Four-run fourth lifts Tigers over Wildcats in sectional final

One big hit was the difference as a three-run double put Stratford on the board and gave them a lead they’d keep, beating Blair-Taylor, 4-1, in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Division Four Sectional Final game in Blair last Thursday.

The game was scoreless and B-T had two outs in the top of the fourth before a walk loaded the bases. Stratford’s eighth hitter — Lexie Christopherson — stepped to the plate and smashed a 1-1 offering from Abby Thompson deep to right field, bringing home all three runners. Christopherson then scored on a single by Laney Pankratz.

“If we get out of that jam, then maybe we win this game, 1-0, who knows,” B-T coach Greg Bratina said.

Thompson had only given up one hit prior to that inning, but the Tigers got four off of her in the fourth. She took the loss, striking out seven and walking one. She was replaced in the next inning by Lindsay Steien. 

The Wildcats got on the board in the bottom half of the inning. Madalynn Frederixon singled with two outs to get the team started. The next batter, Kierstyn Kindschy, smacked a double to centerfield, making the score 4-1.

B-T had a chance for more as Sydney Fremstad walked, but a ground out ended the inning.

The Wildcats struggled to come through in the clutch. Lexi Lofgren reached base with two outs in the fifth before a strikeout ended that inning. Anna White got on when she was hit by a pitch with one out in the seventh. The Wildcats had the top of their order coming up with seniors Lindsay Steien and Abby Thompson, but Steien — who hit .537 on the season — hit a fly ball that was caught in left field and Thompson struck out, ending the game. It was just the seventh time Thompson has struck out this season.

After scoring 10 runs when they played Stratford in April, B-T’s offense never got going. They had two runners on in the first, but consecutive strikeouts ended that threat. They stranded seven runners on base in the game. The Wildcats had just four hits and worked for two walks in the game, while striking out nine times against Laney Pankratz. 

“Offensively, we didn’t have it tonight, unfortunately,” Bratina said. “Why? I don’t know. Good pitcher, I’m not going to take anything away from her, but we missed chances to maybe do stuff.”

The loss ended the athletic careers of seven B-T seniors, who compiled a 78-6 record in their high school careers (24-4 in 2023), which were cut short by the elimination of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Wildcats won three Dairyland Conference titles, three regional titles and one sectional title. 

The same seniors were also on the basketball team that finished as the state runner-up in March. 

“It’s just an awesome group of girls. They’re so coachable, they work so hard… The stuff that they do, the way they lead as an example for the younger girls. You just can’t say much more about them,” Bratina said. “Everybody knows them for their athletics, but in the classroom too, they’re the top students. They’re just a great group of girls, I’m really going to miss them.”

B-T 6 O-F 2

The Wildcats were in control for most of the sectional semifinal game before tacking on a couple of runs late.

B-T scored one run in each of the first three innings before the Thunder got on the board in the top of the fourth. The Thunder’s run came when Taylor Gunderson tripled and scored when B-T outfielder White missed a cutoff throw.

The Wildcats seemed to be on the cusp of breaking the game open, but couldn’t quite push runs across. Fremstad led off the fourth with a single, but was out when White’s line drive was caught by O-F second baseman Addi Koxlien, who threw to first for a double play. Steien then singled and Thompson hit into an error. They moved to second and third and could’ve scored if Lofgren’s deep fly ball hadn’t been caught. 

B-T finally seemed to break through with two runs in the fifth. Lydia Frederixon doubled to put runners on second and third before Madalynn Frederixon hit into an error, allowing one run to score. Kindschy then hit a sacrifice fly, putting B-T ahead 5-1.

Steien led off the sixth with a single and advanced all the way to third on a groundout before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Lofgren.

O-F got a couple of runners on in the seventh before a two-out single brought them within four. Thompson closed the door with a strikeout, however.

Thompson came on in relief of Steien, who was the winning pitcher. Steien struck out nine and allowed just one hit in four innings. Thompson struck out five and allowed three hits in three innings. Neither allowed a walk in the game.

B-T had 10 hits in the game as Steien, Lofgren and Lydia Frederixon all had two. The Wildcats could’ve won by more, but they stranded seven runners on base.