Softball in Division 4 of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) state tournament has run through one budding rivalry recently. Waterloo and Horicon have clashed in each of the last three state tournaments.
The Marshladies of Horicon won 11-9 in a regional final in 2022. They then advanced all the day to the Division 4 state title game, losing by a run to Grantsburg. Waterloo exacted revenge in 2023. The Pirates snuck by Horicon 2-1 to win a regional title of their own, sparking a run all the way to the state title game. Waterloo would fall 10-6 to Iola-Scandinavia to finish as runner-up.
Of course, these two met once again in the 2024 state tournament. This time, the matchup came in the sectional semifinal of Sectional 4. Both No. 1 seed Horicon and No. 2 seed Waterloo had already claimed regional titles before the Marshladies hosted the Pirates on both Tuesday, May 28 and Wednesday, May 29. In a tight contest, Horicon came up clutch with a walk-off RBI in the bottom of the seventh inning to win 3-2.
Only half of an inning was completed on Tuesday as a rain storm passed through Horicon. It didn’t lack for action, though, as Waterloo took a 1-0 lead. With two outs on the board, senior Katrina Freund bashed a triple. Sophomore Emma Baumann, who hit a walk-off RBI single to win the regional title game the week prior, stepped up and connected on a single to center field to score Freund.
Before the game was called in the bottom half of the inning, Horicon loaded the bases with only one out. Waterloo freshman pitcher Ally Schaumann took some time to settle in with a walk followed by hitting two batters in a row. She returned to Horicon on Wednesday and got out of the jam, forcing a pop out before recording a strikeout.
Schaumann was able to keep the Marshladies at bay until the bottom of the third inning. With two runners on base, Waterloo commited an error in left field that scored one run and left runners at second and third base. Schaumann avoided further damage with back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning.
The Waterloo offense didn’t let the game remain tied at one run each for long. The Pirates immediately scored in the top of the fourth inning. Schaumann helped herself out. With two outs on the board, she hammered a tough ground ball to second base. The fielder mishandled it, allowing junior Alix McCarthy to score from second to restore a 2-1 lead for her Pirates.
The consistent string of scoring continued in the bottom half of the fourth inning. Horicon came out swinging with a single and double to lead off. A fielder’s choice at shortstop allowed one run to score, again knotting things up at two runs each. Schaumann got a pair of pop outs to end the inning.
This scoring run from both sides then silenced. Neither team struck in the fifth of sixth innings. Waterloo stranded a pair of runners on the base path in the top of the seventh inning, bringing the Marshladies back to the plate in a tie game. They came up clutch with a pair of singles prior to a game-winning bunt to third base. Horicon walked off the win, 3-2, to end Waterloo’s season.
The Pirates close 2024 with a 15-10 overall record. This included a 7-1 record in Capitol — South conference play to share the league title with Marshall. The loss also brings an end to the high school playing career of the senior class of 2024. This decorated group, which helped lead Waterloo to state as juniors and another Capitol — South conference title as sophomores, includes Brenna Huebner, Katrina Freund, Briana Lauersdorf, Leeah Dorn, and Ashlyn Albrecht.
The future remains bright for Waterloo. The Pirates get three more years of Schaumann in the pitching circle, as well as three more from freshman shortstop Callie Davison. Sophomore Emma Baumann has already established herself as a reliable bat, junior Alix McCarthy returns two years of experience in the outfield, and sophomore Marissa Spoke enjoyed a breakout season at the plate.
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