MINNEAPOLIS — The U16 Southwest Wisconsin Shock softball team finished third out of 28 teams in the U16 Class B Division at the North American Fastpitch Association Northern Nationals in Minneapolis July 27–30.
There were teams from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, North Dakota and South Dakota in the U16 division.
The SW Shock finished the four-day tournament with a 7–3 record. The team went 2–1 in pool play with an 8–0 win over Austin Red (Minn.) and a 6–0 shutout of Lake in the Hills (Ill.) on Thursday and a 9–4 loss to Rock River Stix (Wis.) Friday afternoon.
The Shock then opened double elimination bracket play with a 9–4 win in a rematch with Austin Red (Minn.), then defeated Cardinal Power White 5–1 and DGF (Minn.) 9–5 on Saturday.
The Shock was sent to the loser’s bracket with a 4–1 loss to eventual runner-up Johnson Creek Yellow (Wis.) in a winner’s bracket semifinal game Sunday morning, but bounced back with victories over Sleepy Eye (Minn.), 9–6, and Silver Bullets Extreme (Minn.), 8–4, before ending the tournament with a 2–1 loss to eventual champion Crush Tidal Waves (Ill.).
Members of the team include Platteville’s Kaycie Wagner and Anica Graney, Belmont’s Sadie Willborn, Iowa–Grant’s Lexi Busse, Potosi’s Jaydn Noonan, Dodgeville’s Lindsey Murphy and Grace Borne, Richland Center’s Grace Adsit, Waunakee’s Sam Soulier and Marshall’s Allison Powers.
The Shock is coached my Platteville’s Ray Graney and Dodgeville’s Steve Murphy.
Wagner batted .536 for the tournament with three doubles and had at least one hit in all 10 games. Graney caught all 10 games and batted .364 for the tournament.
Willborn batted .567 for the tournament with four doubles, two triples and a nine-game hitting streak. Busse had three doubles and a team-high eight walks form the lead off position. Noonan went 4–0 with one save in the pitcher's circle.
Wagner and Graney are both two-year starters for Platteville High School. Wagner was named first-team All-Southwestern Wisconsin Conference two years ago as a freshman, but missed most of her sophomore year with a shoulder injury.
Willborn was named first-team All-Six Rivers West and won the league’s Pitcher of the Year award after posting a 19–3 record with a 1.16 ERA and 151 strikeouts while helping the Braves (28–3) reach the WIAA Division 5 state tournament.
Busse earned honorable mention All-Southwestern Wisconsin Activities League accolades for the Panthers, after batting .387 with eight doubles, tow homers and 16 RBIs, and helping I–G ( 21–4) win the SWAL title and reach the WIAA Division 4 sectional finals.
Noonan received honorable mention in the SRW afing going 12–9 with a 2.90 ERA and 121 strikeouts for Potosi (12–14).
The U16 Shock is looking for a few players for next year’s team. If you are interested in trying out, please text or call coach Ray Wagner at 732-6074.
