Fox Valley Lutheran captures first WIAA state softball title with rout of Pewaukee in D-2 championship
AppletonSportsPage.com
MADISON – The Fox Valley Lutheran softball team is bringing home a gold trophy after a resounding 9-1 win over Pewaukee in the Division 2 championship game at the 2026 WIAA State Softball Tournament at the Goodman Softball Complex on Saturday.
As has been the case for all of her stellar career at FVL, Madison Babcock was dominant both in the pitching circle and at the plate.
Babcock allowed just three hits and two walks while striking out 12 over a seven-inning complete game, and also contributed a double, a home run and four RBI for the Foxes.
Claire Pfrang was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the first and Babcock followed with a ringing double to left to quickly put the Foxes up 1-0.
Pewaukee tied the game in the third when Harper Gould tripled and scored on a wild pitch, but that would be all the Pirates would muster against Babcock.
Fox Valley Lutheran busted open the game in the bottom of the fourth. Lexi Hanson had an RBI double and scored on an error, and Babcock followed the two-out miscue with a homer to center to put the Foxes on top 5-1.
Hanson led off the sixth with a home run, Babcock had a sacrifice fly to plate Pfrang, and Kinley Peterson and Tenley Wolfrath tacked on RBI singles to finish off the scoring in the 9-1 win.
FVL (26-3) was making just its second state tournament appearance, having not made it since 2004 when it lost a Division 2 semifinal.
Foxes 9, Pirates 1
Pewaukee 001 000 0 – 1 3 1
Fox Valley Lutheran 100 404 x – 9 12 0
WP: Madison Babcock. LP: Hailey Hutchens.
SO: Hutchens (5 inn.) 4, Samantha Brewster (1 inn.) 1; Babcock 12. BB: Hutchens 3, Sa. Brewster 0; Babcock 2.
Top hitters: P, Sydney Brewster 2B; Harper Gould 3B. FVL, Claire Pfrang 3 runs; Babcock 2×3, 2B, HR, 4 RBI; Lexi Hanson 3×3, 2B, HR, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Natalie Bromm 2B; Kinley Peterson 2×4, RBI; Tenley Wolfrath 2×3, RBI.
Records: Pewaukee 21-10; Fox valley Lutheran 26-3.