By Jennifer Eisenbart
Sports Editor
The Waterford Union High School softball team opened the WIAA Division 1 playoffs in style Tuesday night, scoring five runs in the bottom of the first en route to a 10-0 win over Oregon in five innings.
Waterford, the No. 3 seed, was scheduled to play No. 6 seed Milton at home Thursday afternoon. Results were unavailable before press deadline.
The Wolverines pounded out 10 hits in the contest, fully backing up junior pitcher Maddie Szalewski – who struck out 11, walked just one and allowed just one hit.
“The girls hit when runners were on base,” said Waterford coach Ellen Blair. “They were confident and aggressive.
“Maddie Szalewski had an impressive night on the mound,” she added.
Abbey Zortman, Kelly Strasser and Alyssa Schimelfenyg all finished with two hits for the Wolverines. Zortman had one double, while Strasser and Schimelfenyg each had two doubles and two RBI.
Alyssa Helwig also had a double and an RBI, while Alicia Barbian had one hit and two RBI.
Waterford improved to 17-5 overall with the win. The Wolverines finished the Southern Lakes Conference with an 11-3 record, good for second place in the conference behind undefeated Westosha Central (14-0).
The Falcons are the No. 1 seed in the sectional bracket, but are in the upper half compared to Waterford being in the lower half.
Union Grove, which edged the Wolverines by one run in two contests this year after being blown out by Waterford earlier, is the No. 2 seed.
Should the seedings hold up, Waterford would face Union Grove in a sectional semifinal Tuesday.
-
-
-
-
-