Appleton North softball picks up walk-off win over Waupun in WIAA Division 1 sectional semifinal

AppletonSportsPage.com

APPLETON – Appleton North’s lone hit of the game proved to be the biggest during its WIAA Division 1 softball sectional semifinal against Waupun on Tuesday at North High School.

Charlotte Radtke singled up the middle to bring home Alyssa Wald with the game’s only run as the Lightning defeated Waupun 1-0 to advance to a D-1 sectional final matchup against Kimberly (20-7) on Thursday at Kaukauna High School. The winner moves on to next week’s state tournament in Madison. Appleton North’s last appearance at state was in 2018.

Radtke was brilliant on the mound for Appleton North (18-7), allowing only a third-inning double to Alexis Babish, one walk and two hit batters while keeping the Warriors (24-3) off the scoreboard.

In the bottom of the seventh, Waupun pitcher Addison Braun had a no-hitter intact. She walked Alyssa Wald to lead off the inning, and after a strikeout, Wald stole second and scored on Radtke’s liner to center to plate the only run of the game.

Radtke finished with 10 strikeouts and two walks, while Radtke struck out 12.

During the regular season, Appleton North and Kimberly split a pair of Fox Valley Association games, with North winning 6-4 at home on May 14, and Kimberly picking up a 3-0 win on its home field just four days later. Kimberly advanced to the sectional final with a 10-4 rout of Neenah on Tuesday.

Lightning 1, Warriors 0
Waupun   000   000   0   –   0   1   0
Appleton North   000   000   1   –   1   1   1
WP: Charlotte Radtke. LP: Addison Braun.
SO: Braun 10; Radtke 12. BB: Braun 2; Radtke 1.
Top hitters: W, Alexis Babish 2B. AN, Radtke 1×3, RBI.
Records: Waupun 24-3; Appleton North 18-7.