Softball Vanguards ousted by Pointers

They played their best game of the season at the perfect time. Unfortunately for Wisconsin Heights’ softball team, it wasn’t enough. The eighth-seeded Vanguards gave top-seeded Mineral Point quite a scare in their WIAA Division 4 regional semifinal on May 21. But the host Pointers rallied from deficits of 4-0 and 5-1 and toppled the Vanguards, 10-6. Heights finished the year 5-17, while the Pointers improved to 21-3. “Our defense played a heck of a game along with Izzy Sutherland pitching a good game,” Heights manager Scott Wood said. “This was by far our best game of the season. We had some players step up their hitting while having our infield play an outstanding game.” Haley Wipperfurth and Vanessa Wagner both went 2-for-3 for Heights, while Lauren Smith belted a three-run home run. Avery Graham, Alyssa Staplemann and Maya Luko all had base hits, as well. Izzy Sutherland pitched the distance, striking out three and allowing nine earned runs. Heights, which fielded one of the youngest teams in the state all year, showed no signs of intimidation against the highly-regarded Pointers. The Vanguards struck for four runs in the first inning and raced to a 4-0 lead. Wipperfurth had a lead-off single, and Avery Graham followed with a base hit. Wagner drew a walk to load the bases, and with one out, Staplemann had an RBI ground out to give Heights a 1-0 lead. Smith then gave the Vanguards an enormous boost when she drove a 2-2 pitch over the wall in left field for a three-run home run and a 4-0 Heights lead. “Lauren was long overdue as her batting practice is starting to pay dividends.” Wood said. “Everyone on the Vanguard squad was happy for Lauren.” Mineral Point scored once in the bottom of the first, but the Vanguards added a run in the top of the second to regain a four-run edge. Wipperfurth drew a walk and stole second, then Wagner had an RBI double to give Heights a 5-1 lead. The Pointers responded with two runs in the bottom of the second and closed within 5-3. Once again, Heights responded with a solo run in the fourth to grab a 6-3 lead. Wipperfurth singled and Graham laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt that moved Wipperfurth to second base. Wagner then singled to center to score Wipperfurth and give Heights a 6-3 lead. Mineral Point answered with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Then the Pointers struck for five runs in the sixth and took their first lead of the game at 10-6. “They played some ‘small ball’ and we had trouble executing the defense along with a throwing error,” Wood said. Despite the loss, Wood was thrilled with the Vanguards’ effort and believes this type of performance will go a long way towards building something positive for next season. “This is a game our young players can enjoy and a base to build upon for 2025,” Wood said. “We should all be excited about what lies ahead.”