South Milwaukee softball headed to state following win over Oak Creek

Greenfield -One day removed from two grueling extra-inning games in the Greenfield Sectional semifinals, there was no drama in this one Thursday afternoon.

The South Milwaukee Rockets dominated the Oak Creek Knights in all facets in the sectional championship game, 11-1, to earn their first berth into the WIAA softball state tournament since 1998. The game ended after five innings due to the 10-run rule.

South Milwaukee, whose potent offense has been on display during the entire postseason, scored two in the first, five in the second, one in the fourth and clinched the game with three in the bottom of the fifth.

The fourth-seeded Rockets were coming off an 8-6, 12-inning upset over top-seeded Greenfield on Wednesday, while Oak Creek, the third-seeded team, was a day removed from its 2-0 win over Muskego in eight innings.

Rockets senior Aly Pinkos, who pitched all 12 innings Wednesday, was in complete command Thursday against the Knights, who mustered their only run in the first inning.

The win for South Milwaukee (16-7) avenged an earlier 7-2 loss to Oak Creek.

The Rockets have a week off before heading to Madison for a state tournament quarterfinal matchup against either Watertown or Menomonee Falls.

Oak Creek, which had advanced to the state tournament in seven of the last 10 years, ends its season at 18-8.