Senior Morgan Kirwan reminded herself to protect the plate and to be aware of the rise ball.
Kirwan delivered a clutch two-run single to right on the first pitch in the bottom of the sixth inning to propel the Verona softball team to a 4-2 win over Onalaska in a WIAA Division 1 regional championship on Thursday, May 29, at Verona Area High School.
“I was just thinking before I had two strikes, I was going to swing for the fence and hit it hard,” Kirwan said. “If I did have two strikes, I was going to do a little poke and try to get on base any way I can. I was so happy when I got on first.”
Kirwan went 2-for-2 with two RBIs and a walk. It’s the second postseason game Verona won in one of its final two at-bats.
Verona coach Todd Anderson said Kirwan is a good fastball hitter.
“She’s been hot, seeing the ball and we have a lot of trust in her in that spot,” Anderson said. “If you look at the last seven or eight games, Morgan is on an uphill trajectory.”
Verona (18-5) advances to play top-seeded Middleton (22-4) in a sectional semifinal on Tuesday, June 3, at Fireman’s Park.
The Wildcats got stellar pitching from senior Mallorie Kreuser. She started on the mound and pitched four innings. Kreuser gave up two earned runs on two hits, while striking out seven and didn’t issue a walk.
Verona senior Mallorie Kreuser pitched four innings and struck out seven against Onalaska. Kreuser had a two-run single to right field to tie the game in the bottom of the third inning.
Photo by Mark Nesbitt
“I think everything was clicking in this game,” Kreuser said. “Everyone was doing their part. I’m always going for those ground balls. That’s our goal. We trust our defense. I want to play as long as I can and really cherish these last high school games.”
Sophomore Addison Quackenboss tossed three shutout innings in relief and struck out six. Quackenboss retired nine straight to end the game.
Verona sophomore Addison Quackenboss makes a throw to first base against Onalaska in a WIAA Division 1 regional final on Thursday, May 29, at Verona Area High School.
Photo by Mark Nesbitt
“Both of them did their jobs,” Anderson said of Kreuser and Quackenboss.
Onalaska scored two runs in the top of the second to jump out to an early lead. Onalaska’s Lauren Pica crushed an RBI triple down the left field line. The Hilltoppers scored a second run on a squeeze bunt to take a 2-0 lead.
The Wildcats trailed by two runs in the bottom of the third. Kirwan and Quackenboss both singled to center. Kreuser delivered a clutch two-run single to right to tie the game at 2.
“It felt like a solid hit,” she said. “I was just happy to put my team on the board.”
Verona 3, Madison West 2
Verona survived Madison West 3-2 in a regional semifinal on Tuesday, May 27, in Verona.
The Wildcats trailed 2-1 before plating two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Both runs came from the bat of Kreuser, who doubled on a ground ball to right field to score Kirwan and Quackenboss.
Madison West – the 13th seed – held Verona to four hits. Kreuser, Quackenboss, Sierra Ejercito and Emma Parker all had one hit. Kreuser pitched five innings and allowed no earned runs on five hits. She struck out six and issued no walks. Quackenboss tossed the final two innings, allowing no runs or hits while striking out four.
Now, Verona gears up for a rematch with Middleton. The Cardinals have won four straight games against the Wildcats. Verona lost to Middleton 3-1 in the season opener and the Cardinals slugged their way to a 9-1 victory on May 6.
“They have had our number this year,” Anderson said. “They are co-champions and the class of the conference. We will go out and battle.”