By Chris Bennett
Correspondent
The Elkhorn Area High School softball team is on a roll that no one involved with the program wants to see end.
The Elks are come-from-behind winners in each of their last three postseason games, and rode that three-game winning streak to a WIAA Division 1 regional title.
Elkhorn defeated Columbus 5-3 May 29 in the regional final at Columbus for what Elks coach Jacob Schueller said is the first regional softball title in school history.
“It was emotional,” Schueller said. “It was a fun, long bus ride back. They were awfully squirrely.”
The Elks opened their postseason May 27 with a 5-3 victory against East Troy. The Elks beat Whitewater 4-1 May 28 in a regional semifinal at Whitewater to earn the right to face Columbus.
Schueller and the Elks set winning a regional title as one of their goals this season.
“It’s just good to meet your goals,” Schueller said. “We set high goals. Our goal was to win the regional this year, and then we got there.
“We got there because the girls bought in. They showed up, they worked hard, and they met our expectations when it comes to preparation and practice, and it’s paid off.”
The Elks (14-13) played Beloit Turner (24-2) Tuesday at Delavan-Darien in a WIAA Division 1 sectional semifinal. Elkhorn is seeded third in its regional bracket, and Turner is seeded first in its regional bracket.
Turner is ranked second in Division 2 in the season’s final Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association state poll, which is dated May 19.
The winner played either River Valley (21-5) or McFarland (22-4) Thursday at Evansville in the sectional championship for a berth in the Division 2 state tournament.
McFarland was ranked eighth in the final WFSCA Division 2 poll of the season. River Valley earned Honorable Mention consideration. The two teams played a sectional semifinal game Tuesday at Waubesa.
Against Columbus (19-8), the Elks trailed 3-1 before scoring four runs in the top of the seventh inning. Schueller said the Elks scored all of their runs with two outs.
Jasmine Bogart-Falbo finished with two hits and two RBI, and drove-in the winning run against Columbus and Whitewater.
“Our seniors have been huge,” Schueller said. “It’s been senior leadership that’s carried us through.”
The Elks broke a 1-1, extra-innings tie with three runs in the eighth against Whitewater (13-10). Bogart-Falbo’s two-run single proved to be the difference.
Hailey Wang, Morgan Rudolf and Bailey LeDonne each finished with two hits against Whitewater.
East Troy (4-13) led the Elks 3-0 before Elkhorn scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth and took the lead for good. Abbie Kolacke, Amy Kolacke and Wang each finished two hits.
Freshman Rachel Gosh is the winning pitcher in each game of the Elks’ postseason winning streak.
Gosh allowed four hits and struck out five against Columbus, and scattered seven hits over eight innings against Whitewater. Gosh allowed five hits and struck out seven against East Troy.
“I’m sure her arm was a little sore and fatigued, but she wanted the ball and wanted to win the game for her team, which is exciting to see for a freshman,” Schueller said. “Without her pitching as well as she as is, we’re not able to win these games.”
