MADISON ― With the early summer sun beating down, the Mishicot and Pacelli pitchers brought their big fans in the WIAA Division 4 state softball championship.
Kiran Sanford struck out a new single-game state tournament record 20 batters, with just one run and no walks, to help Mishicot defeat Pacelli 1-0 in nine innings on Saturday, June 14, at Goodman Diamond.
Sanford also broke the tournament record for most strikeouts with 31, with the previous record of 24 set in 2010.
Pacelli’s Peyton Mancl struck out 13, meaning there were 33 combined strikeouts in this winner-take-all pitchers’ duel.
It was Mishicot’s seventh trip to the state tournament, all since 2014, and was the third time advancing to the championship.
Mishicot was runner-up in 2019 and won the Division 4 crown in 2021.
The anticipated showdown certainly lived up to its billing, as neither team had a hit until Mishicot’s Kaelin Adair and Karsyn Krause each singled in the top of the fourth. They got into scoring position but were stranded.
Sierra Skarda led off the next frame for Mishicot with a bunt single and stole second but was unable to advance further.
That was it for baserunners until the top of the eighth, when Emma Schmidt reached on an error to begin the inning. She would be bunted to second but did not move beyond second.
Kasey Brouchoud hit a one-out double in the top of the ninth, then was lifted for courtesy runner Ella Gnadt, who advanced to third on a passed ball. After a strikeout, Sanford reached on the first walk of the game by either pitcher.
Skarda followed with a single to left center, which plated Gnadt for the game’s only run.
Sanford was dominant, and the rare time a player from Pacelli was able to get her bat on the ball, the Mishicot defense was stellar behind the pitcher.
Mishicot has become one of the best softball programs, and overall sports programs, in the state since 2014 so this second state title felt as though it was a long time coming.
Contact Tom Dombeck at 920-686-2965 or tdombeck@htrnews.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Tom_Dombeck.
This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Mishicot softball wins D4 title as Kiran Sanford breaks multiple state records
Reporting by Tom Dombeck, Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter / Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter
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