Area softball teams learn postseason fates

All but one area high school softball team have learned postseason fates after the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association released brackets.

Bonduel earned the top seed of any local team. The Bears are the No. 1 seed in a Division 4 pod.

The Bears finished the regular season with an 18-0 record and eased to a Central Wisconsin Conference-East Division title with a 12-0 mark. The team’s strong season hasn’t gone unnoticed, with Bonduel ranked second in all of Division 4 in the latest coaches poll put out by the Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association.

Bonduel earned a bye into the regional semifinals on May 24, when it will host either No. 8 Crivitz or No. 9 Gibraltar/Washington Island at 4:30 p.m. Should the Bears win that game, they would host the regional title game on May 26.

Up in Division 2, Shawano and Oconto Falls are part of different regional pods.

Shawano picked up a No. 7 seed and will open the postseason May 19 by hosting No. 10 Lakeland at 5 p.m. Should the Hawks win, they would travel to No. 2 Medford for a regional semifinal game on May 24.

Oconto Falls is a No. 6 seed this spring and has a bye into the regional semifinals. The Panthers will open the postseason at 4:30 p.m. on May 24 at No. 3 Denmark, with the winner advancing to play No. 2 Luxemburg-Casco or No. 7 Little Chute.

CWC-East foes Wittenberg-Birnamwood and Menominee Indian will meet again in a Division 3 regional quarterfinal. The seventh-seeded Chargers will host the 10th-seeded Eagles at 4:30 p.m. on May 19. Witt-Birn won both of the regular season matchups.

The winning team will head to No. 2 Oconto on May 24 for a regional semifinal matchup.

Gillett/Suring picked up a No. 9 seed in its Division 3 bracket. The co-op will head to No. 8 Nekoosa for a regional quarterfinal game at 4:30 p.m. on May 19, with the winner getting No. 1 Peshtigo in a regional semifinal on May 24.

CWC-North teams Marion, Tigerton and Bowler/Gresham are in the same Division 5 regional quadrant.

Marion received a No. 5 seed and will open the postseason at No. 4 Newman Catholic in a regional semifinal on May 24. The game is scheduled for a 4:30 p.m. first pitch.

Tigerton picked up a No. 6 seed and will travel to No. 3 Three Lakes/Phelps on May 24. The playoff contest is set for 5 p.m.

Bowler/Gresham is in the same pod as Tigerton and received a No. 7 seed. The first-year co-op will head to No. 2 Edgar on May 24 for a regional semifinal, with a first pitch of 4:45 p.m.

The winners will all next play on May 26.

The St. Thomas Aquinas Academy/Lena co-op also plays in Division 5. The seventh-seeded co-op will start postseason play at No. 2 Laona/Wabeno on May 24, with a 4:30 p.m. first pitch.

Pulaski is a part of the Division 1 playoff field, which has not been revealed yet.

Visit www.wiaawi.org/Sports/Spring/Softball/Tournament for the latest playoff scores and matchups. Area softball postseason scores and highlights will be posted at www.newmedia-wi.com.

sports@newmedia-wi.com