By the time this edition of The Journal makes its way from printing plant to stores and homes in Pierce County, there will already be a champion crowned at the WIAA State Division 2 Softball Tournament.

It was played Tuesday at UW-Green Bay.

Prescott, by all accounts, earned its spot among the state’s best, riding the pitching of Taylor Graf and timely hitting to advance to the state tournament with a 3-0 WIAA Sectional Championship victory over Northwestern at Bloomer last Wednesday.

The Cardinals paraded through downtown Prescott on their way out of town Sunday afternoon and practiced Monday on the turf field at St. Norbert’s College in DePere.

“We’re ready,” said coach Nick Johnson.

This is a battle-tested Prescott team, which advanced to state in 2018 and 2019. They are led by seniors Isabella Lenz, Sydney Matzek, Heather Hudak and a host of juniors with state tournament experience: Brynley Goehring, Maddie Miller, Finley Magee, Cambel Johnson, Grace Franco, Ariana Temmers, Katie Graf, Liz Rohl and Mackenzie Wallin. Sophomores on the squad are Taylor Graf, Addie Raebel, Maddie Reiter, Isabel Matzek, Evelyn Sieben and Rebecca Heinz.

It’s a roster that combined a 23-3 overall record and took second place to Baldwin-Woodville (also at state, competing in division 2), in the Middle Border Conference.

They dominated in their first WIAA Sectional game, treating a huge home crowd at Biggs Frey Field at Jackie Riley Softball Complex to a 14-5 win over Arcadia in the first round of sectional play last Monday. That win propelled them to the championship game. The Cardinals threatened with baserunners most innings, and the arm of Taylor Graf made them clearly the exceptional team.

The Cardinals have been preparing for their return to state, and Johnson said they’re taking it all in.

“We kind of felt a lot of pressure coming into this season. We had such high expectations. We were ranked in the preseason. We return six starters. We got down here, and I definitely think the pressure is off. These girls are ready to play. It’s a business trip. They’re ready to go,” said Johnson following his team’s Monday practice.

Prescott earned the number two seed at state and opened up against number three Peshtigo, with the winner advancing to the title game against either top-seeded Dodgeville or Lomira.

“We’re ready to see what we can do now,” said Johnson.

WIAA Sectional Championship

Prescott definitely played like a state contender against Northwestern, which had upset the other number one sectional seed, Bloomer, to get to the finals.

“They’re a great team,” said Johnson. “Just credit our kids. We needed that close game. We came through in that pressure situation.”

Johnson was confident in his team throughout the game. “We put pressure on them every inning. We didn’t come up with that big monster hit, but we were threatening every inning. I’ll be honest with you, I felt we were in control with how well Taylor was throwing. She threw an unbelievable game. When Taylor’s throwing like that, when she’s locked in like that, we just need a couple runs to win,” said Johnson.

Prescott picked up one run in the third inning and rallied in the sixth for two more, with Wallin picking up a key hit against Northwestern. Isabel and Sydney Matzek and Franco both had two hits on the day to lead the Cardinal offense. Runs were scored in the game by Isabel Matzek, Sieben and a sliding Franco in the sixth on a passed ball.

Temmers also had a run batted in.

Taylor Graf’s masterful performance: just four hits allowed over seven innings and seven strikeouts.

“She was just on,” said Johnson.

Huge sixth buries Arcadia

The Cardinals plated seven runners in the sixth inning to leave Arcadia in their dust in the first sectional game June 21.

Prescott had 20 hits, with Lenz, Isabel and Sydney Matzek, Hudak, Miller, Franco, Temmers, Kohl and Wallin all having multiple-hit games. Franco and Hudak each homered for the Cards in the game. Lenz stole two bases.

Taylor Graf pitched the game, striking out three Arcadia batters in the sectional tune-up.

Photos by John McLoone.