By Jennifer Eisenbart
Sports Editor
The Waterford Union High School softball team may have caught a break last week when Union Grove lost in the regional finals.
The Wolverines made sure they took advantage of that Tuesday afternoon.
After Janesville Craig eliminated the Broncos – who had beaten Waterford twice this year by one run – Waterford eliminated Craig, shutting out the Cougars 15-0 in five innings in a WIAA Division 1 sectional semifinal at Waterford.
The Wolverines advanced to Thursday’s sectional final, where they were scheduled to play Westosha Central at 5 p.m. at Badger. That game was not completed before press deadline. Waterford entered the contest 19-5 overall.
It was just the second time in school history that the Wolverines made the sectional final, and Waterford has never made the state tournament.
In the words of coach Ellen Blair, the Wolverines scored early and often Tuesday. Waterford led 8-0 after the first inning and 11-0 after two.
Megan Jensen led off the game with a triple, and then scored on Alyssa Helwig’s sacrifice fly.
“That set the pace,” said Blair. The next seven batters scored, and Jensen scored again in the inning. Craig switched pitchers after Helwig went to bat for the second time in the inning.
Waterford pounded out 12 hits, including two hits each by Alicia Barbian and Kelly Strasser. Both also finished with two RBI.
Waterford used junior Maddie Szalewski on the mound for the first portion of the game, and she struck out four. Caitlyn Whitford finished up the game, striking out two. Neither walked a batter.
“Everyone contributed,” Blair said.
Craig finished with just three hits, and committed three errors.
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