Wisconsin High School Sports | Wisconsin Sports Network | WisSports.net

2024 Season Info

2024 Season Recap

Hayward (19-7 overall) took the Heart O’North a season ago, Northwestern (19-7) took second. Spooner (18-7) took 3rd. Saint Croix Falls (15-11), Barron (12-11), Cameron (10-13), Cumberland (9-13), Chetek-Weyerhaeuser (5-16), Ladysmith (5-19) and Ashland (1-20) rounded things out. Spooner would advance the furthest falling to eventual Division 3 State Champion Prescott in the Sectional Final.

2025 Preview

2025 Predicted Order of Finish

1) Northwestern
2) Hayward
3) Spooner
4) St. Croix Falls
5) Barron
6) Cameron
7) Cumberland
8) Chetek-Weyerhaeuser
9) Ladysmith
10) Ashland 

Players To Watch

Ellie Peterson Sr P Northwestern
Emma Wennersten Sr C Northwestern
Brooke Laier Sr P Hayward
Colby Sprenger Jr IF Hayward
Annalie Lindgren So P Spooner
Devin Danielson Jr IF Spooner
Faith Allram So P Saint Croix Falls
Cat Williams So IF Saint Croix Falls
Kailynn Duncan Sr P Barron
Brylee Viltz So C Cameron
Emerson Krahenbuhl Jr P Cameron
Macy Beecroft Sr SS Cumberland
Joie Bayerle Sr OF Cumberland
Jerica Haas Sr IF/P Chetek-Weyerhaeuser

Team Previews

Northwestern will look to compete for the top spot in the Heart O’North this year. The Tigers do have a change in coaching with Gabby Gidley taking over for Scott Janigo this season. Gidley mentioned, “We have several strong leaders returning that will help out our younger softball players. We have a solid defense and I don't see us letting in many runs this year. We will have to find a way to put the bat on the ball, as that was our biggest weakness last year.” The Tigers battery duo of Seniors Ellie Peterson (18-7 155 IP, 1.49 ERA, 261 Strikeouts, 39 Hits and 33 RBI .438 avg as a hitter, North Dakota State Commit) and Emma Wennersten (39 Hits, 28 RBI, .488 avg, North Iowa Area Community College Commit) along with Ashlyn Sutherland OF (95 % Fielding Avg, North Iowa Area Community College Commit) look to lead the way this season. Northwestern is also looking forward to a Highway 2 Battle with the Superior Spartans in which both teams will raise money for veterans and the Bong Memorial Veterans Center.

Notable Losses: Karly Nichols, Tori Kaufman, Jalynn Tuura

Newcomers: Claire Nielsen Jr 1B, Gabby Berger So P, Hailey Gliderman

Hayward has 10 returning players from last season. All-Conference selections were Brooke Laier Sr P, Colby Sprenger Jr IF, Greta Woebler Sr OF, Nikki Miller Sr 3B, Sophie Marino Sr C, Leah Swan Sr 1B, and Gretchen Gajewski Sr LF. The Hurricanes are in a tough Division 2 half-sectional featuring Ellsworth, Rice Lake, and Baldwin-Woodville.

Spooner was a sectional finalist to Prescott last season. The Rails did graduate their First Team All-Conference catcher Lilly Hotchkiss and OF Peyton Steines but return a youthful squad that will look to go far down the stretch. All-Conference returnees for the Rails include Annalie Lindgren So P, Devin Danielson Jr IF, and Ava Thompson Jr IF.

St. Croix Falls has only five upperclassmen returning this season but almost a full returning Roster. “This team has almost everyone back from last year," said 12th year head coach Clayton Hanson. "They are really a close group.” Faith Allram So P (1st team All Conference), Cat Williams So IF (2nd team All Conference), Claire Bradt Jr (2nd team All Conference), and Emilie Glenna Sr are some of the players to watch for the Saints this season. “We are looking forward to having a really fun and hopefully warm season!" says Hanson.

Notable Losses: Rylee Williamson, Aaliyah Lopez Graduation, Amber Batreman (Competing in Track & Field 2025)

Newcomers: Jocelyn Shimon So C, Larissa Chapman So RF, Autumn Steffen So 3rd/DP

Barron will have a new head coach for the 2025 season as Tracy Peetz takes the reins. Peetz mentioned that they have seven seniors this season including Kailynn Duncan Sr P. Peetz also says being the new Head Coach comes with both highs and lows for the program and looks forward to building things up and implementing some new things. The Golden Bears also have a large incoming freshman group and some potential pitchers to watch out for in the near future.

Cameron had five seniors in 2024 and have a significant number of returning players this season including all-conference picks Brylee Viltz So C and Emerson Krahenbuhl Jr P.

Cumberland returns a pair of all-conference selections this season in Macy Beecroft Sr SS (16 hits 11 RBI) and Joie Bayerle Sr OF(17 Hits .405 avg). The Beavers also return their starting pitcher Morgan Monchilovich Sr (5-6 77 ⅔ IP 103 Strikeouts 5.23 ERA), Baileigh Stouffer Sr C, Jayden Gowen Sr IF, Kelsey Reidy Sr IF, Raegan Beecroft So OF and Presli Butzler So OF to their line up this season.

Chetek-Weyerhaeuser graduated three seniors including their starting pitcher a year ago. “We are young but have some talented players," said first year head coach Shaun Carr. "We are excited for the season and look for good things to come.” Jerica Haas Sr IF/P, Alana Fedie Sr IF, Bella Miller Sr OF, and Katie Bartels Sr OF highlight this year's senior class. The Bulldogs also have some sophomores in the mix being Danielle Becker C, Victoria Keller 1B and Katherine Carr P/IF.

Newcomers: Alexis Tomsovic So, Jordyn Maas Jr, and Addison Cole.

Ladysmith did not have any all-conference players last season nor did they have any seniors. The Lumberjills will have most of their roster back in 2025.

Ashland graduated its only all-conference selection in Faith Dickrell in 2024. The Oredockers have a projected large roster returning for 2025.