WIAA State Softball Tournament Preview - Division 1

Tuesday, June 10th, 2025 -- 6:13 AM

The 49th Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association State Softball Tournament will take place Wednesday-Saturday, June 11-14, at Goodman Diamond on the University of Wisconsin campus in Madison.   Here's a preview of the Division 1 field......

Division 1

Quarterfinals - Wednesday, June 11

Game-1:   #2 Kaukauna (24-0) vs. #7 Sun Prairie East (22-7)  - 11 a.m.

Game-2:  #3 Hamilton (25-3) vs. #6 Oregon (23-3) - 1:30 p.m.*

Game-3:  #1 Kenosha Bradford (27-1) vs. #8 Cedarburg (22-7) - 4 p.m.

Game-4:  #4 D.C. Everest (25-2) vs. #5 Watertown (21-4-1) - 6:30 p.m.*

Semifinals - Thursday, June 12

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

Semifinals - Friday, June 13

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

Championship - Saturday, June 14

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:  Second-seeded Kenosha Bradford won the Division 1 title last season with a 9-3 win over fourth-seeded Milton in the championship game.

THE DIVISION 1 FIELD: Defending champion Kenosha Bradford is the top seed in the bracket. The Red Devils are making the program’s sixth State Tournament appearance overall. Their most notable experience prior to capturing the crown last season was a runner-up finish in 2013. The Red Devils have an additional appearance as a member of a co-op with Kenosha Reuther in 2019, which resulted in a loss in the semifinals. They finished atop the Southeast Conference standings this season. The Red Devils earned the opportunity to contend for back-to-back titles by defeating Oak Creek 8-2 in the sectional final played at Muskego. Kaukauna is the #2 seed. The Galloping Ghosts return to the State Tournament for the seventh time overall and for the fifth year in a row. They captured the gold trophy in each of their first five State appearances, including 2010, 2017, 2021, 2022 and 2023. They advance to the State quarterfinals again this season from the Pulaski Sectional by edging Green Bay Preble in the final by a score of 2-1 in eight innings. They are the champions of the Fox Valley Association this spring. Hamilton is seeded third. The Chargers qualify for the second year in a row and for the fourth time in the last five seasons. It’s the 12th time the Chargers have advanced to State overall. Their furthest advance toward a title in the program’s previous 11 appearances was to the semifinals in 1980 and 1987. They earn another shot at a title by working overtime to beat Wisconsin Lutheran 3-2 in nine innings in the final of the sectional final hosted by Hamilton. The Chargers are the champions in the Greater Metro Conference this year. Fourth-seeded D.C. Everest embarks on its first-ever experience in the State Tournament following the Evergreens’ 6-0 shutout over Menomonie in the Stevens Point Sectional final. They finished atop the standings in the Wisconsin Valley Conference this season. Watertown, the fifth seed, advances to State for the second year in a row and for the 11th time overall. The Goslings’ previous experiences at State have produced four runner-up finishes, one in 1981, another in 1984 and then again in 2015 and 2016. They are the champions in the Large Division of the Badger Conference this season. The Goslings are the representatives from the Oshkosh North Sectional after a 2-0 win over Neenah in the final. Oregon, the sixth seed, earned the school’s first trip to State in classic fashion. The Panthers outlasted Milton, last year’s runner-up, with an 8-7 victory in 11 innings. During the regular season, they finished runner-up behind State qualifier Watertown in the Large Division of the Badger Conference. Sun Prairie East is the #7 seed in the bracket. The Cardinals qualify for the third consecutive season after the school district split into two schools in 2023. They advanced to the semifinals in 2023 and fell in the quarterfinals last season. Sun Prairie, before it split into two schools, made eight appearances, winning its lone championship in 2018 and finishing runner-up in 2012, 2019, 2021 and 2022. This season, Sun Prairie East finished in a first-place tie in the Big Eight Conference with Middleton, and they advance to the State quarterfinals following a 3-2 victory over Middleton in the Baraboo Sectional final. Eighth-seeded Cedarburg returns to State for the second straight season and for the fourth time in the past five seasons. It’s the Bulldogs 13th trip to State overall. Their furthest advance in the tourney was to the semifinals in 1981, 1992 and 2001. This season, they placed third in the North Shore Conference standings, and they advance to the State quarterfinals with a 2-1 triumph over Brookfield East in the final of the Brookfield Central Sectional.

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 WCWF 14.1 in Green Bay/Appleton. The finals will also be streamed live on the Network stations’ websites.

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