Local baseball, girls’ softball, girls’ soccer, and boys’ golf teams will begin or continue their quests for a state title today.
SOFTBALL
The Denmark Vikings girls’ softball teams were tested by Two Rivers last Thursday afternoon before prevailing 8-5 to capture a Division Two Regional title.
They now get one more home game this afternoon as they host the Kewaskum Indians in a D-2 Sectional semifinal. The Vikings went undefeated (16-0) in Northeast conference play and carry a six-game winning streak into today’s game against the Indians.
Denmark has a lineup that can pressure the opposition from 1 to 9.
Combine that with solid pitching and a solid defense, and the Vikings feel, as do many others, that they can return to Goodman Diamond in Madison and look to repeat as state champions.
Kewaskum will have something to say about that.
The Indians are champions of the Glacier Trails Conference and at one point won fifteen straight games.
Senior Kyli Baka leads Kewaskum in several offensive categories with a terrific supporting cast that includes sophomores Maddyn Sabish, Brianna Krause, and freshman Leah Dahm, with senior Elli Carilli leading the way in the circle with a terrific earned run average of 1.95.
The winner advances to the sectional final in Plymouth Thursday afternoon.
The first pitch in Denmark is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
Also, in D-2, Fox Valley Lutheran of Appleton hosts Luxemburg-Casco.
Division Three sectional semifinals have New Holstein heading north to Southern Door, while in Division Four, St. Mary’s Springs of Fond Du Lac plays at Algoma, and Random Lake travels to Johnson Creek.
BASEBALL
Manitowoc Lincoln will host Sheboygan North in a WIAA Division One regional game at Bruce Steinbecker Field.
The visiting Gilden Raiders defeated the Ships by one run in each of their two meetings during the regular season, with the winner advancing to play at top-seed Germantown Thursday afternoon.
The first pitch is scheduled to be thrown at 5:00 p.m.
Other Division One games include Appleton West visiting De Pere, West De Pere hosts Green Bay Southwest, Green Bay Preble opens at Appleton North and Hortonville hosts Green Bay East/West.
Division Two regionals have undefeated and top-ranked Kiel hosting the co-op of North Fond Du Lac/ Oakfield, Denmark entertains Marinette, Chilton heads to Waupaca, Plymouth ventures to Waupun, Xavier of Appleton plays at Notre Dame Academy of Green Bay, and Luxemburg-Casco travels to Little Chute to battle the Mustangs.
The undefeated and top-ranked baseball team in Division Three, the Kewaunee Storm begin postseason play at home against Peshtigo. Other D-3 matchups include Manitowoc Lutheran travelling to Cedar Grove-Belgium, Brillion hosting Algoma, Mayville travels to Random Lake, Sturgeon Bay has a long bus ride to Bonduel and St. Mary Catholic heads to Marathon to meet the Red Raiders.
The Division Four slate has two-seed Reedsville home for Hilbert, Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah hosts Central Wisconsin of Waupun, Green Lake Princeton entertains Green Bay NEW Lutheran/Providence Academy, and Gibraltar/Washington Island is home for the Prentice Buccaneers.
GIRLS SOCCER
Manitowoc Lincoln can check another box as they host a WIAA Division One regional at Rubick Field.
The Ships are the eight seed in their bracket and finished with a winning record (10-9-3) despite two losses to close out the regular season against Bay Port and Pulaski.
Their offense is centered around senior Sarah Bolchen, who’s the program’s all-time leading goal scorer, with sophomores Morgan Schnell and Teggan Heyn Hein having breakout seasons.
Senior Julie Sieracki has also been solid in net, saving well over 90 percent of shots she’s faced this season.
They host a Wildcat side they defeated back on April 23rd by a score of 4-1, with the winner travelling to face top seed Arrowhead on Saturday (June 6th).
The match is scheduled to start at 7:00 p.m.
Other D-1 Regionals have Sheboygan North hosting Menominee Falls, Green Bay Preble visiting De Pere, and Stevens Point playing at Bay Port.
Division Two Regional have Sheboygan South on the road to meet Cedarburg, Plymouth hosts Wauwatosa West, Green Bay Southwest is at Brookfield Central, Green Bay East ventures to Nicolet (Glendale), Pulaski hosts West De Pere, Homestead plays at Ashwaubenon, and Menasha is in Slinger to play the Owls.
Roncalli/ Two Rivers hosts Little Chute in Division Three and in Division Four, Valders ventures to Kewaunee to battle the Storm.
BOYS GOLF
The Mishicot Indians look to continue their magical season as they join Valders and Roncalli at a WIAA Division Three Sectional meet played at Blackwolf Run in Kohler.
The Indians won their first regional title in 46 years at Thornberry Creek last Tuesday.
The top two teams plus the top three individuals from non-qualifying teams will head to the state meet next Monday and Tuesday (June 8th and 9th) at University Ridge in Madison.
