The way this team hits, Marinette’s first regional high school softball title in 11 years was practically inevitable.
Marinette crushed Shawano 13-3 in six innings, then celebrated with its WIAA Division 2 regional championship trophy at Scott Field.
“Feels so good,” junior shortstop Teya Lambie said. “We have all those people who doubted us going into last year.”
Shawano (12-15) was no pushover, and the Hawks threatened to break out to a big lead. An error, a Courtney Ainsworth single and two walks forced in one run, but Shawano left the bases loaded with one out.
Marinette answered with three runs in its first at-bat. Following an error and an Ellie Wahl base hit, Cassie Hilbert, Mackenzie Francour and Marissa Mailand hit consecutive RBI singles.
“The fact that they showed that resiliency early on in the game just shows what they’re made of,” Marinette coach Corry Lambie said. “I consider myself very fortunate to be around such a great group of young ladies.”
Shawano tied the game in the second. Saige Henning blasted a two-out solo home run to left, Allison Raddant beat out an infield single, and Courtney Ainsworth, who was 2 for 4, followed with an RBI double.
The Marines regained the lead in their half of the second. Teya Lambie singled, stole second and scored on Wahl’s two-out line-shot double to left/center.
In the fourth, the roof caved in on Shawano’s upset hopes. Walks to Chloe Lambie and McKenzie Bebo to start the inning set the stage, and 12 Marines batted. Wahl drive an RBI single to center and Hilbert reached on an error.
“We have a lot of respect for the way Marinette hits,” Shawano coach Kevin Isaacson said. “They just clobber the ball. We needed to play perfect defense, and we didn’t play perfect defense.”
Francour beat out an infield hit to knock in the third run of the inning. Mailand drew a bases-loaded walk, and another run scored on an error. Teya Lambie and Chloe Lambie slapped RBI singles to left for an 11-3 lead.
Marinette’s excellent play is a product of good preparation.
“I just think they come to practice ready to work and ready to learn every night,” coach Lambie said. “I would say two nights ago was probably our best practice of the year. Bottom line — they come hungry to learn, hungry to work.”
Mailand reached on an infield hit and scored on Kierstin Metzner’s opposite-field single in the fifth.
“Hitting is contagious,” Teya Lambie said. “When I see Kierstin hit, I want to hit.”
The 10-run rule came into play in the sixth. McKenzie Bebo doubled, took third on a wild pitch and scored on Wahl’s flyout to center.
Sydney Schreiber took the loss. She worked five innings, giving up seven runs on 11 hits and two walks, while striking out three.
Wahl struggled early but shut out the Hawks over the final four innings. She struck out six, walked five and yielded four hits.
The defense behind Wahl was strong. Teya Lambie ended first inning by smothering a hard grounder and racing over the second base for a forceout. McKenzie Bebo made a nice stab at first base for a putout in the third, and center fielder Taylor Bebo ran down a fly in the fourth. Left fielder Marissa Mailand also made a nice running catch.
“We always talk about picking each other up,” Teya Lambie said. “Just errors and stuff, we didn’t let it get to us. I’m so proud of our seniors (Wahl, Hilbert and Francour). They’re the ones who kept us going.”
Marinette (20-4, 12-4 Bay Conference) will play in a sectional semifinal Tuesday in Sturgeon Bay against Bay Conference champion Luxemburg-Casco, which advanced with a 1-0, extra-inning win over West De Pere.
Shawano ended the season 11-15 overall, 7-9 in the Bay.
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