Season over for Waupaca softball team

By Greg Seubert

A nine-run fifth inning helped Wrightstown eliminate the Comets from the WIAA state tournament, as the Tigers handed Waupaca a 12-2 loss May 26 in a Division 2 regional matchup.

Heavy rain had forced schools to postpone several tournament softball games and regional track meets that day, but the skies cleared in Wrightstown in time for the game.

The Tigers wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, as Wrightstown came up with three runs in the bottom of the first inning.

Waupaca chipped away at the lead and eventually cut it to 3-2 with a run in the fourth and fifth innings before Wrightstown’s bats came alive in the bottom of the fifth.

Brenna Oleson and Mandy Tomlinson singled to start Waupaca’s half of the fourth inning and Tomlinson eventually scored as Bobbi Sue Sell hit into a fielder’s choice. Caroline Ogden scored the Comets’ second run in the fifth after Waupaca loaded the bases on singles from Ogden, Victoria Nowak and Oleson.

Winning pitcher Makayla Neinas held the Comets to six hits and Waupaca also committed three errors. Wrightstown improved to 23-4 on the season and Waupaca fell to 10-14. The Tigers fell to Freedom 3-1 in a regional semifinal May 28.