Oconto used a three-run rally in the sixth inning to defeat Bonduel High School 4-2 Thursday in the WIAA Division 3 softball regional final in Oconto.
Despite a torn muscle in her hand, Bonduel pitcher Jennifer Dowden toughed out the game.
“It was basically up to her if she could play or not,” Bonduel coach Chris Reinke said. “The doctor gave her the go-ahead. I think that’s pretty gutsy on her part.”
Dowden allowed five hits in six innings of work. She struck out eight and walked none.
“I couldn’t ask for more of a performance from her,” Reinke said.
After giving up a run on an Emily Shallow triple and a Laken James single in the third inning, Bonduel tied the game in the fourth. Miranda Schmidt led off the inning with a single, advanced to second on a passed ball and scored on a throwing error.
With two outs in the fifth, Taylor Weier got Bonduel going again with a single. Schmidt, who led the Bears with two hits, then hit an RBI single to give Bonduel the lead.
Oconto, however, rallied for three runs in the sixth before the Bears got a double play to end the inning.
In the top of the seventh, Becky Berth, facing the bottom of the Bears’ lineup, struck out the first two batters and forced a ground out to end the game.
Berth allowed five hits and two runs in seven innings. She struck out three.
Reinke said her younger players might have been dealing with some nerves in their first regional final.
“You try to get them to understand it is just another ballgame,” Reinke said. “I’m proud of them. They hung in there and fought.”
Reinke praised Oconto’s defense, but said the Bears “could have done a little better job at the plate.”
The team is only losing two seniors in Courtney Schmidt and Morgan Sorenson. Reinke wants the girls coming back to remember the season-ending loss.
“I’m really excited for next year,” Reinke said. “They didn’t like this taste. I told them, ‘If you don’t like the way this feels, make sure it doesn’t happen next year.’”
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