By Chris Bennett
Correspondent
The Elkhorn Area High School softball team opened postseason play Wednesday with a WIAA Division 2 regional semifinal game at home against East Troy (3-12).
The winner advanced to Thursday’s regional final against either Lake Mills (3-18) or Whitewater (12-9). The two teams played Wednesday at Whitewater.
The Elks entered the Division 2 tournament seeded third in their seven-team regional. Whitewater is seeded second and Columbus (18-7) is No. 1. Sectional play started May 29 and continues on June 2.
Three teams ranked in the Top 10 in the latest Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association Division 2 state poll are in the Elks’ sectional bracket. Beloit Turner (22-2) is ranked second, Delavan-Darien (19-5) is sixth and McFarland (20-4) is eighth.
However, the Lady Elks are in an advantageous position, considering they play their schedule against Division 1 opponents in the Southern Lakes Conference.
This means the playoff teams Elkhorn will see will not be of the caliber of its conference opponents, except for Delavan-Darien.
The Elks dropped their final three games of the regular season in tight Southern Lakes Conference contests.
Elkhorn (11-13, 3-10 SLC) lost 8-4 May 21 at home against Waterford (4-14, 1-9 SLC). The Elks lost each game of a doubleheader May 19 at home against Wilmot.
The Panthers won the first game 14-6 and the second game 4-1. Wilmot (15-9, 9-4 SLC) received honorable mention recognition in the latest WFSCA Division 1 state poll.
Elks coach Jacob Schueller labeled the loss to Waterford “disappointing.” The Elks trailed 4-3 before allowing the Wolverines four runs in the seventh inning.
“Pitching was a little inconsistent,” Schueller said. “We had some really good innings, and when we walked them, it came back to bite us. When we lost command of the strike zone, they made us pay.”
The Elks finished with 11 hits. Abbie Kolacke drove in two runs. Jasmine Bogart-Falbo, Payton Barker, Morgan Rudolf and Rachel Gosh each finished with two hits.
Rudolf and Bogart-Falbo each finished with two hits in the 4-1 loss to Wilmot. The Panthers scored a run in the first, two in the third and another in the fifth before the Elks scored their only run in the sixth.
Gosh threw six innings and allowed eight hits against two strikeouts.
The Elks led the Panthers 6-3 in the fourth inning of the first game before Wilmot scored eight runs in the fifth.
Amy Kolacke finished with three hits, a run batted in and a run scored. Meghan Etten, Barker and Bogart-Falbo each finished with two hits.
