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by Tom Butt
The Wautoma Lady Hornet softball season came to an abrupt end as the host #4 seed Campbellsport Cougars beat the #5 Hornets 9-8 in the second round of Regional play.
Wautoma would give the Cougars five free gifts in the first inning as sloppy Lady Hornet defense created a 5-0 score. Campbellsport would add a couple more in the third inning on a solo home run along with a couple hits, walk and sacrifice fly to enlarge the lead to 7-0.
The second time around the batting order paid off dividends for the Hornet squad as they were able to get two runs in the fourth on an Ava Stahl lead-off double, Brianna Buechner sac bunt, Sydney Dunn RBI single, Ava Butt single and Liv Cieslik two-out RBI double to make it 7-2. Wautoma would decrease the lead to 7-5 in the fifth inning as Lyv Weiss got things going with a one-out single, Stahl single, Dunn single and Butt bases clearing double with two outs.
The resilient Hornet team would get the lead in the sixth inning 8-7 thanks to a couple dropped third strikes and a Stahl RBI double with two-outs while eventually scoring on a passed ball. Yet, the bottom of the sixth saw the Cougars regain the lead 9-8 as Campbellsport’s Schadrow led off with a single, sacrifice bunt to get her to second base, Homuth dropped third strike and then an RBI single by McCarty scoring Schadrow. Homuth would eventually come home on a wild pitch.
Wautoma would have their chance to tie it in the seventh as Dunn got on base from a Cougar defensive miscue, Butt sacrifice bunt to advance Dunn to second base, Byrn Gunderson lacing a groundout to the Cougar 2B as it took a perfect hop for her with Dunn now at third with two-outs and the final Hornet hitter grounding out to end the game.
The beauty of this year’s team is they never folded when the game looked out of reach which a team reflection of PRIDE and TEAM. This year’s team was victims of a lot of close game coming out on the short end of the straw.
Wautoma would outhit the Cougars nine to seven with Stahl (3x4, 2 2B’s, RBI, 3 runs), Dunn (2x4, RBI, 2 runs), Butt (2x3, 2B, 3 RBI’s, sac) leading the attack with Cieslik (1x4, 2B, RBI) and Weiss (1x3, 2 runs) each collecting a hit. Wautoma sophomore Liv Cieslik pitched well enough to be credited for a win going six innings, 3 K’s, seven hits, 2 BB’s, a wild pitch and only three earned runs.
This concludes the Wautoma Hornet 2023 softball team’s season as their overall record dropped to 14-13 overall.
The Hornets finished second in the SCC Conference with an 8-2 record while losing to SCC Conference Champions Adams-Friendship Green Devils twice who finished 9-1.
Furthermore, a send out to the five graduated Hornet Seniors who dedicated their time and talents to the program starting with (numerical order) - #3 Ava Butt C/P, #4 Braelynn Pica Utility, #13 Sydney Dunn 3B, #34 Ava Stahl SS and #44 Natalie Perkins DP.
Also, a very sincere and deserving shout out to the softball programs coaches for their contributions to these wonderful young ladies lives in terms of softball knowledge along with teaching them life lessons -- Helper and 2020 Hornet grad/softball player Cheyenne Young and JV Coach 2019 Hornet grad/softball player MacKenzie Koats.
In addition, Volunteer Coach Jeff Stahl – Our gratitude is not enough for your countless hours both this year or past whether it was coaching in the youth program, storing the youth equipment, changing the Wautoma Ball Program culture (orange/black), physical labor on the fields, putting up the batting cages, getting the field ready for a pre-rain Varsity game, tarps, raking, portable fence and etc. Your heart and dedication does not go unnoticed by this watchful eye and others.
Finally, the rock of the Program Varsity Assistant Coach Jackie Gunderson - words can’t describe what you brought to the program. You brought your wealth of experience from being a part of the 2007 Hornet grad/SCC Conference Champion in all three sports – volleyball, basketball and softball. Plus, your family sacrifices with little Gunderson’s bouncing around at home games (soccer) or missing their mom on road trips. We were fortunate for you finding creative indoor or outdoor practice drills/games to make practice fun. Lastly, keeping an amazing scorebook and making sure your BUTT of a co-coach doesn’t forget anything.
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