Alyssa Roberts and the top-ranked Bradford softball team didn’t disappoint in their postseason opener on Thursday.

Roberts struck out the first eight batters as the Red Devils blanked visiting Janesville Craig, 4-0, in a WIAA Division-1 regional final.

It was the 10th shutout of the season for Bradford, which improved to 21-1. Two victories away from their first State Tournament appearance, the Red Devils will play Milton in a sectional semifinal 2 p.m. Thursday, June 4 at Verona. Central will take on Verona in the other semifinal.

“Janesville played a sound game and competed for seven innings,” Bradford coach John P. Ruffolo said. “I really liked the way we responded to the pressure they put on us.”

With Bradford holding a 1-0 lead, Craig (13-10) had runners on second and third with none out in the fourth inning. Roberts got out of the jam by striking out the No. 3 and 4 hitters and inducing a foul out to right field to end the inning.

In five innings, Roberts (11-0) gave up only two hits and one walk while striking out 11.

Ali Brems pitched the final two innings and struck out four. She walked two and allowed two hits.

“Alyssa dominated in the circle,” Ruffolo said.

Bradford scored the only run it would need in the second inning when Ari Roberts ripped a one-out single to center and stole second base.

After moving to third on a flyout by Cynthia Miller, Roberts alertly took off for home and beat the throw when Craig attempted a live-ball appeal at second base.

The Red Devils put the game away with three runs in the fourth.

Sarah Swager started a two-out rally with a single to left and Ari Roberts followed with a single to center.

Miller then singled to score Swager and moved to second on the throw to the plate. Cayla Schlevensky made it 4-0 with a two-run double into the gap in left center.

Bradford catcher Alyse Mikolas shut down two potential Craig rallies by throwing out two runners attempting to steal.

Lancers fall short

St. Joseph had its successful season come to a close with an 11-7 loss to Greendale Martin Luther in a WIAA Division-3 regional semifinal at Little League Park.

With seven freshmen and only two seniors on their roster, the second-seeded Lancers finished 15-7.

“The girls did a great job this season,” St. Joseph coach Ellen Santarelli said. “They have all done a remarkable job. The seniors showed true leadership all season long.

“My coaching staff and I commend the girls on a wonderful season.”

St. Joseph led 4-3 after three innings, but the Spartans scored six runs in the top of the fourth after two hits, a walk and two St. Joseph errors.

Martin Luther collected 13 hits against St. Joseph pitchers Leslie Fletcher and Kendall Bonnin.

Fletcher doubled and drove in two runs and Bonnin had two hits, including a double, and one RBI.

Third-seeded Martin Luther (11-10) will play fifth-seeded Christian Life (14-7) in a regional final 4 p.m. today at Prairie Springs Park in Pleasant Prairie.