Caitlin Wenzel, Peshtigo Softball
Behind a potent team offense and the arm of senior ace Caitlin Wenzel, the Peshtigo Softball Team caused quite a stir in its first ever trip to the WIAA State tournament last weekend at Goodman Diamond, winning the Division 3 State title and earning this week's Splash of the Week. 
The Bulldogs knocked out previously unbeaten Lancaster 9-3, then took out Winnebago Lutheran 4-2 in the title game to earn not only the school's first softball championship, but also Peshtigo's first State title in any girls sport.
“The girls have never won a state championship in the history of our school, so this is an honor and a privilege,” head coach Kim Barrette told the Green Bay Press Gazette. “I’m really happy for the community and really proud of our girls.”
In Friday's State semifinal against No. 2-ranked Lancaster, Peshtigo jumped on Flying Arrow ace Taylor Holzinger in the top of first inning. When the dust settled, the Bulldogs scored six runs on four hits--including a 2-RBI triple from Anna Cisar, batting in the eighth spot in the lineup--and a Lancaster error to take a commanding lead in their first at-bat.
“Six runs is stellar,” Wenzel said after the semifinal victory. “Six runs in any game, no matter if it’s seven innings or one inning, it’s a huge game. To be able to have that to start out with, it gave me a lot of relief and my infield a lot of relief that we could just go out there and play our game.”
Peshtigo scored another run in the second before giving up three in the bottom of the fourth. But Wenzel's three-hitter proved too much for Lancaster, as she struck out 15 Arrows and eight of the first nine batters she faced en route to the 9-3 win.
Riding high from their upset victory a day earlier, Peshtigo surrendered the game's first run to Winnebago Lutheran in the first but scored two of its own in the bottom of the inning. The Bulldogs added one more in the third and fifth innings and hung on for the 4-2 victory.
Wenzel wasn't quite as dominant against the Vikings, surrendering 11 hits and loading the bases in the top of the sixth. Yet she regrouped with a strikeout to end the inning and added two more of her 11 total K's in the seventh to secure the State title.
For the tournament, Wenzel struck out 26 batters-- ranking second in all-time Division 3 State tournament history.
Honorable Mention
Bay Port Baseball: Despite losing seven starters from last year's championship squad, the Pirates repeated as Division 1 State Champs by cruising through the tournament bracket last week in Grand Chute. Bay Port needed a late run in the sixth inning to hold off Merrill 2-1 in the quarterfinals, but found its groove in the semis and final with respective 13-5 and 10-5 wins over Waunakee and Madison La Follette. Bay Port is the first team to repeat as D1 champs since Sun Prairie did so in 2005 and 2006.
Catholic Memorial Girls Soccer: After last year's Overtime loss in the Division 2 State Championship, the Crusaders were on a mission to take the title this season. That's precisely what they did Saturday afternoon at Uihlein Soccer Park in Milwaukee after posting a 1-0 victory over Grafton in this year's title game. Catholic Memorial finished the season unbeaten against Wisconsin competition at 20-0-2, and 23-2-2 overall.
The Splash of the Week is sponsored by PlayInTheDells.com. It highlights the player, coach or team that has "made a splash" in the world of high school sports. Coming out of nowhere to do something great, going above and beyond the call of duty, etc. Basically making something big happen and having the ripples of the accomplishment resonate throughout your sport. Please contact us to nominate your hometown heroes today!
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