MARINETTE — Scores of dazzling softball pitchers have passed through the halls of Marinette High School, but none of them had ever thrown a perfect game.
Until now.
Sun-bathed Kimberly Clark Field played host to history on Friday, as senior Wynn Erdman spun Marinette’s first-ever perfect game to help the Marines demoralize Two Rivers 10-0 in the opening round of the WIAA Division 2 Regional playoffs.
“Mentally, I came into this game knowing that, as a senior, it could be my last,” Erdman said. “I just remember telling myself that I’m the pitcher of this team, and we’re not stopping tonight.”
“I’ve been catching for Wynn for three years, so the bond we have is pretty special and to see her do something that has never been done in Marinette history is remarkable,” Erdman’s batterymate, Kaya Bodam said. “It’s good to see something that she’s worked so hard for finally happen.”
Erdman had the No.9-seeded Raiders in the palm of her hand all afternoon, racking up eight strikeouts through six complete innings of work, allowing no hits or walks, while the Marines played flawless defense behind their pitcher.
“Amazing,” an awed Marinette coach Scott MacIntrye said. “It’s Wynn’s last home game and for her to go out with that performance…you couldn’t ask for more. I love Wynn in the month of May.”
Marinette (6-12 North Eastern Conference, 7-13 overall) provided Erdman with early run support after Peyton VanPool clobbered a two-run double, while RBI-singles by Bri Adamski and George Grandaw pushed the Marines out to a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.
Regan Hermanson added a sacrifice-fly in the bottom of the second to plate Destiny Walker and make it a 6-0 contest in favor of Marinette.
“Scoring five runs in the first inning was huge. I told the girls that playoff wins aren’t easy, and they did a great job tonight,” MacIntyre said.
Erdman helped her cause with a strong showing at the plate, going 2-for-4, including a two-RBI single that nudged Marinette out to an 8-0 advantage.
By the time Bodam drove in Walker with an RBI-single, the Raiders (6-6 Eastern Wisconsin Conference, 9-13 overall) had all but given up and appeared to want to be anywhere but on the field.
Hermanson put Two Rivers out of its misery one at-bat later with another sac-fly to bring home Pyper Thoney and seal Marinette’s 10-run mercy rule victory.
Marinette collected 12 hits on Friday, with Walker going 3-4 with two runs scored, while VanPool, Grandaw and Adamski all went 1-3. Bodam was 1-3 with a walk, an RBI and one stolen base.
Anna Klein was the losing pitcher after allowing 12 hits, two walks and 10 runs, nine of which were earned. She picked up three strikeouts across six innings.
While the spotlight was firmly on Erdman after Friday’s triumph, she made sure to heap praise on her teammates, who were responsible for nine of Two Rivers’ 18 outs.
“I couldn’t have done this without the team. This is a team sport. I knew the infield had my back, and Destiny came through in the clutch in the outfield,” she said. “It also helps when they decide to crack four runs at the end. It makes it easier on me.”
Due up
Marinette: The No. 8-seeded Marines have a date with No. 1 Luxemburg-Casco on Tuesday in Luxemburg, with the winner advancing to the Regional championship game on Thursday.
The Spartans swept the regular season series with Marinette by a combined score of 17-1.
Tuesday’s action gets underway at 4:30 p.m.
Marinette 10 — Two Rivers 0Marinette 510 004 x — 10
Two Rivers 000 000 x — 0
WP: Erdman 6IP, 8K
LP: Klein 6IP, 12H, 10R, 9ER, 2BB, 3K
Leading hitters (Marinette): Erdman 2x4, 2R, 2RBI; Bodam 1x3, BB, SB, RBI; Hermanson 0x1, R, 2SF, 2RBI; Barrett Cole 1x4, 2R; Walker 3x4, 2R, 2B
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