Shawano upsets Luxemburg-Casco

A Kendall Prevost three-run homer capped a four-run first inning for Luxemburg-Casco in a Division 2 regional playoff matchup against Shawano on Wednesday afternoon.

From there, the Hawks’ pitching duo of Taylor Johnson and Gracyn Habeck held the hosts in check while the Shawano offense started to chip into the deficit.

With the score knotted at four, Shawano courtesy runner Elizabeth Esch scored the game-winning run on a clutch hit from pinch-hitter Abigail Vomastic in the fifth inning, giving the sixth-seeded Hawks a 5-4 upset win over the third-seeded Spartans.

“Before the game, I told her (Abigail) ‘You’re our first pinch-hitter, and you have a chance to make a difference,’” Shawano coach Brian Johnson said. “What a huge moment for the sophomore to come up and rip a shot down the third base line to put us ahead.”

Vomastic’s hit was just one of many clutch at-bats the balanced Hawks’ offense put together in the game.

Shawano took an early lead when Brandi Gueths ripped a hit down the right field line, scoring Habeck in the first inning. The Hawks added a run in the second when Macie Herm hit a hard groundball that the Luxemburg-Casco shortstop mishandled, allowing courtesy runner Naomi Wynos to cross home plate.

Shawano tied the contest in the fourth inning on an infield single from Kendra Kristof and a critical error from the Spartans. Kristof drove home Jewel Waupekenay before Kristof scored on the error off the bat of Habeck.

Gueths opened the fifth inning with a single before Bayleigh Laabs laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Esch, on as a courtesy runner, to second. After a groundout, coach Johnson called on Vomastic to pinch-hit. The sophomore delivered with a first-pitch hit that made it past the Spartans’ third baseman and into left field, scoring Esch for the go-ahead run.

Starting pitcher Taylor Johnson worked into the fifth inning for Shawano, allowing just the first inning runs. After allowing three hits and a walk in the opening inning, the freshman pitcher allowed just two baserunners until she left the game. Johnson picked up the win in the circle, striking out two batters along the way.

Habeck relieved Johnson in the top of the fifth inning and did not allow a baserunner the rest of the game. Habeck earned the save after striking out a batter and inducing five groundouts over the final nine batters.

“I think that all of our team is really connected,” Habeck said. “If we have negative, like we did in the first, we are able to come back with positives and pull everything out like we just did.”

Coach Johnson credited his bench for keeping the team involved in the game, especially after things could have spiraled downward after the four-run opening inning by the hosts.

“I was really proud of my bench tonight,” Johnson said. “We talked before the game and we haven’t really been focused for seven innings. I thought our bench did a phenomenal job of staying excited. We keep telling the girls to find ways to help out the team and I truly believe they were a big part of what kept us going today.”

Shawano, which rosters four seniors, will look to pull a second straight upset when taking on second-seeded West De Pere in the regional final at 2 p.m. on Friday.

“It means a lot to win because it could have been the seniors last game,” Habeck said. “It was great to be able to finish it and win for them.”

The winner will advance to sectionals on Tuesday.