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2024 Season Info

2024 Season Recap

Beaver Dam (19-5 overall) and Milton (26-3) shared the Badger-Large a season ago. Watertown (21-5) took second. Oregon (17-11), DeForest (12-14), Waunakee (6-15), Fort Atkinson (5-19) and Monona Grove (6-20) followed suit. The Badger-Large would send both Milton and Watertown to the State Tournament, where Milton would finish runner-up to Kenosha Bradford.

2025 Preview

2025 Predicted Order of Finish

1) Watertown
2) Beaver Dam
3) Oregon
4) Milton
5) DeForest
6) Waunakee 
7) Monona Grove
8) Fort Atkinson

Players To Watch

Cali Craig Jr P Watertown
Alyx Johnson Sr Watertown
Kendall Fakes So 3B Beaver Dam
Emma Julka Jr SS/P Beaver Dam
Carly Zych Sr SS/P Oregon
Teagan Simpson Sr C Oregon
Kenzie Marquardt Jr C Milton
Kylie Reed Sr UT/DP Milton
Raegan Smith Jr SS DeForest
Payton Steffen Sr 3B/P DeForest
Haiden Paulsen Sr Of Waunakee
Avery Schwab Jr C Waunaukee
Kaleia Knothe So OF Monona Grove
Cathryn Zegadlo Sr SS Monona Grove
Olivia Rue Sr 3B Fort Atkinson

Team Previews

Watertown will look to be at the top of the Badger-Large this season. The Goslings return several players and positions but will need to replace the production of catcher Drew Hinrichs. “We return eight starters, have speed and competitiveness. Injury concerns and experience at the catcher spot will be a challenge for us,” says second year Head Coach Matt Meracle. Watertown will have a rematch with Kenosha Bradford this season along with other Division 1 Powers this season.

Notable Losses: Drew Hinrichs, Kelsie Schuett

Returnees: Alyx Johnson Sr (1st team all conference, 2-time all region Butler commit), Cali Craig Jr P (1st team all conference, all region). Breanna Meracle SO (2nd team all conference), Ava Novotny Jr (2nd team all conference), Allison Howlett Sr (HM all conference, UW-Eau Claire commit)

Newcomers: Evelyn Rhodes OF, Cassidy Peplinski SS/2nd, Aubrey Fendt 2nd, Ella Peirick OF/IF

Beaver Dam has a change in the top this year with Quinn Heintz taking over as Head Coach. Heintz, who has previous head coaching experience at Hortonville, Appleton West, Lourdes Academy and Omro mentioned, “Our team strength this year will be the ability to get on base and infield play, though we currently have lack of experienced pitching and power bats.” Kendall Fakes So 3B (all conference as freshman), Mady Bryant Jr CF (all conference as sophomore), Emma Julka Jr SS/P (returnee), Addy Damon Sr SS/P (returnee), Chloe Kasuboski Sr C/OF (returnee), and Joy Mielke Sr OF (returnee) highlight the Golden Beavers roster this season. Beaver Dam will be hosting a Grand Slamboree in May with Hortonville, Wisconsin Lutheran and Waterford.

Notable Losses: Gabby Fakes - Wisconsin Badgers, Riley Czarnecki - Roosevelt University, Olivia DiStefino.

Newcomers: Gillian Schave Jr C, Aubrey Abfall Fr 1B, Celly Loomans So 1B/DP

Oregon graduated its all-conference pitcher Lauryn Etienne that helped lead Oregon to the sectional final last season. The Panthers bring back three all-conference selections: Carly Zych Sr SS/P, Teagan Simpson Sr C, and Annabelle Monte Sr 2B. Zych will look to be the team's primary option in the circle this season.

Milton moves on from the production of Gwen Baker (26-3 183 ⅓ IP 295 Strikeouts 0.90 ERA) in the circle. The Redhawks also pulled off the state's biggest upset in the State Semifinals, ending Kaukauna’s 108 game winning streak. Kenzie Marquardt Jr C and Kylie Reed Sr UT/DP are the First Team All-Conference returnees back this season. Ella Knoble Sr P, Jenna Benash Jr OF, and Molly Baker Jr RF also took home all-conference honors in 2024.

DeForest only graduated one senior in 2024 and will welcome back most of its team in 2025. Returning all-conference players are Raegan Smith Jr SS/P, Desirae Kallstrom Sr C/SS and Payton Steffen 3B/P.

Waunakee brings back two of its three all-conference selections this season. Haiden Paulsen Sr OF and Avery Schwab Jr C will look to lead the Warriors this season.

Monona Grove welcomes back all-conference selections Kaleia Knothe So OF and Cathryn Zegadlo Sr SS. Brooklyn Vanden Branden Jr P will look to handle the pitching duties this season for the Silver Eagles.

Fort Atkinson will have to replace the production of all-conference selection Macey Pease. The Blackhawks return just one all-conference selection in Olivia Rue Sr 3B. Leah Fehrman So P is also back in the circle this season.