For the second consecutive postseason game, the Shawano Community High School softball team had to overcome early offense from its opponent.
Thursday, the second-seeded Hawks hosted No. 6 Wittenberg-Birnamwood in the WIAA Division 2 regional semifinal after overcoming an early deficit to defeat Clintonville on Wednesday.
Witt-Birn took an early lead, with Jessica Anderson and Sophia Carter each scoring in the top of the first.
However, the Hawks answered to take the lead in the second and scored four runs in the final two innings to take a 7-3 win and advance to the regional final at 1:30 p.m. Friday against top-seed Marinette.
Seniors Nicole Ainsworth and Briana Boda each scored two runs for the Hawks, who needed adjustments at the plate after the first inning.
“We were swinging at some high pitches early and it’s because the girls were anxious to swing the bat,” Shawano coach Kevin Isaacson said. “Once we stayed disciplined, it became an exciting game.”
Ainsworth started the Hawks’ second at-bat by reaching on an error. Brianna Zook drew a walk before an RBI single by Boda and two walks that scored runs.
Shawano’s 3-2 lead held until the fifth inning, when Wittenberg-Birnamwood tied the game as Kendra Stoltz scored on a Denee Reimer single.
The Hawks reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the fifth with a pair of runs, again produced by the middle of their lineup. Ainsworth, Zook and Boda each reached base, with Ainsworth and Boda scoring runs to give Shawano a 5-3 lead.
Junior Sydney Schreiber (2-3), who went the distance to earn the win for the Hawks, allowed only one hit in the final two innings.
For good measure, the Hawks added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth inning, with Julia Haarth and Saige Henning each scoring, and Henning and Courtney Ainsworth each producing an RBI.
Schreiber allowed five hits and allowed one walk over six innings with one strikeout.
Anderson took the loss for the Chargers (6-18, 3-10 Central Wisconsin Conference-8), pitching four innings and allowing five hits and striking out two.
Marinette (18-4, 12-4 Bay Conference), which finished second in the conference, won both ends of a doubleheader with Shawano on May 9, 7-6 and 6-3. The Hawks (11-14, 7-9 Bay) finished sixth in the Bay standings.
“We had them beat 6-3 in the seventh and made a couple of mistakes,” Isaacson said of the 7-6 loss. “They are very well-coached and hit through the lineup.
“I think it’s a fun matchup, and if we decide to hit, we can play with anybody.”
Mckenzie Bebo and Ellie Wahl each batted .492 this season for Marinette and finished among the top-five hitters in the conference. The Marines defeated Seymour, 6-2, to earn their regional final berth.
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