Peterson's big day lifts Hamilton to first WIAA state softball title

MADISON – Aubrie Peterson had herself a night to remember. So did the Hamilton softball team.The Chargers' junior left-handed catcher had three hits, including two doubles, and drove in six runs to lead the Chargers to an 8-3 victory over Muskego in the WIAA Division 1 state title game June 13 at Goodman Diamond."

My plan in the box was to go balls to the wall," Peterson said. "We had nothing to lose."With Muskego ahead 2-1 in the third inning, Hamilton scored four runs on four hits, with a sacrifice fly from Bitsy Palicka, a two-run double from Peterson and an RBI double from Hope Lehnen accounting for the runs.

Hamilton would strike for three more runs in the bottom of the sixth. The Chargers loaded the bases with two outs and Peterson cleared them with another double."This group of girls is everything," Peterson said.

"They're all super nice, we hang out together and we go to team dinners almost every single week. It's just a very fun team."Palicka, a sophomore, got the win.

She struck out six over seven innings and allowed two earned runs.Muskego threatened one last time in the top of the seventh, scoring a run on Lily George's RBI single with one out. Palicka closed the door, getting a pair of lineouts to cap the win.

Ava Serembiczky also had a pair of hits for Hamilton (30-1).Chargers coach Kaylee Gendrich said the team reached its potential with a mix of player talent along with hard work and coaching."There's a lot of pride and joy," she said.

"I didn't do this alone. It's a credit to my entire coaching staff. Me and my staff spent a lot of time with these girls."

It is Hamilton's first state title for the softball program, which had overall and recent success with 13 state appearances, including five of the last six seasons."It's just crazy," Palicka said. "We've made history and we worked so hard for this moment.

So I know all our hard work paid off."Hamilton reached the state tournament with a 9-0 rout of Cedarburg in the sectional final. The Chargers outsco