By Jennifer Eisenbart
Sports Editor
Featuring a number of area stars – including members of the WIAA Division 1 state championship Westosha Central squad – the Wisconsin Lightning U-18 squad made a valiant run at a national title last week in Salem, Virginia.
The squad, with Westosha Central pitcher Sarah Fonk, former Wilmot pitcher Kristen Wood and other players from Westosha, Waterford and Wilmot, won its first three games at the ASA “A” National Championships before dropping two of the next three to be eliminated.
The Lightning, coached by Steve Spahn and Staci Roscizewski, won their first two pool games, then defeated the North Gwinnett Dirt Dogs of Georgia 5-1.
That was followed by a nine-inning loss to Riptide of California, 4-2.
Sent to the loser’s bracket, the Lightning posted a 1-0 win over Team Oak Stars of Illinois before bowling out to Lake County Liberty of Illinois, 5-2.
In the final game, the squad gave up three unearned runs in the first inning. Otherwise, Fonk went the distance and allowed just two earned runs while striking out five and walking just one.
Both Lightning runs were scored in the fifth inning. Taylor Bergles (Westosha) had a two-out single, followed by an RBI double by Fonk. Sara Terrian (Waterford) then had an RBI single to plate Fonk.
Numerous players on the team are headed to play – or headed back to play – college softball this fall.
The list includes Wood returning to Northwestern – where she played three games as a freshman – and the following: Fonk (preferred walk-on status at Wisconsin), Kelsey Saucerman (UW-Oshkosh), Brittney Blazich (Wisconsin Lutheran), Makenzie Walker (Lamar), Terrian (Marion College), Alicia Barbian (Wisconsin Lutheran), Stephanie Parks (McHenry County College), Elena Koncar (Concordia-St. Paul), and Rachel Heffel (UW-Eau Claire).
Bergles and Larkin Langston return as seniors to the Westosha Central squad next fall.
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