Muskego holds off Appleton North in Division 1 semifinal at WIAA State Softball Tournament

AppletonSportsPage.com

MADISON – The Appleton North softball team’s magical postseason run came to an end with a 6-2 loss to Muskego in a Division 1 semifinal at the 2026 WIAA State Softball Tournament on Friday morning at Madison College.

North had seven hits, but could only push across two runs as Muskego played a clean game behind pitcher Cora Jahimiak, who struck out six and walked two.

Muskego (28-2), playing in just its second state tournament (1996), will take on Sussex Hamilton (29-1) for the Division 1 state championship on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. Both teams are shooting for their first state title.

The Lightning (20-8) struck first as Evelyn Frega singled home Alyssa Wald in the top of the first inning.

Muskego responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame to take the lead for good.

The Warriors poured on four more runs in the third. A two-out error, North’s only miscue of the game, allowed one run to score and Grace Swiezynski ripped a three-run homer in the next at-bat to open it up for Muskego.

A double play ended Appleton North’s threat in the fourth, and the Lightning had just one baserunner over the next two innings.

In the seventh, Claire Therkildsen led off with a triple and scored on a single by junior Keira Hughes. A walk put another runner on base, but the Lightning’s rally ended with a groundout.

Warriors 6, Lightning 2
Appleton North   100   000   1   –   2   7   1
Muskego   204   000   x   –   6   7   0
WP: Cora Jahimiak. LP: Evelyn Frega.
SO: Frega (4 inn.) 2, Charlotte Radtke (2 inn.) 2; Jahimiak 6. BB: Frega 1, Radtke 0; Jahimiak 2.
Top hitters: AN, Claire Therkildsen 2×3, 2B, 3B, run; Keira Hughes 1×3, RBI. M, Reese Heinrich 2×4, 2 2Bs; Kyleigh Sadler 2×3, 2 runs, RBI; Grace Swiezynski HR, 3 RBI.
Records: Appleton North 20-8; Muskego 28-2.