By Rich Palzewic
Sports Editor
Fifteen days later, conditions were nearly perfect in the team’s rematch May 24 in a Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Division 1 regional game at De Pere.
The No. 10-seeded Phantoms turned the tables in a 3-1 victory over the No. 7 Redbirds.
West De Pere advanced to face No. 2 Hortonville Thursday, May 26, on the road for the regional championship.
“We kept telling the girls the score from our last game against De Pere didn’t mean much,” West De Pere Head Coach Jennifer Timm said. “We felt like we were at least equivalent, if not better, in some areas compared to (De Pere) – seeds don’t matter.”
Timm said she didn’t feel slated with the 10 seed.
“We have a great area for softball,” she said. “When you bring the FRCC (Fox River Classic Conference, the FVA (Fox Valley Association) and parts of the Bay (Conference) together, there’s lots of good teams.”
Timm said anything can happen in the postseason.
“You simply have to look at college softball,” she said. “There were some upsets – we’re ready to face Hortonville.”
The Phantoms scored a single run in the first inning and two more in the fifth – junior pitcher Leah Kocken did the rest.
The righty allowed an unearned run in the sixth inning, walked one, struck out five and surrendered only three hits.
“I have to get give credit to my catcher (Morgan Hansel),” Kocken said. “If it wasn’t for her assigning my pitches, I wouldn’t have had such a good game. Morgan and I talked before the game and set a game plan.”
Unlike a lot of area coaches who call the pitches from the dugout, Timm said she lets “my awesome catcher” do the work.
The Phantoms started hot in the first inning after Megan Burns led off with a walk against De Pere pitcher Reese Falish, was sacrificed to second on a Karleigh Linssen bunt and scored on a Kocken RBI single.
West De Pere added two more runs in the fifth inning on four hits, including RBI hits from Nevaeh Wagendorf and Hansel.
The Redbirds scored their run in the sixth inning on an RBI single from Hallei Mleziva.
De Pere also threatened in the bottom of the seventh inning.
The Redbirds had two on with two out, but Kocken forced an infield pop-up to end the game.
Wagendorf and Alana Noggle each had three hits for the Phantoms, while Hansel added a pair.
Other local regional results
Division 1: Green Bay Preble 15, Green Bay West/East 0; Appleton North 6, Bay Port 5; Ashwaubenon 9, Appleton West 1; Pulaski 5, Southwest 1
Division 2: Seymour 6, Marinette 1
Division 5: Niagara 10, Green Bay N.E.W. Lutheran 3