The Waltonville Lady Spartans wrapped up one of the best softball seasons in program history Saturday, finishing as the IHSA Class 1A State Runner-Up after a tough 2-1 loss to Dakota in the championship game. Waltonville grabbed a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Elyssa Schoenbaechler doubled home Briley Williams, but Dakota tied the game on an RBI triple by Finley Banks in the sixth before scoring the winning run on a seventh-inning throwing error. Despite falling just short of a state title, the Lady Spartans return nearly their entire roster next season, losing just one starter to graduation, and should once again be among the top teams in Class 1A.
