Wausau Falls 7-1 in Game Two
MADISON, WI. – The Wausau Ignite cap off an incredible regular season, going from last place in their inaugural season to competing in the Northwoods League Softball Championship Series. The Madison Night Mares came up victorious7-1 in game two, sweeping Wausau.
How It Happened
Down their first two runs in the opening inning. Riley Schwisow (Northwestern State) reached first on an infield error. Claire Calmes (UW-Madison) followed with a hit-by-pitch, but was stranded. Zoey Mills (Northwestern State) once again took the circle for the Ignite, striking out the Nightmares three up and three down with two strikeouts.
Marley Teasley drew a one-out walk in the second but was left on. Madison opened the scoring off a single and a fielder’s choice, followed by a Trinity Kenemer (Metro State of Denver) sac fly.
Down 1-0 in the third, Gracie Konkol (St. Thomas, MN) led off with a single before a Mia Johnson (UW-Parkside) fielder’s choice put an out on the board and kept a runner on first. Johnson was left on, closing the effort. Madison extended their lead with a Tia Durst (Washington) solo home run, a Danielle Lucey (UW-Madison) RBI double, and an Ava Carroll (Washington) RBI single.
Trailing 4-0, Viola Smith (Eastern Illinois) smoked a one-out solo shot to left field. The only run that would cross for Wausau all game. The Night Mares didn’t plate a run in the fourth.
Gracie Konkol found another single in the fifth, and a Mia Johnson walk put two runners on with one out. The Ignite left both on, and Madison broke open the game. Hilary Blomberg (UW-Madison) struck a solo shot, and Emma Kavanaugh (Virginia Tech) smashed a two-run homer to put the Nightmares up 7-1.
The sixth saw Wausau put two runners on with one out, but another terrific double play turned by Madison kept Wausau down six. The Wausau defense took Madison down in three batters.
The Night Mares sat down the final three Wausau batters to end the game and become the first back-to-back champs in Northwoods League Softball.
Coming Up Next
The players and coaches have earned a well-deserved rest after a fantastic second season. Wausau proved many wrong with Jas Estrada taking her team from last place to the championship series in one year.
Thank you to the fans and viewers from all over for making your voices heard and lifting up the Wausau Ignite in their second year as a Northwoods League Softball franchise.
Fans can stay up to date with the Ignite by visiting ignitesoftball.com and watching games live on FloSports, with select contests also airing on the All Women’s Sports Network.
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Leveraging the 31-year success of the Northwoods League, the first for-profit summer collegiate baseball league, Northwoods League Softball is the first for-profit women’s summer collegiate softball league, beginning play in the Upper Midwest in 2024. The league’s purpose is to develop players for collegiate, Olympic and future professional competition. Teams are promoted similarly to minor league baseball clubs, playing games in front of fans in a fun, family-friendly environment.
