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There is no better sound to an outfielder than the snap of leather upon leather after a long run as the ball nestles into the pocket of the glove.
Unless it is the sound of a raucous cheering section roaring their approval.
Or maybe the sound of your teammates realizing what they have come together to accomplish as a highly poised and polished group.
All that and more when the yellow Dudley SB12 NFHS approved softball disappeared into Mineral Point rightfielder Sydney Pethel's glove for a rally snuffing final out in the semi-finals of the WIAA Division 3 state tournament.
Goodman Diamond rocked away Friday with the happy Pointer cheering section as the softball team turned back Stevens Point Pacelli 2-1, assuring themselves of a berth in the championship game and some hardware.
The last time the Pointers played at state---1983---the result was different. The team lost its initial game.
But this time the Pointers successfully followed the solid right arm of junior pitcher Beth Wood to the dramatic win. She was hittable, surrendering eight hits but spaced them so the damage was minimized. She pitched six scoreless innings until the Cardinals solved some of her slants in the top of the seventh.
That's when Pacelli coach Ann Molski went to her bench. She sent senior Cassondra Simonis to the plate to bat for freshman Sydney Allery and she watched until she coaxed a walk. Allery then re-entered to run.
Next up was senior pinch hitter Lauren Jurgella who hit for senior Jordyn Shields. Jurgella reached on an unsuccessful fielders choice and an error on the play sent Allery to third.
Back to the top of the Pacelli order, Beth Wood faced Marisa Rice who popped up in front of the plate and into Beth Wood's glove.
Sami Kay Shafranski then delivered for the Cardinals. Her fly ball to center was caught by Caitlyn Qualley for the second out as Allery tagged and scored.
DH Payton Hintz, who was 2x4 for the day, sent a liner to right that Pethel chased down for the final out of the game.
The Pointers scored a run in the first that gave them command early.
Beth Wood walked and courtesy runner Lauren Graber took over to run. Paula Pittz bunted for a single and Graber worked her way to third, giving Pittz a shot at second which she took on a steal.
Caitlyn Qualley, the third stick in the Pointer line-up then sent a drive to center that allowed Graber to tag and race home.
Clara Chambers and Jordyn Dolphin both took shots at scoring Pittz but Chambers then sent a hard liner to second and Jordyn Dolphin flew out to left to end the inning.
What proved to be the winning run scored in the sixth. Caitlyn Qualley greeted a Kaylee Krostag offering and sent it up the middle for a single. Clara Chambers grounded to first and Qualley sprinted to second base. Jordyn Dolphin singled Qualley to third and promptly stole second. Catcher Emily Wood then grounded to short and Qualley came home to make it 2-0.
Beth Wood struck out eight, three of which were inning enders, and walked only one and that base on balls led to Pacelli's lone run.
Beth Wood said it was great to get to state and even better to advance to the championship game.
"We are really excited right now," she said.
She said things got tight in the last inning.
"You never want the first run to score on help from an error but it did," she added. "But we just worked through it. It has been 30 years since we've been here so we are pretty proud."
"Our team is able to work through anything," she said. "We are amazing together."
Coach Quinn Schultz credited Beth with keeping the Cardinals off the scoreboard.
"She is tough with runners on and we can make the plays behind her," Schultz said. "She does a great job of moving the ball and putting it where she wants to. She keeps the hitters off stride."
Both teams had a circus act play.
Pacelli had an F6/F7 play when the ball flipped out of shortstop Anna Lensmire's glove and into the waiting glove of left fielder Sydney Allery.
The Pointers had a ball roll up second baseman Halie Schmitz's left side and somehow found its way into first baseman Carlie Qualley's glove for the out at first.
Lensmire and Hintz both went 2x4 for Pacelli.
The four Pointer hits were from Caitlyn Qualley, Paula Pittz, Clara Chambers and Jordyn Dolphin.