This story is sponsored by: The Marshfield Tiger Booster Club
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
MARSHFIELD – The top three in the Marshfield softball team’s batting order combined to go 9-for-12, scored 10 runs and drove in 10 to help push the Tigers to a 15-5 victory over Wausau West in a WIAA Division 1 regional final on Thursday at the Marshfield Fairgrounds.
The Tigers (22-4) move on to a sectional semifinal against the winner of Friday’s regional between Wisconsin Rapids and Chippewa Falls, on Tuesday at the Fairgrounds. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m.
Leadoff hitter Megan Donahue had a triple to start the first inning and added a home run in the sixth, finishing 3-for-4 with four RBIs and three runs scored. No. 2 hitter Emily Draeger had two hits and scored four times, and three-hitter Jenna Jakobi was 4-for-5 with five RBIs and scored three times to lead the Marshfield offense that finished with 19 hits.
“I’m fortunate enough to have a team that usually comes out hot,” Marshfield coach Dan Costa said. “I’d like to see it more consistent throughout the game, but when you have those top three setting the stage for you, you’re liable to have a big inning every time.
“I’m anticipating that (the top three in the order) will be first- or second-team in the state, and I couldn’t ask for a better, or nicer, group of three girls to work with and set the tone for the rest of the team.”
Draeger doubled to knock in Donahue in the first, Jakobi followed with an RBI single, and Morgan Nordbeck had a sacrifice fly to plate Jakobi to give Marshfield an early 3-0 lead.
The Tigers added three more in the second inning as Donahue delivered a sac fly, and Jakobi and Nordbeck had RBI singles.
After West scored in the third, Marshfield erupted for a six-run third to take complete control.
Marshfield sent 10 batters to the plate and the first seven had hits. Donahue had an RBI single, and Jakobi and Rhiannon Corozolla had back-to-back two-run hits to make it 12-1.
West got to Donahue for three runs in the fourth. The Marshfield senior finished with 12 strikeouts, but was uncharacteristically wild, walking six and uncorking a number of wild pitches.
However, the Warriors (8-15) were in too deep of a hole to get completely out and Donahue settled in to retire five of the final six batters she faced.
Marshfield ended the game via the 10-run rule in the sixth when Donahue hit a two-run homer, her 17th of the season, and Jakobi drove in Draeger, who had walked, with a two-out single.
“(Donahue) was wildly effective, you never know what you’re going to get,” Costa said. “I’d like to see her pound the zone a little harder. I think I might have thrown her off a little bit. I asked her to stay with a couple of pitches early in the game so they didn’t see too much off-speed stuff, and I think when we went to the off-speed stuff, I think it threw her for a loop. I’ll take a little bit of ownership for that.”
Tigers 15, Warriors 5
Wausau West 001 310 – 5 7 4
Marshfield 336 003 – 15 19 1
WP: Megan Donahue. LP: Shaelyn Talley.
SO: Talley (2 inn.) 1, Nicole Brice (3 2/3 inn.) 1; Donahue 12. BB: Talley 2, Brice 1; Donahue 6.
Top hitters: WW, Abby Schilling 2×3, 2 2Bs, RBI; Jenna Kettner 2B; Elise Brown 2B. M, Donahue 3×4, 3B, HR, 4 RBIs, 3 runs; Emily Draeger 2×3, 2B, 4 runs, RBI; Jenna Jakobi 4×5, 3 runs, 5 RBIs; Rhiannon Corozolla 3×4, 2 RBIs; Morgan Nordbeck 1×3, 2 RBIs; Brianna Jakobi 2B, RBI; Taylor Barwick 4×4, 2B, 3 runs.
Records: Wausau West 8-15; Marshfield 22-4.