Just because the Bradford softball team is making its first-ever State appearance doesn’t necessarily mean it will enter as one of the underdogs.

Quite the contrary, in fact.

“It would be easy to play that card, but I don’t think anyone has really gone there,” Bradford coach John P. Ruffolo said. “We don’t consider ourselves an underdog. We all feel very confident in our abilities.”

Bradford, ranked No. 1 in Division-1 in the WisSports.net Coaches poll, looks to extend its dominating season in facing defending State champion and fifth-ranked Stevens Point (24-3) in a Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association State quarterfinal 11 a.m. today at Goodman Diamond in Madison. The winner faces either Waunakee (21-4) or 13th-ranked Watertown (21-4) in a 6 p.m. State semifinal.

The championship is slated for 5:30 p.m. Saturday.

Bradford (23-1) advanced to the sectional final for the fourth year in a row — with the three previous seasons ending with heart-breaking losses to Verona — and finally secured a trip to Madison with a 4-2 victory over county foe Central last Thursday in Verona.

After a week layoff, the Red Devils are anxious to get back on the diamond.

“I think if you ask most players they’d like to play the very next day, but we’ve stayed focused,” Ruffolo said. “They’ve taken the practices really seriously.”

Bradford could be in for a heavyweight tilt in the first round against six-time State champion Stevens Point. The Wisconsin Valley Conference champion knocked off Verona 2-1 in last year’s title game in claiming its fifth championship in the last eight years. The Panthers feature a pair of dominating pitchers, a potent offense and plenty of senior leadership.

If that sounds familiar, it should.

“This is about as close to playing against a mirror as we’re going to get,” Ruffolo said. “They start with good pitching, they play solid defense and they’re opportunistic offensively. They’re also a high-energy team that likes to control the pace. They do all the things you would expect from a team at this level.”

The teams share a common opponent and even that provides little separation. Bradford defeated Oak Creek 10-2 on May 7, while Stevens Point beat the Knights 10-3 on May 2.

Stevens Point has won seven games in a row, including a 1-0 win in eight innings over third-ranked Kimberly in the sectional final. The one key advantage the Panthers have over Bradford is State experience.

“I think the key for us is getting past the first couple innings,” Ruffolo said. “It’s reasonable to assume that once the lights come on there will be an adjustment period.”

Senior right-hander Alyssa Roberts (12-0) will start the opener with sophomore Ali Brems (10-0) ready for a potential semifinal. Roberts pitched a six-hit complete game with nine strikeouts against Central, while Brems also tossed a six-hitter and recorded 15 strikeouts in a 5-1 win over Milton in the sectional semfinal.

Stevens Point also sports a pair of talented hurlers in senior Stacy Tuskowski and sophomore Kelly Franks.

“Pitching is a great equalizer,” Ruffolo said. “Teams can be hot-hitting, but good pitchers can still find ways to make good pitches.”