Bradford maintains top spot, Eisenhower named team of the week in area softball rankings

Michael Whitlow, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
New Berlin Eisenhower ace Ashley Bonin and the Lions are off to a roaring 11-0 start this season with four games scheduled this upcoming week.
New Berlin Eisenhower ace Ashley Bonin and the Lions are off to a roaring 11-0 start this season with four games scheduled this upcoming week.

AREA RANKINGS

  1. Kenosha Bradford (13-0), 1

  2. Muskego (10-0), 2

  3. Cedarburg (11-1), 5

  4. Arrowhead (10-3), 6

  5. Westosha Central (8-1), 2

  6. West Bend West (10-2), 7

  7. New Berlin Eisenhower (11-0), 8

  8. Menomonee Falls (9-2), 4

  9. Germantown (9-3), 9

  10. Burlington Catholic Central (8-0), –

Others considered: Burlington (9-2), Brookfield Central (7-3), Franklin (7-2), Greenfield (11-4), Kenosha Indian Trail (7-3), Kewaskum (11-4), Oak Creek (9-5), Sussex Hamilton (6-3), Union Grove (9-5) and Wisconsin Lutheran (7-2).

Eisenhower second baseman Ryann Nutt has been one of the area's top hitters so far this season with 24 hits in 35 total at-bats, including 12 extra-base hits.
Eisenhower second baseman Ryann Nutt has been one of the area's top hitters so far this season with 24 hits in 35 total at-bats, including 12 extra-base hits.

TEAM OF THE WEEK

New Berlin Eisenhower

The No. 1-seeded team in the Division 2 state softball tournament last season has started its march back to Madison with a bang. Eisenhower has run off 11 straight victories to start the season, including three last week to become the third team of the week recipient along with Kenosha Bradford and Muskego. The honor comes after a week in which the Lions outscored Pewaukee, Woodland West division rival Wisconsin Lutheran and Pius by a combined 19-1. Eight Lions have registered at least 10 hits this season, led by Ryann Nutt’s 24, including nine doubles and three triples in just 35 at-bats.

COMING UP

New Berlin West at New Berlin Eisenhower, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday: The new team of the week will host its nearby rival in conference action. The Lions hold a run differential of plus-40 (49-9) in five conference games so far.

Slinger at Cedarburg, 4:30 p.m. Tuesday: The top of the North Shore Conference is once again one of the most hotly contested title chases in the area. Conference leader Cedarburg (10-0) will host Slinger (8-2) in a key matchup for both programs.

Kenosha Bradford at Sun Prairie East, 5 p.m. Wednesday: The area’s top team will head west to take on a solid Sun Prairie East side, trying to extend the perfect start to the season. Bradford also was scheduled to finish its suspended game with Kenosha Indian Trail on Monday. The Red Devils had a 5-0 lead in the top half of the fifth inning.

Sussex Hamilton at Germantown, 4:30 p.m. Friday: There’s a tie atop the Greater Metro Conference at 7-1 between Menomonee Falls and Germantown, which will host defending GMC champion Hamilton (6-3). Both teams had won their last three games entering this week.

Menomonee Falls vs. Oak Creek (Sun Prairie East quad), 11 a.m., Saturday: Two of the four teams in the Sun Prairie East quad played in last year’s Division 1 state tournament. The Phoenix has won nine of its first 11 games, while the Knights are looking up at Franklin, Indian Trail and Bradford in the Southeast standings at 9-5.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Bradford, Muskego, Cedarburg round out top three in softball rankings

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