KAUKAUNA − OK, so maybe this wasn't the Kaukauna softball team's 'A' game.
But how does a solid 'B-plus' sound?
The Ghosts got a strong pitching performance from Karly Meredith and a record-breaking performance from older sister Kally on the basepaths to knock off Waterford 6-0 in a WIAA Division 1 state quarterfinal Thursday at Goodman Diamond. The Ghosts also extended their state-best winning streak to 79 consecutive victories.
That was some of the good. The not-so good? Kaukauna stranded 13 runners on base and failed to get the big hit to put away this game early.
Kaukauna (28-0) plays Oak Creek in a state semifinal Friday at approximately 9 p.m. Oak Creek defeated Arrowhead 7-1.
"We could have blown that wide open if we had some key hits in some key spots there," Kaukauna coach Tim Roehrig said of the 13 stranded runners. "But we played well. (Winning) 6-0 is nothing to get angry about. It's a great win at state and I'm proud of the kids."
Kally Meredith had a sensational day, finishing 2-for-4 with two runs scored and four stolen bases to break her own single-game record (three) set last year. The Ghosts also set the Division 1 record for most stolen bases in a game (10).
Kally's big inning was the second inning. With Kaukauna leading 2-0, she reached on a bunt single, stole second, stole third and then pulled off the rare hat trick by stealing home to give the Ghosts a 3-0 lead after the second.
Kally entered the game a perfect 50-for-50 on stolen bases.
"She made an unbelievable slide to get around that tag and she's over at third and she's looking at me," Roehrig said as Meredith pondered stealing home. "I said, 'You got this. You can do it.' And she said, 'You want me to?' and I said, 'Get it.' And the next play she's in. That's a run manufactured by that kid. She's tough on the bases."
Kally Meredith, a senior heading to play at Florida International in the fall, said the Ghosts like pressuring defenses with their phenomenal team speed and understand that the gamble will oftentimes work.
"I mean, it's just a lot of fun," she said. "And we like to test them. So even if it's a close play, even if the ball beats you, you still have to put a tag on and make a perfect throw and a perfect tag and everything just has to work out. And a lot of times it doesn't. So we're willing to take that risk and a lot of times it works out in our favor."
Karly Meredith struck out 10 batters and allowed just two hits. Her microscopic ERA for the season dropped to 0.22. She's allowed just six earned runs all season with 249 strikeouts in 196⅔ innings pitched.
She also helped herself out in the fifth with an RBI single and Summer Schmidt added a sacrifice fly in the sixth.
"She didn't get some calls that we thought she was right there with," Roehrig said. "But she hung with it and in the end, she made it all happen. She's growing from freshman year to sophom*ore year and that's an important piece to this. We want to see that development mentally and we're seeing that right now.
"The entire state of Wisconsin has got to watch this kid grow up because she's been here last year and this year. It's been special to see that happen."
Paige Bodenheimer, a freshman outfielder, added three hits, three stolen bases and also had two runs scored for the Ghosts.
Roehrig still knows his team can and will do better putting runs across the plate.
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"We gotta focus in and drive the ball," Roehrig said. "They know that and I'm not telling them anything they don’t know. I fully expect in the next game that we’ll do that. They have a game like that, they won’t sleep well and they’ll be ready to go (Friday)."
Kaukauna 6, Waterford 0
Waterford 000 000 0 − 0 2 3
Kaukauna 211 011 x − 6 9 0
WP: Karly Meredith. LP: Jayden Kiser. Leading hitters: Kally Meredith K 2x4, 4 stolen bass, 2 runs; Karly Meredith K 2 SB; Paige Bodenheimer K 3x3, 3 SB, 2 runs; Summer Schmidt K 2 RBI.
