By Tim Wester
Sports Correspondent
Union Grove’s season-ending 2-1 loss to Wilmot in a WIAA Division 1 regional final was a painful illustration of a season full of close calls.
The Panthers scored a pair of first-inning runs and held on from there to post the narrow victory over the visiting Broncos Friday, May 26.
Brooklyn Ottelien led the Bronco offense with two hits and a home run, but it wasn’t quite enough to catch the Panthers.
“After they scored two in the first, we closed the door on them the rest of the way,” Union Grove softball coach Tom Odell said. “But we just couldn’t score more than one run against a really tough pitcher.
Wilmot pitcher Sarah Hutchinson was indeed tough on the Broncos, allowing just one run on three hits in seven innings of work. Hutchinson previously fired a complete game shutout in the Panthers 11-0 victory over Union Grove May 18.
“Hutchinson got the best of us in the past two games against us,” Odell said. “Wilmot overall is just a really solid team. They were one of the main reasons the Lakes was such a tough conference this season.”
Hutchinson also did the damage offensively with a two-out, two-run single in the first.
“We were almost out of the inning after they had runners on second and third,” Odell said. “Hutchinson hit a fly ball that our right fielder couldn’t quite get to. If we could get to that ball, it’s a different ball game.”
The Broncos certainly had a different game against Lake Geneva Badger in a WIAA Division 1 regional semifinal Thursday, May 25.
Union Grove jumped out to a 4-0 lead and never looked back, en route to an 8-3 victory.
Kallista Hribar socked her team-best 17th home run of the season, while Kayli Pfeffer drove in four to lead the offensive onslaught. Ottelien and Megan Baker also drove in runs for the Grove.
Pfeffer also earned the victory on the mound for Union Grove, allowing three runs on three hits in seven innings.
“We were a little short on pitching late in the season due to Ottelien missing about 10 days with a sore shoulder,” Odell said. “But Kayli through well in this game to help us advance.”
Overall, Odell was pleased with his young team’s progression this season. The first-year coach had the difficult task of trying to maintain a program that has been one of the best in the state over the past 10 years.
“Basically, we were young and inconsistent, which is what you expect with a young team,” Odell said. “We played a tough schedule and we would have loved to win four or five more games in which we were in the game, but came out short. But at the end of the day, you are what your record says you are.”
Unfortunately for the Broncos, the record indicated a disappointing season.
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