The Perfect Season!!! 24-0
1995 Team members, back left to right assistant coach Bob Patraw, Jenohn Hetrick,
Brooke Kosok, Tracy Nelson, Jenny Wallin, Sharla Peterson, Mel Westberg, ShaVonne
Mercer, Ali Kircher, Laura Kosok, and Beth Peters. Front row, Head coach Jim Haines,
Nicole Patraw, Jenny Nelson, Tanya Newcomb, Karla Kosok, Jill Nelson, A.J. Brunner, and
Sarah Elberg.   


After an unthinkable finish to the 1994 season at Elmwood, where the lady lakers took a
9-4 lead to the bottom of the seventh Inning, but gave up 6 runs giving the regional
championship to their arch rivals and blowing their shot at going back to state to try to
take care of unfinished business from the previous year, the worst loss in Pepin softball
history left a terrible taste in the mouths of everybody from the fans to players and
everyone in between.


Led by a six pack of seniors that brought a " we will not be denied" attitude to the
practice field starting in March, the 1995 Lady Lakers would not be denied! Day in and day
out they crushed the competition. Most of the games were laughers, however not the
Elmwood games. They were after all the defending Dunn St. Croix and Regional
champions. The Pepin girls knew they would have to be focused to beat them. Both times
during the regular season they were and they did, 6-5 and 6-4, anything but blowouts. As
good as they were it's never easy against Elmwood, never has been and never will be.  
When the playoffs finally rolled around, the first two games provided little competition.  
Pepin 29 - Alma Gilmington 0, and Pepin 17 - Whitehall 0. The regional championship
would be played in Pepin against a CFC team that everybody was a little concerned about
, rightfully so as they were the Dairyland conference champions and were bringing a 18-1
record to town.  In a game that was supposed to test the talented Lakers, CFC players
and fans were in shock as the Lady Lakers made quick work of the Dairyland champs 10
spit in another 5 inning game! WOW that was supposed to be tougher than that. I still
remember it like it was yesterday, Aaron Peterson standing on top of my ladder racks on
my truck screaming at the fans in true Pete fashion.  It was the second inning and he was
telling them all to go home it was all over but the crying. He was right! The following week
the girls would travel to Loyal, Wisconsin for the sectional tournament. After a 5-3 victory
over New Lisbon in a game in which the girls did not play their best, they would face a
tough Greenwood squad for the right to go to state. The next hour and half would provide
some of the most tense moments in the history of the program to date.
Training late and not being able to get a grip on the pitching of Greenwood's ace Sandra
Arch, the dream season was slipping away. How could this be possible? This team was
21-0 and was supposed to play in Waukesha next week! It was the top of the seventh
inning and the ink was starting to dry fast on the Lakers obituary, the tournament officials
actually moved the sectional championship trophy and medallions over to the Greenwood
bench! Not so fast.  Trailing 3-2 with 2 outs in the top of the seventh inning and the Lakers
down to their last out, A.J. Brunner hit a dribbler to the second baseman that would end
their season. That is if the routine play is executed properly.  A low throw and a heads up
slide by the teary eyed senior and before anyone even knew what just happened it was
4-3 Pepin. Tack on one more run to go up 5-3 and hand the ball over to your senior ace
who shuts them down in the bottom of the seventh and the Pepin faithful are getting out
of Loyal as fast as they can to get home to celebrate another sectional title. 22-0 with 2
games left, hopefully!
Four teams are left in the state in Division 3. Who are the other 3? Who are we going to
play? Pepin vs. Wausauke  and Oakfield vs. Elmwood. What -are you kidding me?
Elmwood?  Go Oakfield.  What are the chances of beating them again? After a state
semifinal win over a team that was not ready for us, what are the chances of getting to
play Oakfield? How about slim to none.  So here we are 23-0 and the 2 closest games of
the year came against the team that is staring us directly in the eyes, right here right
now. Why did we travel 300 miles to play Elmwood in a state championship game? Why
not play it in Plum City, that is about 15 minutes for both teams. 1 game left and it has to
be against Elmwood. 95 degrees out and not a shade tree at the Saratoga complex in
Waukesha! I don't think that it mattered who we played that day.  I am a firm believer in
fate. This was a team of destiny! They did not need any motivational speeches for this
one, not even a reference to a game in Elmwood 12 months ago was necessary. It did not
matter what the uniform said on the other team, they were not going to beat this team
today!  With the help of their goof ball lead off hitter's 2 doubles they would once again
get the better end of the stick against Elmwood in the game that mattered most.  Pepin 4
- Elmwood 2.  Game over - Season over.  State champions for the first time in school
history. June 7th, 1995 will go down as one of the best days in the school's history and
the community's. All that is left now is the fun bus ride home for the players and the fans,
and one big party.

Thanks Ladies!!!!