State Softball Tournament Preview...Division 1

Tuesday, June 6th, 2023 -- 6:05 AM

The 47th Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association State Softball Tournament will take place Thursday-Saturday, June 8-10, at Goodman Diamond on the University of Wisconsin campus in Madison.   Here's a preview of the Division 1 field.....

Division 1

Quarterfinals - Thursday, June 8

Game-1:  #2 Superior (25-0) vs. #7 Menomonee Falls (22-7) - 8 a.m.

Game-2:  #3 Oshkosh West (25-4) vs. #6 Sun Prairie East (24-4) - 10 a.m.*

Game-3:  #1 Kaukauna (27-0) vs. #8 Waterford (19-6) - Noon*

Game-4:  #4 Arrowhead (24-4) vs. #5 Oak Creek 23-6) - 2 p.m.*

Semifinals - Friday, June 9

Game-5:  Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 - 7 p.m.

Game-6:  Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 - 9 p.m.*

Championship - Saturday, June 10

Game-7:  Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6 - 6:30 p.m *

* Games begin approximately 30 minutes following previous game.

LAST YEAR:  Top-seeded Kaukauna won its second Division 1 title in a row last season with an 11-3 win over Sun Prairie in the championship game.

THE DIVISION 1 FIELD:  Two-time defending champion and top-seeded Kaukauna is the top seed. The Galloping Ghosts return to the State Tournament for the fifth time overall and for the third year in a row. They captured the gold trophy in each of their previous State appearances including 2010, 2017, 2021 and 2022. They advance to the State quarterfinals this season from the Pulaski Sectional by rolling to a six-inning, 10-0 win over Green Bay Preble in the final. They are the champions of the Fox Valley Association this spring. Superior is the #2 seed in the bracket. The Spartans qualify for the sixth time and for the second straight season. The most notable of the previous experiences were when the Spartans advanced to the semifinals in 1978 and in 2022. They finished first in the Lake Superior Conference this season and blanked Stevens Point 1-0 in the Marshfield Sectional final to qualify for State. Oshkosh West, the third seed, has qualified for the State Tournament for the ninth time and for the second consecutive season. The Wildcats furthest advance in the State Tournament was a runner-up finish in 1989. They qualify this season with an eight-inning, 2-1 win over Watertown in the final of the West Bend West Sectional. They placed second in the Fox Valley Association this season. Fourth-seeded Arrowhead is making its seventh trip to State and its first since 2008. The Warhawks won the Class A title in their first-ever appearance at State in 1982. They make their return to the tournament field following a 5-2 victory over Hamilton in the sectional final hosted by the Warhawks. They are the champions of the Classic Eight Conference this spring. Fifth-seeded Oak Creek is making its second straight appearance at State and its 11th overall. The Knights’ most notable experience in the tourney was a runner-up finish in 2005. They are the champions of the Southeast Conference this spring, and they qualified for State by virtue of their 2-1 win in eight innings over Kenosha Bradford/Reuther in the sectional final played in Kenosha. Sun Prairie East is the #6 seed in the bracket. The Cardinals qualify for the first time after the school district split into two schools this year. Sun Prairie, before it split into two schools, finished runner-up last season and qualified for State five straight times before the split, not including 2020 when the season and tournament was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The former Cardinals made eight appearances overall. The Sun Prairie program also finished runner-up in 2012, 2019 and 2021. They won their lone championship in 2018. This season, Sun Prairie East is the  champion in the Big Eight Conference, and they remain in contention for the title with a 7-0 over Madison Memorial in the sectional final played at Middleton. Seventh-seeded Menomonee Falls is participating in its seventh State Tournament overall and its first since the 2018 season. The Phoenix advanced to the semifinals that season and in 2013, which represents their furthest advance at State. They finished second in the Greater Metro Conference standings this season. Their return to the State semifinals comes by virtue of an 8-6 win over Cedarburg in the Nicolet Sectional final. Waterford, the eighth seed, qualifies for State for the first time in program history. The Wolverines celebrate their initial appearance following a 4-0 victory over Kettle Moraine in the Oregon Sectional final. They placed second in the Southern Lakes Conference standings during the regular season.

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