Waupun Softball Brings Home The Gold!!

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For the first time in program history the Waupun High School softball team is a state champion!  Waupun brought home the WIAA Division Two State Championship trophy with a 7-3 win over Mosinee on Saturday night at the Goodman Diamond in Madison.

Mosinee (29-1) scored first with an unearned run in the bottom of the first.  Taelyn Jirschele reached on an error then while trying to steal 2nd had the ball hit her and ricochet into the left center field, allowing her to score.

The Warriors took the lead in the top of the 4th with a pair of runs.  Rozlynn Rivera singled with one out, then Addison Braun tripled to right scoring courtesy runner Carley White.   Kylie Pluim followed with a sac fly to left, scoring courtesy runner Hannah Bade.

The fireworks continued in the top of the 5th as Waupun exploded for five runs.  Olivia Lese led off with a double down the left field line. Rowan Harder followed that up with an RBI single to right. After an Ava Vande Zande single, Kailie Westphal walked to load up the bases.  Rivera reached on a fielder’s choice as Harder was thrown out at the plate.  Braun came to the plate and crushed a two strike, two out grand slam over the right center field wall, giving Waupun a 7-1 lead.

Mosinee added single runs in the 6th and 7th but couldn’t get any closer.

Braun earned the complete game victory, allowing just three runs, two earned.  She gave up just five hits, struck out five and walked a pair.  Braun also ended up 3×4 at the plate with a triple, grand slam and five RBI.    

“Coming into this tournament our energy was high.  We were not taking anything for granted.  Not many teams get to be here, so the fact that we were here is unreal.” Braun said. ” It’s unreal. The support from everyone here.  Waupun, they wanted the title. They knew from the beginning of the season that we were a special team.  Coach Navis has told us that all year long and to finally prove to everyone that “yes” we deserve to be here, it’s awesome.”

Ava Busse took the loss giving up seven earned runs and 10 hits to go along with five K’s two walks.

“We’ve been good for 48 years. It’s our third appearance.  To make it in technically my first year as a regular head coach, it comes with the hard work and learning from some great coaches.”  Waupun Coach Josh Navis told 1430 ESPN Beaver Dam.  “From back in the 80s to the 90s to now.  I told these girls we walk on the shoulders of legends in Waupun and although not all of them made it here, it’s because of them that we made it here.”

Navis said his team stayed the course during this championship season.  “(They) had a faith and belief in themselves and the good Lord.  They never got down in our losses. Sometimes you worry that they don’t care because they are having fun on the bus after  loss but it was the short memory and they knew they got better in every loss this year and they learned.”

The Warriors advanced to the title game with a 2-1 win over New Berlin Eisenhower on Friday.

Waupun (20-4) previously went to state in 1985 and 2015.  The 2015 run ended with a state runner-up trophy.

Click the link to hear postgame comments from Waupun Coach Josh Navis

Click the link to hear from Waupun Sophomore Addison Braun

Click the link to listen to the 1430 ESPN Beaver Dam Radio Broadcast of the game

Here the final call of Waupun’s Historic State Title

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