Lady Rockets Win Regional Final against Weston
The New Lisbon Rockets Regional Champion softball team. FRONT ROW, FROM LEFT: Melia Gegenfurtner, Tricia Ritchart, Hilary Roscovius, Dominique Tafel, Patti Gregar. MIDDLE ROW, FROM LEFT: Assistant Coach Robin Schwab, Asia Delgado, Jordan McGuire, Kayla McNeely, Tanya Ritchart, Bryanna Moravek, Kiley Costello, Paige Neitzel, Megan Neitzel, Karla McNeely, Haley Woggon, Danielle Berry. BACK ROW, FROM LEFT: Assistant Coach Scott Uppena, Head Coach John Costello.
By David Paradise
Star-Times Sports Editor
The Regional Champion New Lisbon Rockets opened up regional play on Tuesday night against Scenic Bluffs Conference (SBC) opponent Wonewoc-Center in New Lisbon.
After fighting off a scoring threat from the Indians in the top-half of the first inning, New Lisbon's offense took over.
Danielle Berry singled to give the Rockets a baserunner and Tricia Ritchart cleared the bases with a two-run home run to center field.
Tanya Stickney followed Ritchart's home run with one of her own to put the Rockets up 3-0. Hilary Roscovius tripled and later scored. New Lisbon added another run in the first to lead 5-0 after one.
Haley Woggon got three quick outs pitching for New Lisbon and the Rockets' offense went back to work.
Following a single by Stickney and Roscovius, Dominique Tafel singled to drive in two more runs, pushing the New Lisbon lead to 7-0. Kiley Costello added an RBI double to give the Rockets an 8-0 lead after two.
Wonewoc-Center threatened in the third, after a Dana Leis walk and Kailey Fulton's single, but couldn't narrow the lead.
Megan Neitzel walked to start the bottom of the third for the Rockets. Neitzel would score on a suicide squeeze pay, with a well placed bunt from Ritchart.
Berry and Ritchart were able to score on wild pitches, and Costello hit another double, that scored two more runs that gave New Lisbon a 14-0 lead.
Woggon and the Rockets' defense shut down the Indians in the fourth, getting three straight outs.
New Lisbon's Melia Gegenfurtner drove in another run for the Rockets in the bottom of the fourth.
New Lisbon won going away 15-0.
"We have a team that can really hit the ball, it comes down to whether we can execute or not," New Lisbon coach John Costello said. "Wonewoc has really improved from earlier in the year, but when we hit like that it's fun to watch. I am really proud of the girls."
Regional Final Action
The Rockets continued WIAA tournament play on Thursday night in New Lisbon hosting the Weston Silver Eagles from the Ridge and Valley Conference.
New Lisbon got two quick outs in the top of the first inning, before a single by Weston's Lindsey Solchenberger. Rocket catcher Tanya Stickney was able to make a quick throw and pickoff Solchenberger trying to steal second, to end the top-half of the inning.
The Rockets' offense went to work again. Berry singled, and was drove in on a Stickney double.
Stickney scored on a Roscovius triple and Roscovius scored on a Gegenfurtner triple to give New Lisbon an early 3-0 lead.
After walking the first batter of the second inning, Woggon struck out three Silver Eagles to end the inning. Woggon then singled to start the bottom half of the second. Neitzel advanced the runner with a bunt and reached first. The Rockets scored on a wild pitch, and went into the third inning with a 4-0 lead.
Woggon struck out all three batters in the third, but the Rocket offense couldn't increase the lead.
Weston was able to score a run in the top of the fourth, to narrow the lead to 4-1.
New Lisbon responded with another strong offensive inning. Gegenfurtner got the ball rolling with a single. Woggon drove in the runner with a triple. Neitzel placed a bunt down the thirdbase line and was able to beat the throw to first and score Woggon from third. Ritchart singled to score Neitzel, to give New Lisbon a 7-1 lead after four.
New Lisbon's defense was able to shut down the Silver Eagles over the final three innings. The Rockets didn't give up a hit and Woggon struck out four of the final nine batters as New Lisbon held on for the 7-1 win.
"We played well. I am really happy for the girls. They are a good group and have worked their tails off for this," Costello said. "We just have to take things one pitch at a time."
The Rockets advanced to sectional action on Thursday, May 29. New Lisbon will host Independence/Gilmanton at noon. The winner will play the winner of De Soto against Highland at 3 p.m. in New Lisbon.