WIAA SECTIONAL SEMIFINAL: Union Grove 4, Burlington 1
Stroke of luck lifts Lady Broncos
By Mike Ramczyk
UNION GROVE – Union Grove head coach Ryan Boylen said third baseman Alyssa McClelland had been a habitual tough-luck out all season.
Line drives right at fielders, deep balls caught at the warning track and rocket-like ground balls have been the difference between a good and great season, batting-average wise.
But McClelland’s fortunes turned around with one powerful swing Tuesday night in a WIAA Division 1 softball sectional semifinal, and it was the difference in the Lady Broncos’ 4-1 victory over visiting Burlington.
The Lady Demons finished the season 21-7 and recorded the most wins in school history.
With two runners on in the first inning, McClelland smashed a deep fly ball that hit off the top of the outfield fence and dropped beyond the field of play for a three-run home run.
Boylen said the weather wasn’t a huge factor, but the pitchers had their issues.
“She’s been building up that luck,” Boylen said of McClelland. “And we kind of needed it there.”
“Senior leadership has been a big part of our season. We have a little more confidence going into the Central game.”
While the teams battled through steady rainfall starting in the fourth inning, they each managed only one run in the final six innings.
With Division 1 recruit Brittany Moore acting as her usual dominant self, it was all the girls needed.
Union Grove (25-2), the No. 1 seed, travels to Lake Geneva Badger High School Thursday at 5 p.m. to battle rival Westosha Central (24-4), the 2 seed, for the right to advance to the WIAA state tournament.
Central, ranked No. 1 in the state according to wissports.net, has beaten the Grove two straight postseasons.
Grove, which had been the No. 1 team in state all season, dropped to No. 2 last week after being upset by Wilmot.
Central, which split with the Broncos and Panthers in the regular season, won the Southern Lake Conference title.
Moore struck out 13 Demons and walked two.
McClelland finished with the three decisive RBIs.
“It was hard to be accurate,” Moore said. “But I fought through it, and we ended up winning.”
In the sixth inning, Burlington senior Tay Lewis drove a run-scoring double to the right-center fence and cut the lead to 4-1.
But Moore struck out the next two batters to end the threat.
“Nobody’s perfect. People are going to get good hits. But I knew we had a decent lead. I don’t really get shaken up by people on base.”
Moore’s ready for the rubber match with the Falcons.
“We have to fight,” she said. “We’re right there with them. We have to make sure our energy is up, and it’s nothing new to us.”
Burlington pitcher Danielle Koenen walked four, but settled down to only allow one run after the first-inning home run.
Three Demons say goodbye
For Lewis, Koenen and fellow senior Hayley Syens, it’s the end of a road with steady progress, culminating with a historic 2016 campaign.
Lewis is heading to Iowa State University to continue her softball career, Koenen will play college softball and Syens plans to attend UW-Whitewater.
“I love this team so much,” Syens said. “It was so much fun to come to practice every day.”
Lewis said it was great working with the team as a captain, and she said the team is set up well for the future.
“Everyone respected us as captains, and it was a great group. The Demons are coming.”
Koenen, who said she will play in Michigan and will study physical therapy, is anxious to start her new chapter.
“I’m excited for a new town and to meet new people,” she said.
Lewis and Koenen plan on playing with the BATS club team this summer.
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