Senior McKenna Larsen’s return to the Oconto Falls High School softball team could not have come at a better time.
The pitcher missed the regular season after sustaining a torn ligament in her right hand during the basketball season and picked up where she left off entering the Panthers’ postseason.
With Larsen in a groove for her third postseason game, the fifth-seeded Panthers pieced together another complete game to beat No. 2-seeded Green Bay Notre Dame 8-2 in a WIAA Division 2 regional championship Thursday at Riverview Park.
“We had our eyes set on this goal,” Oconto Falls coach Rochell Otto said. “We were hoping McKenna Larsen would come back and get on the mound and we keep hitting the ball and playing solid defense, and here we are.”
In three postseason victories, the Panthers have outscored their opponents 28-9. Oconto Falls pounded out 11 hits – Liz Manns, Maddie Kussow, Ashley Terry and McKayla Johnson each had two hits — but still stranded 11 runners.
Oconto Falls also took advantage of four Tritons errors.
“Things just didn’t go our way today,” Notre Dame coach Rob Barlament said. “(Larsen) threw a great game, they played a great game. They hit the ball and we didn’t.”
Notre Dame ended Oconto Falls’ 2013 season with a 7-4 victory in a regional final. This year, it was the Panthers’ turn for payback.
“We got the revenge just a little bit,” Larsen said.
The win catapulted the Panthers into the sectional semifinal against No. 3-seeded Wrightstown on Tuesday. Results of that game were not available by the Times Herald’s press time.
The Panthers jumped on Tritons pitcher Emma Prebelski in the first inning. Manns singled and came around to score on a Kussow hit. In the next frame, Oconto Falls added three more runs as Manns stroked a two-RBI single.
“They got the momentum swing their way, and it kind of deflated our girls,” Barlament said. “For any team, it’s hard to come back when you get down early, so for them that was huge.”
With a four-run cushion, Larsen kept the Notre Dame hitters off-balance the rest of the game.
“It gives me a lot of confidence, some breathing room and not 1-0 ball games,” Larsen said. “It’s nice when they score runs for me.”
Larsen allowed seven hits and two walks while striking out three.
“She was hitting her spots, and her curve was working really nice today,” Otto said. “She’s using all her pitches.”
Notre Dame did its only damage in the fourth inning as Alexa Wolf laced a two-RBI single to cut the deficit in half. However, Oconto Falls didn’t take long to answer in the fifth. With Terry and Larsen in scoring position with two outs, Manns came through again with a clutch single to plate both runs.
“We never give up no matter what,” Larsen said. “Even when they come back, we’re going to come back, and I think that’s what’s special about this team.”
The Panthers tacked on two more insurance runs in the sixth — Johnson had an RBI single — and Larsen did the rest. She didn’t allow a Notre Dame runner past first base in the final three innings.
“It feels great to get out here and play one last time,” Larsen said. “I love the game, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Getting Larsen back in time for the postseason has translated into a deep playoff push for the Panthers.
“I definitely think they can do some damage,” Barlament said. “The way they can hit the ball and the way that (Larsen) throws, they can certainly make a run at it. They’re a great team.”
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