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Bradford ends Janesville Craig’s softball season

KENOSHA — Season-ending losses can cause heartbreak, regret, sorrow and even the occasional tears.

This was not one of those losses.

The Janesville Craig High School softball team had nothing to be ashamed of Thursday evening after losing 4-0 in a WIAA Division 1 regional final at top-ranked and top-seeded Kenosha Bradford, and the Cougars knew it.

“Everything we did, we did well,” Craig sophomore pitcher Bailie Whittaker said. “(We) feel good about it.”

Indeed, the ninth-seeded Cougars (14-10) got a strong pitching performance from Whittaker and played error-free defense. They simply couldn’t solve the dominant pitching of Bradford senior Alyssa Roberts and some timely hits by the Red Devils (21-1), who are searching for a state tournament berth after losing in the sectional finals in each of the last three seasons.

Roberts (11-0) struck out the first eight Cougars she faced before Stephanie Perleberg’s bunt single in the top of the third. With a devastating changeup and pinpoint control, Roberts struck out 11 batters while walking one and allowing two hits in five innings.

“That pitcher was probably the best we’ve seen all year,” Craig coach Dan Bayreuther said.

“That changeup, we didn’t have an answer for that.”

Still, Craig had a golden opportunity to put serious pressure on Bradford in the top of the fourth.

With the Red Devils leading 1-0, Craig’s Haley Bayreuther started the inning with a triple to right field.

After Audrey Freeman walked and stole second, the Cougars threatened to tie the game or take the lead with runners on second and third and no outs.

But Roberts proceeded to strike out Gabrielle Cassady and Jillyn Mortensen, Craig’s two best hitters.

She got Cassady looking on a nasty changeup on the outside corner and Mortensen swinging on a fastball on the outside corner. Lindsey Oliver then fouled out to right to end both the inning and Craig’s best scoring opportunity.

“I think Roberts (bore) down,” coach Bayreuther said.

It was the Red Devils who came up with the key hits against Whittaker, who was solid in striking out four while walking none and giving up seven hits in five-plus innings. But with two outs and nobody on in the bottom of the fourth, Bradford strung together four straight hits, including an RBI single by Cynthia Miller and a two-run double by Cayla Schlevensky that stretched the lead to 4-0.

“All the power to them,” Whittaker said.

“They definitely got a hold of some pitches I didn’t think they would.

“I wish them the best of luck.”

“And that’s really all you can do when you play well and lose to such a talented team.

“These girls exceeded my expectations this year,” coach Bayreuther said.

“They worked hard in practice, they got along with each other, so it was a good year.

“It’s never fun to lose the last game, but overall we’ve had a great season.”

BRADFORD 4, CRAIG 0

Craig 000 000 0—0 4 0

Bradford 010 300 x—4 7 0

Whittaker, Freeman (6) and Cassady; Al. Roberts, Brems (6) and Mikolas.

Leading hitters—Bayreuther (JC) 2x3, Ar. Roberts (KB) 2x3. 2B—Schlevensky (KB), Al. Roberts (KB). 3B—Bayreuther (JC).

SO—Whittaker (JC) 4, Al. Roberts (KB) 11, Brems (KB) 4. BB—Al. Roberts 1, Brems 1.