Wilton Softball State Special

Wilton Beavers prepping for fourth state softball trip

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When the Wilton softball team gelled last week in Regional play, the bats awoke, the defense tightened and starting pitcher Mila Johnson threw two shutouts in three games. Wilton qualified for its fourth state tournament, entering Fort Dodge play with a record of 25-15.

Wilton’s three previous state tournament teams included the Beavers of 1988, 1994 and 2009.

1988 Beavers finish 12th

When Wilton defeated Wapello in a Regional final to qualify for its first ever state tournament in 1988, the Beavers, coached by Larry Beebe, competed at a time in which the tournament was not separated into classes.

The Beavers played four games in Fort Dodge that year, going 1-3 and finishing 12th of 16 teams.

Wilton’s final record was 27-15.

At the state tournament, Wilton lost to Harlan in opening round play 2-0. In consolation action, Wilton defeated St. Ansgar 4-0 in a game where starting pitcher Rachel Eckert struck out 15 batters, just one off the then state record of 16 strikeouts in a state tournament game.

Wilton lost its final two state games 3-0 to LDF LeGrand and 3-0 to Orient Macksburg.

The Beavers struggled to hit at state, being shut out three times in four games that were all shutouts. In the three losses, Wilton combined for only four hits.

1994 Beavers finish 6th

The 1993-1994 Wilton girls were arguably the best collection of sports teams to come through Wilton in a given school year. The Beavers were 79-24-3 combined during the basketball, volleyball and softball seasons.

Keri Clevenger finished 12th at state cross country. The volleyball team finished second in the Eastern Iowa Hawkeye Conference and made the state tournament for the first time in school history. Clevenger then led a contingent to state track, where her best finish was fifth in the 1500-meter run.

The basketball team was the most exciting, also making the state tournament and losing a heartbreaker to fellow Eastern Iowa Hawkeye Conference rival Solon in the state finals in a game many still talk about each year when the girls’ tournament begins in Des Moines.

The 1994 state softball tournament at Fort Dodge was the first to be separated into classes. Wilton competed in Class 2A and finished sixth, going 1-2 in three games.

Wilton lost a 2-1 heartbreaker in the opening round to Webster City. After falling behind 2-0 on a 2-run Webster City home run early, Wilton had cut the lead to 2-1 before Rebecca Sass was called out at home plate in the sixth inning on a call many felt could have gone the other way.

In consolation, the Beavers defeated Belmond Klemme 4-3 and later lost to Storm Lake 4-3 in the fifth place game.

Wilton finished sixth in Class 2A and had a final record of 30-17.

2009 Beavers finish 5th

The Wilton Beavers of 2009 was perhaps the best softball team Wilton has produced. Behind the lethal throwing arm of Rachel (Brisker) Bohnsack, the Beavers won the Cedar Valley Conference and finished the regular season 33-5 and ranked No. 13 in the Class 2A polls.

In a late night game at Fort Dodge in opening round action, Wilton lost a heartbreaker to eventual champion BCLUW 2-1. A Carlee Grunder home run had given Wilton a 1-0 lead that the Beavers took all the way to the bottom of the seventh inning. BCLUW capitalized on Wilton errors and controversial calls on the base paths to tie the game and eventually score with the bases loaded and two outs to win 2-1 with two walk-off runs.

Heading into that inning, Rachel Brisker had gone 46 innings without giving up a run.

In consolation play, Wilton won another nail biter against No. 1 ranked Okoboji 1-0. Despite having zero hits, Wilton capitalized on an Okoboji throwing error to score the game’s only run. In the fifth place game, Wilton defeated Belmond Klemme 5-0.

The Beavers hit three home runs during state tournament play, one each from Carlee Grunder, Kara (Proctor) Anderson and Avery Carter.

Anderson now serves as an assistant coach on Wilton’s current 2018 team. For game one 2018 coverage vs. Louisa-Muscatine, watch next week's Advocate News.

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