WIAA State Softball Preview: Division 1
Tuesday, June 7th, 2016 -- 9:39 AM
The 41st Annual Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association State Softball Tournament will take place Thursday-Saturday, June 9-11, at Goodman Diamond on the University of Wisconsin campus in Madison.LAST YEAR: Westosha Central won the Division 1 State championship for the second time in the last three seasons by shutting out Watertown 3-0 in the championship game.
Thursday, June 9
Division 1 Quarterfinals
Game-1: Stevens Point (26-3) vs. Kenosha Tremper (17-10) - 9 a.m.
Game-2: Pulaski (26-1) vs. Divine Savior Holy Angels (22-6) - 11 a.m.
Game-3: Verona (22-6) vs. Watertown (20-7) - 1:30 p.m.
Game-4: Oshkosh North (23-2) vs. Union Grove (27-2) - 3:30 p.m
Friday, June 10
Division 1 Semifinals
Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 - 6 p.m.
Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 - 8 p.m.
Saturday, June 11
Division 1 Championship Game - 5:35 p.m.
THE DIVISION 1 FIELD: Last year’s runner-up Watertown advances to State for the second consecutive season and for the ninth time overall. The Goslings’ previous experiences at State have produced three runner-up finishes, one in 1981, another in 1984 and again last season. They are the champions of the Wisconsin Little Ten Conference and the representatives from the Arrowhead Sectional after defeating Menomonee Falls 3-1 in the final. Stevens Point is making its membership-leading 17th overall appearance at State. The Panthers have won the most State championships of any member school with eight. They won four straight titles from 2001-04, won back-to-back titles in 2008-09 and added another in 2011. In addition, they captured the State Class A championship in 1986. Furthermore, they were runners-up in 1985 and 2000. They are the champions of the Wisconsin Valley Conference this year, and they advance to State from the Marshfield Sectional following an 11-4 win over Hudson in the final. Verona is making its second appearance in the last three seasons and its 12th overall. The Wildcats made eight straight tournament appearances from 2001-2008. They finished runner-up in 2001, 2002 and 2008. They are the runners-up in the Big Eight Conference this spring. The Wildcats earned their berth in the State Tournament with a 3-0 blanking of Holmen in the final of the Sun Prairie Sectional. Union Grove qualifies for the State Tournament for the sixth time and for the first time in Division 1. All of its previous experiences have been in Division 2. The Broncos won the State title in 2007 and again in their most recent trip to Madison in 2011. They are the champions of the Badger Sectional by virtue of their 8-2 win over defending champion Westosha Central in the final. They finished runner-up to Westosha Central in the Southern Lakes Conference this spring. Kenosha Tremper makes its fourth State appearance and its first since 1986 when the Trojans advanced to the semifinals. They also reached the semifinals in their other two experiences at State in 1978 and 1983. They finished in second place in the Southeast Conference this spring, and they are the representatives out of the Greenfield Sectional with a 9-5 win over Kenosha Bradford/Reuther in the final. Pulaski returns to State for the third time overall and for the first time since 1996 when the Red Raiders finished runner-up. Their initial trip to State resulted in a loss in the quarterfinals in 1991. They are the champions of the Fox River Classic Conference this season. The Red Raiders defeated Hortonville 4-2 in the final of the Bay Port Sectional to advance to the quarterfinals. Oshkosh North returns to the State Tournament for the second time overall and for the first time since 1978. That appearance resulted in a defeat in the first round. The Spartans’ return to the tournament field is a result of their 1-0 victory over Kaukauna in the sectional final held in Oshkosh. During the regular season, they placed second in the Fox Valley Association behind Kaukauna. Divine Savior Holy Angels will be making its first appearance in the State Tournament following a 3-0 shutout over Germantown in the sectional final played at Germantown. The Dashers finished in a first-place tie with Menomonee Falls in the Greater Metro Conference this season.
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