Kaukauna keeps it positive after shocking loss

Source: WLUK
Author: Doug Ritchay

MADISON (WLUK) -- When Jozy Ebben grounded out to second base to end Friday's Division 1 state semifinal, the impossible became possible -- Kaukauna lost a softball game.

Milton had just defeated Kaukauna 5-3 at Goodman Softball Complex.

After basically dominating the sport the last four seasons the Galloping Ghosts found themselves in a strange position -- congratulating its opponent on a win. Its state-record 108-game winning streak, tied for the second-longest ever in the nation by a high school softball team, is history in more than one way.

After Friday's loss, however, coach Tim Roehrig while disappointed, kept it positive.

"If you look at what we just did and the amount of games we just won in a row, I think you got to reflect on the perseverance, the grind, the dedication of the kids, all the stuff that is positive," he said. "I'm not going to reflect on anything negative because those kids have put so much time in and worked so hard.

"They're champions in a lot of ways, maybe they don't bring that gold ball home this year but what we accomplished is still something that's never; I don't know if that record will ever be broken in this state. It's going to be one tough one to break."

Senior Taryn Christopher admitted pressure had been building during the winning streak.

"I don't think there was anything different, I feel like all kind of year we felt we felt more pressure on us and we knew eventually the streak would come to an end," she said. "It just sucks that it happened to be tonight but they're going to work as hard as they want next year and I know they're going to be just as good."

Christopher is right, the streak was going to end at some point, but two wins away from a fourth straight state title made it tougher to accept. If it was a mid-season loss, it would have felt different.

Notwithstanding, for 108 games Kaukauna kept winning and winning. The Ghosts defied the odds.

The winning streak started by winning the final 20 games of 2021, then won all 31 games in 2022, all 30 in 2023 and the first 27 in 2024. Simply remarkable.

Roehrig was classy after this defeat, which is nothing knew, and congratulated Milton on the win.

"Give credit to Milton, they got the 'W' and I'm not going to get down on what we accomplished," Roehrig said. "I'm proud of these kids. We're going to go home, get some pizza and talk about it, reflect on it and start building for next year. That's what you do."

Looking ahead to next year, Kaukauna had just two seniors in Friday's starting lineup, and it does return two-time state player of the year Karly Meredith in the circle. Don't be surprised if another winning streak begins next season.