MADISON — It took nine innings, and a state tournament record, to deny Pacelli a third consecutive state championship in their first appearance in the Division 4 final.
Pacelli fell to Mishicot in an extra-inning thriller on Saturday, June 14, losing 1-0 at Goodman Diamond behind a historic performance from pitcher Kiran Sanford.
The UW-Oshkosh commit dominated for Mishicot, breaking the WIAA state tournament’s single-game strikeout record at 20. She yielded only one hit and no walks to help her team pick up its second championship in program history.
The Cardinals gave up one run through their entire postseason campaign, but it arrived after eight scoreless innings on Saturday.
Peyton Mancl, who pitched a no-hitter in the semifinal to send Pacelli to the championship, picked up where she left off. She struck out six of Mishicot’s first nine batters, allowing only five hits and one walk while striking out 13, but Pacelli struggled to string together productive at-bats.
Kasey Brouchoud started the winning rally for Mishicot with a double into left field before Ella Gnadt entered as a courtesy runner and advanced on a passed ball.
And though Mancl had gotten out of jams throughout the game, Mishicot finally drove in the only run when Sierra Skarda singled into left field.
Mishicot sent Pacelli’s final three batters down in order to end its year on a 16-game winning streak and claim a second Division 4 state championship in five seasons. Pacelli was playing Division 4 for the first time after moving up a division due to the competitive balance rule.
Contact or send game stats/info to Sports Reporter Alfred Smith III at alfred.smith@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @AlfredS_III.
This article originally appeared on Stevens Point Journal: Pacelli softball’s three-peat spoiled after historic Division 4 championship performance
Reporting by Alfred Smith III, Stevens Point Journal / Stevens Point Journal
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