WIAA State Girls Softball Tournament Preview...Division 5

Thursday, June 6th, 2024 -- 6:04 AM

The 48th Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association State Softball Tournament takes place today-Saturday at Goodman Diamond on the University of Wisconsin campus in Madison.   Here's a preview of the Division 5 field.......

LAST YEAR:  Pacelli, the #1 seed, earned the championship with a 9-6 win over third-seeded Oakfield in the Division 5 final.

Division 5
Semifinal - Thursday, June 6
Game-1: #1 Oakfield (25-3) vs. #4 Thorp (21-7) - 8:30 p.m.* - live on 92.3 FM WOSQ
Semifinal - Friday, June 7
Game-2: #2  Pacelli  (26-2) vs. #3 Assumption (17-6) - 8 a.m.
Championship - Saturday, June 8
Game-3:  Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 - 8 a.m.

* Games begin approximately 30 minutes following previous game

STATE TOURNAMENT ON THE AIR:  The championship finals of all five divisions will be aired live on the WIAA State Television Stations WKOW 27.2, WAOW 9.2, WQOW 18.2 and WXOW 19.2, WVTV 24.1 in Milwaukee and WLUK (FOX)/WCWF(CW) in Green Bay/Appleton. The finals will also be streamed live on the Network stations’ websites.

THE DIVISION 5 FIELD:  Last year’s runner-up Oakfield is making its 17th State appearance overall and its third in the last four years. The Oaks are the top seed in the bracket. They have won six State championships in the program’s history, including the Division 5 championship in 2021, Division 4 championships in 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2014, as well as the Division 3 crown in 1997. They were also the Division 4 runners-up in 2004, 2015 and 2018, as well as the Division 5 runner-up in 2023. This season, they are the champions in the North Division of the Trailways Conference. The Oaks advance to the semifinals by beating Barneveld 3-0 in the final of the sectional played at Belmont. Defending champion Pacelli was issued the #2 seed in the bracket. The Cardinals make their sixth appearance in the last seven tournaments – excluding the canceled season of 2020 – and their 12th overall. They have won Division 4 titles in 2003, 2015 and 2023, and finished runner-up in 2017. They also won a Division 3 title in 2012 with a runner-up finish in 2011. Prior to joining the WIAA, the Cardinals won six consecutive titles from 1992-97 while a member of WISAA. This season, they are the champions in the South Division of the Central Wisconsin Conference. The Cardinals advanced to State through the Stevens Point Sectional, culminating with a 10-0, six- inning win over Newman Catholic in the final. Assumption is seeded third in the bracket. The Royals make their third straight appearance and their eighth overall. They captured the Division 3 championship in their first experience in the State Tournament in 2001, the Division 4 title in 2005, and then the Division 5 crown in 2022. They finished second in the South Division standings of the Marawood Conference behind Division 4 qualifier Auburndale. The Royals earned their return to the State semifinals with a 10-0, six-inning shutout over Hillsboro in the final of the New Lisbon Sectional. Fourth-seeded Thorp makes its eighth State appearance and its second in the past three seasons. The Cardinals are seeking their second State title, having won their first in Division 4 in 2016. They also have three runner-up finishes. Those came in 2018 and in back-to-back appearances in 2008 and 2009. The Cardinals’ return to the tournament field comes after a high-scoring, 11-8 triumph over Mellen in the Athens Sectional final. Thorp finished third in the West Division of the Cloverbelt Conference this spring, which was won by Division 4 qualifier Fall Creek.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.