One error. One clutch hit. One fine pitching performance.
When teams are close in talent, that is all that could separate one from heading to the state softball tournament and one starting its offseason a week early.
It is also the case for teams in the WIAA Division 1 Greenfield Sectional, which as of Tuesday was down to four teams: No. 1 Greenfield, No. 2 Muskego, No. 3 Oak Creek and No. 4 South Milwaukee.
"A couple mistakes could cost you the season, so you have to take care of business otherwise you're going home," said Muskego coach John Rosenberg, who was to host Oak Creek in a sectional semifinal game Wednesday after rainy conditions forced Tuesday's games to be postponed.
The winner of that game faces either Greenfield or South Milwaukee at 4:15 p.m. Friday at Konkel Park in Greenfield in the sectional finals for the right to go to next weekend's state tournament in Madison.
"There isn't one dominant team, and each team has an equal chance of winning it," Greenfield coach Jack Miller said.
The No. 1-seeded Hustlin' Hawks advanced to state last year after defeating Muskego, 7-5, in the sectional finals.
Rosenberg's squad has to get past the Knights first, but he would like to see a rematch in the sectional final.
"I'd like to face Greenfield again," Rosenberg said. "I have some bitter feelings for it."
To be continued?
In that game, Rosenberg's catcher was injured and forced to come out of the game when a Greenfield player slid into the Muskego player's leg.
Muskego also led early in the contest, but it quickly unraveled and its state tournament hopes evaporated.
The Warriors enter sectional play on an eight-game winning streak, having not lost in more than a month. This was after Muskego, which opened the season 10-0, lost five straight over a four-day span.
One of those losses came at the hands of Greenfield when the Hawks overcame an early deficit to win, 4-3, on May 1.
The winning pitcher in that contest was senior Shannon Butts, who has been a workhorse for Miller.
Butts is 16-3 this season and will most likely get the call this week.
If Butts and the Hawks can get past South Milwaukee, which defeated Franklin in the regional finals, Miller knows getting to state will not be easy.
"Either team is a formidable opponent," Miller said of Oak Creek and Muskego.
Knights are old hands
Oak Creek is familiar with this stage, as they have advanced to the state tournament in seven of the last 10 years.
Muskego, which finished second in the Southeastern Conference this year, had its best shot at reaching the state tournament last year.
Rosenberg said he likes his team's chances at the sectional. The Warriors are healthy and have first-team all-SEC pitcher Ashley Gnacinski, who is also hitting close to .600.
"They've come into their own," said Rosenberg, who graduated 10 seniors last year. "But we're not taking anyone for granted this sectional."
While Muskego wants to get revenge on the Hawks, Greenfield (20-5) would like to do the same to Oak Creek if the two teams match up Friday, as the Hawks suffered one of their five losses on the season to the Knights, 2-1, in April.
Much like the Warriors, who are young, Greenfield only has two seniors on its team.
So that's why Miller didn't anticipate this kind of year.
"At the beginning of the season, I might have been surprised," Miller said. "But as the season went on I knew we'd have a chance."
Sectional Overview
WHEN: Finals at 4:15 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Konkel Park
TOP SEEDS: Greenfield, Muskego, Oak Creek and South Milwaukee
E-mail Newsletter
Your link to the biggest stories in the suburbs delivered Thursday mornings.
Enter your e-mail address above and click "Sign Up Now!" to begin receiving your e-mail newsletter
Get the Newsletter!
More from Sports
- Oak Creek boys knock down door to beat Franklin, 46-43, in OT
- Sports Notes: Feb. 2
- Co-op gymnastics team getting closer to Burlington all the time
- Sports Wrapups: Feb. 2
- Franklin's Myers chooses a "family feeling," sticks with Northern Illinois
- Sports Wrapups: Jan. 24
- Franklin girls find road back to success, rout Bradford
- Sports Notes: Jan. 24
- Co-op gymnasts turn in best score in winning Arrowhead Invite
- Balanced Falcons take on challenge
0 COMMENTS