Fox Valley Lutheran Softball Team Claims State Championship in Commanding Fashion

MADISON – The Fox Valley Lutheran softball team entered the WIAA state tournament with a strong sense of determination. Seeded No. 3 in the Division 2 bracket, the Foxes wasted no time establishing themselves as the dominant force in the division, securing a decisive 9-1 victory against Pewaukee in the championship game held on June 13 at Goodman Diamond. Finishing the season with a record of 26-3, the Foxes' impressive tournament run saw them outscore their opponents 66-9, including a remarkable 17-1 at the state level.

FVL displayed their power with a four-run explosion in both the fourth and sixth innings, effectively putting the game out of reach for the Pirates, who had reached the finals after a stunning upset over the top-seeded Medford. Senior Natalie Bromm reflected on the team's motivation, stating, "At the end of the day, we knew going in – and some people didn’t think we should be a higher seed – we wanted to come out and prove that we’re going to play Foxes softball and we’re the best team on the field at the end of the day and we’re going to play hard no matter what."

Central to the Foxes' success was pitcher Madison Babcock, who delivered an outstanding performance against Pewaukee, allowing only three hits and striking out 12 batters. Pewaukee's sole run came from a wild pitch that allowed Harper Gould to score after reaching base on a triple. Babcock expressed her joy, saying, "It means the world to us. All year we worked so hard and we set a goal at the beginning of the year to win state and worked so hard for it. It’s just the best feeling ever, especially to win it this year for our seniors and give them a great way to go out."

FVL took an early lead with an RBI double from Babcock, driving in Claire Pfrang, who had walked. Although Pewaukee briefly tied the game, the Foxes surged ahead with a powerful fourth inning. Highlights included Tenley Wolfrath's bunt single and Lexi Hanson's double that contributed to FVL's five-run advantage. The Foxes' defense further stifled Pewaukee's efforts, exemplified by a crucial play where Maddyn Brewster was thrown out at third base after trying to stretch a double into a triple.

The Foxes capped off their championship performance with another four runs in the sixth inning, featuring a two-run homer from Hanson and additional RBIs from Babcock and Kinley Peterson. Coach Gunner Pfrang praised the unity of the team, stating, "We have a saying, 'Sometimes you, sometimes me, always we.' It doesn't matter what night it is, someone's going to perform and have a big game." The victory marked the first WIAA state title for Fox Valley Lutheran, following their previous WISAA championship in 1998.