Almond-Bancroft wins first state softball title

MADISON, Wis. (WSAW) - Almond-Bancroft is bringing home its first WIAA state softball championship after outlasting defending champion Belmont in a Division 5 title-game rematch Saturday at the 50th WIAA State Softball Tournament.

The Eagles, who fell to Belmont in last year’s Division 5 championship game, came back and finished the job in 2026. Almond-Bancroft scored in every inning and used a six-run seventh to pull away for a 16-6 win.

Sophia Chapa delivered an early spark in the first inning, driving a two-out double to deep right-center to put the Eagles on the board.

Belmont answered right back in the bottom of the inning. Lexi Reichers hit a two-run homer to give the Braves the lead and set the tone for a back-and-forth start.

Almond-Bancroft’s offense kept pushing. Riya Ceballos knocked in the go-ahead run in the second, and Tia Dernbach added an RBI down the left-field line in the third as the Eagles continued to build their advantage.

Belmont stayed within striking distance and had opportunities to climb back in, but Almond-Bancroft delivered defensively. Laney Carlton made a diving catch at second base and doubled off the runner at first for a key stop in the fifth, accenting the great defensive day for the Eagles.

Almond-Bancroft led 10-6 entering the seventh before breaking it open with six more runs to seal it.

Ceballos struck out the final batter of the game to win the championship 16-8, giving the Eagles their first in school history and avenging last year’s state title game loss.

“This is what these ladies wanted,” head coach coach Randy Yanke said. “When they walked off this field last year, they wanted a chance at Belmont because we knew we were going to be bigger, better, stronger than we were last year, stronger mentally. That’s what they wanted and the outcome speaks for itself.”

Ceballos said the moment was emotional for a senior group closing out its season on top.

“It’s definitely bittersweet,” she said. “There’s a lot of tears because it was the last one, but I think we all took in the moment very well. We’re a great group of girls and I think it’s great we came out with a bang.”

“This was a lot of our last times playing like the sport period,” said senior Mya Dernbach, “and playing together so it was great to go out with something big like this.”

Click here to download the WSAW news app or WSAW First Alert weather app.

Click here to submit a news tip or story idea.