a one-run lead again. The Chargers tied it right back up in the bottom of the fifth.

Fraaza opened the inning with a single before moving to second on a sacrifice bunt from Duranceau. With two outs, Fraaza moved to third on a passed ball before scoring on another passed ball.

Tied entering the bottom of the seventh, Foster led off with a walk before Metropulos reached on an error that moved Foster up to second. Fraaza then lifted a deep flyout to right — missing a home run by about five or so feet. The deep fly allowed Foster to use her speed and score from second on the play to give the Chargers a thrilling win.

Duranceau surrendered 10 hits in the contest, but again didn’t walk a batter while striking out four to avoid any big innings. Only one of the four runs she allowed was earned.

sports@newmedia-wi.com