This story is sponsored by Total Electric
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MADISON – Auburndale’s first trip to the WIAA State Softball Tournament could not have started any better.
The Eagles scored a run after just two batters and added another later in the opening inning to take a quick lead, but Cuba City wasn’t to be denied.
All nine Cubans in the starting lineup had at least one hit and Cuba City plated a combined seven runs in the third and fourth innings to pull past Auburndale 9-4 in a Division 4 semifinal on Thursday night at Goodman Diamond on the campus of the University of Wisconsin.
Cuba City (25-2) went on to defeat Fall Creek (29-3) 7-0 in the Division 4 championship game on Saturday to capture its first-ever softball state title.
Auburndale’s magical run to its first state tournament ends its season at 21-4.
“We had a few hiccups here and there, but they (Cuba City) are a good hitting team,” Auburndale coach Mike Schulte said. “They kept coming at us and our girls fought right to the end. I’m very proud of them. I know the whole community of Auburndale is proud of them too. In a little bit they will look back on this and be grateful with the entire year that they had.”
Mya Krings led off the game with a walk and Morgan Griesbach followed with a scorcher down the left field line to plate Krings with a double, giving Auburndale the early advantage.
Pinch runner Jalynn Scherr moved up to third on a wild pitch and came into score on an error by the catcher as a throw back to the pitcher was wide and the ball got away, making it 2-0.
“What a great hit by Morgan, she had a nice night hitting, we were able to score and took advantage of a misplay by them,” Schulte said. “We just couldn’t get anything going in the middle there. I thought maybe the second time around in the order we would, but they made the plays and that’s the way the game goes sometimes.”
Cuba City responded with a run in the bottom of the first inning but Griesbach was able to leave two runners on base after coaxing a fly ball to center.
The Eagles’ 2-1 advantage held until the fourth when Cuba City got its potent offense rolling.
Ella Vosberg had an RBI single, Brooklyn Droessler followed with a two-run knock to left and Ayla Nolan brought her home with the fourth hit of the inning, putting Cuba City up 5-2.
The Cubans added three more runs in the fourth, taking advantage of a walk and Auburndale’s third error of the game. Rachel Kraus drove in one with an infield single and Vosberg broke it wide open with a ringing triple to right, upping Cuba City’s lead to 8-2.
As Cuba City rolled to the big lead, Auburndale’s offense went silent as Cubans pitcher Payton Gile retired 10 batters in a row until a leadoff single by Regynn Lau in the fifth.
Lau was stranded, but the Eagles did grab a bit of momentum in the sixth. Griesbach led off with a single and Breleigh Grimm put runners on second and third after a throwing error by Cuba City. Back-to-back RBI groundouts by Sammy Stanton and Danika Blomberg cut the Eagles’ deficit in half, but after two more singles from Taylor Anderson and Lau, Gile was able to get out of the inning with one of her nine strikeouts.
Cuba City tacked on a run in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI double by Josie Kruser. Gile worked around a hit batter and stolen base from Mya Krings to get the final two outs to send Cuba City to the championship game.
Schulte had high praise for his team, specifically the four seniors: Lau, Stanton, Hope Schulte and Katie Brandl.
“They are there every day,” Coach Schulte said. “You just want people that come in and have a great attitude, put the effort in and are great teammates. We’re going to miss them four.”
Cubans 9, Eagles 4
Auburndale 200 002 0 – 4 5 4
Cuba City 104 301 x – 9 13 2
WP: Payton Gile. LP: Morgan Griesbach.
SO: Griesbach 5; Gile 9. BB: Griesbach 1; Gile 2.
Top hitters: A, Griesbach 2×4, 2B, RBI; Regynn Lau 2×3. CC, Addy Schauff 3×3 3B, 3 runs; Josie Kruser 2B, RBI; Ella Vosberg 3×4, 3B, 2 RBI; Brooklyn Droessler 1×3, 2 RBI.
Records: Auburndale 21-4; Cuba City 23-2.