State softball championship eludes Pacelli

MADISON - In keeping with tradition, members of the Pacelli softball team lined up on the first base foul line to receive their Division 4 state championship game medals.

While waiting for their turn, Paige Hintz and Cailin Firkus, among others, couldn't hold back the tears any longer. They were left alone with their thoughts.

There was no more hiding their emotions. As the line progressed, the hurt came to the surface.

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Pacelli brought home a trophy Saturday, but it had to settle for silver instead of gold after suffering a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to Juda/Albany at Goodman Diamond.

The Cardinals finish their season at 20-9.

"We were the underdogs. Not many people thought we would even make it to state," Cardinals senior pitcher Brook Nagorski said. "So to be in the state championship game and lose by one run, I'm proud of my team and I'm proud of our season."

There will be plenty of what ifs when the Cardinals have some time to reflect on the title game.

None more glaring than a three-inning stretch from the fourth through sixth innings when seven runners were left on base. And lets not forget about the four errors they committed.

Pacelli loaded the bases with one out in the fourth only to leave all of the runners stranded. A similar fate befell it the next two innings.

"Not exactly the outcome I was looking for," Pacelli coach Ann Molski said. "They took advantage of our errors; we didn't take advantage of theirs.

"We didn't take care of what we needed to take care of. We just didn't pull through and get the hits we needed today."

Juda/Albany pitcher Nickole Becker had a lot to do with Pacelli's struggles with runners in scoring position.

When she needed to make a pitch she was able to spot the ball and deny the Cardinals a chance to square the ball up and make solid contact.

Becker, who entered the title game with 0.78 earned run average, finished with a four-hitter and struck out eight. She was at her best in the pressure situations.

"(Becker) hit all of her spots. She saw that we were swinging at the high (pitches), so she pitched it there. She got the outs when she needed to," Nagorski said.

"They were a great team."

Nagorski matched Becker pitch for pitch. She also fanned eight in her final high school game in the red and white uniform.

Juda/Albany's Sara Jordan and Sammi Detra ruined what was otherwise a shut down performance by Nagorski with RBI singles in the third and fourth innings, respectively.

Meanwhile, Becker lost her shutout bid in the top of the seventh when Sophie Schroeder reached on one of five Panthers errors and eventually scored on a wild pitch.

"These kids were determined. They were here two years ago and wanted to get back," Molski said. "They wanted to bring home the gold. But I told them we have to be proud of (silver) too."

A lot of teams would love to bring home a state runner-up trophy, and Pacelli is one of just five in the entire state to lay claim to one.

That should serve as some solace for the Cardinals, who dealt with some form of adversity most of the season.

First Nagorski was shelved with arm issues for a couple weeks. Then Christonna Shafranski suffered a knee injury.

People began to question whether this team had what it took to make a state tournament run let alone win a state title.

"I'm really proud of our team. What we accomplished was impressive," said Shafranski, a senior first baseman. "I think not winning the state championship and coming in second will help underclassman be fueled for next year."

While the happy ending was missing, the Pacelli coach will take some special memories from this group of players.

"I'm going to remember Brook's determination to come back in the circle. Emma (Kulick's) quirkiness at third base," Molski said. "Eva Barton helping the younger girls. Taylor Raflik being willing to do anything we asked her to do. Christonna coming back from an injury."

WP - Nickole Becker 7IP, 8K, 0BB. LP - Brook Nagorski 6 IP, 8K, 0BB. 3B - Juda/Albany, Alexis Goecks. 2B - Nickole Becker.

Records: Pacelli 20-9; Juda-Albany 27-2.

Scott A. Williams can be reached at 715-345-2282, or by email at ssswilliam@stevenspoint.gannett.com. Find him on Twitter as @SPJScottWill