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Waterloo - Coach Deb Braatz (21st Year) - The Pirates graduated a lot of talent in Samantha Zimmerman, Romona Eakman, Michelle Radloff, Kelli Radloff, Sara Evenson, Heather Spies, Samantha Hotmar and Julie Schummann but do return six letter winners including pitcher Chelsea Hensler, the Player of the Year in the Capitol South. Outfielder Brittany Mielke was a first team all conference pick in 2007 as was first sacker Rachel Gage. Amanda Dunneisen plays infield and outfield, Jena Richards is an outfielder and utility player and Amanda Leistico is a utility player as well. New players include April Haines, Katie Jo Cook, Sarah Buszka, Megan Hubacher, Kaitlin Phillips, Marissa Shaner, Katie McKee, Vanessa Morales and Cameron Teubert. Although it could be looked at as a rebuilding year in Waterloo, the conference title still goes through them.



Marshall - Head Coach Bruce Wuchterl- 3rd Year - This could be are break out year. We lost one starter form last years team in Courtney Noel are #1 pither who was a 3 year starter and a 3 time all conference pitcher with a Pitcher of the Year award last year. She will be hard to replace. Knowing that however, we do have two young pitchers in Andrea Schwenn and Megan Peterson. Both are sophomores. Andrea will be are #1 pitcher and Megan will be #2. They both are pitching very well right now and will be ready for the season. Playing defense behind them is Megan Lawson behind the plate she is a 10th grader and a 1 year starter. At first base is Kayle Dorshorst a 11th grader and a two-time all conference player. At second base is Sarah Wedeward a 11th grader a one-year starter, At shortstop we have Karmen Dorshorst a 11th grader, a two-year stater and an All Conference player last year. Handling third base will betwo-Shayla Schulenberg a 11th grader and a 2 year stater. Playing the leftfield is Kayla Mienholz who is a junior and also a two-year starter. In centerfield we have Crystal Schuster one-year starter and and All Conference performer. In rightfield we have Kelsey Mienholz a two-year starter. We have two or three kids that will compete for playing time. It will be a very fun year because we have a great bunch of kids that work hard and play hard and they are all very coachable. As for the Capitol South Conference, Waterloo will be the team to beat because they have won the title for so long. Until some one knocks them off they will be the favorite. We will be right on their heels for the the title though. The conferece will be very balanced this year with any team beating any one on any given day so you must come to play.



Wisconsin Heights - Head Coach Gena Clarson - 4th Year - The Vanguards, after graduating 5 seniors in 2007 Wisconsin Heights return five starters. Senior left fielder Callie Furry; juniors center fielder Kayla Clarson; shortstop Tayler Mickelson; pitcher Sharon Booth; and Sophomore 2007 1st team all-conference 1st baseman Brooke Brunner. Also returning is 3rd year varsity catcher Janelle Endres who will take over the starting catcher position.

Key newcomers:

Jrs- Krystal Canfield- (Pitcher,3rd), Rhea Helmenstine (Pitcher,3rd) also utility players Srs. Tasia Pinkham, Samantha Moore, Jrs. Abby Kahl, Danae Maier, Libby Gilles.

My expectations:

Losing 5 seniors last year to graduation and 2 key players due to season ending injuries the first week of practice any coach may be a little pessimistic, however I look at our team and we still have a strong core, Im extremely optimistic. We certainly will be doing some position shuffling and probably some fine tuning early in our season but Im sure they ll do a great job of filling the holes and working out the kinks.

Our Strengths: -- Our pitching probably looks the best since I took over 4 years ago; we have three solid pitchers in Sharon Booth, Rhea Helmenstine and Krystal Canfield who transferred in from Minnesota a couple months back, she s going to make a great addition to our team.

Our team leadership has been very impressive in Sr. Callie Furry and Jrs Kayla Clarson and Janelle Endres All have been leading practices and conditioning. These girls are really pushing the under classmen to work harder while keeping everything upbeat and positive.

My goal: -- To finish at the top.



Cambridge -



New Glarus - Head Coach Robert Wahl 5th year -Head coach Robert Wahl is looking forward to the upcoming season as he continues to build the softball program at New Glarus. This year s squad features eight returning starters, including starting pitcher Keriann Schmidt, who struck out a record 18 batters in a game last season. Schmidt also set the school record for strikeouts in a season last year. Kelsey Schmidt, sister of Keriann, will handle most of the catching chores. Schmidt, a starter as a freshman, brings experience behind the dish.The infield is packed with experience with Alicia Nettesheim, Kayla Hagen, and Taneesha Waldner returning on the infield. Nettesheim, an all conference shortstop last season, returns for her fourth year as the starting shortstop. Her double play partner will be Kayla Hagen, who will bring her solid fielding skills to the second base position. Taneesha Waldner will anchor first base with her solid defensive play.The Knight outfield is in fierce competition between seniors Kendra Mussehl, Brittany Narveson, and Emily Truttman. Junior Kesley Bartle is also in the mix for starting positions.

A strength of the Knights will definitely be at the plate. So far this season, the Knights have shown an ability to hit the ball, which will be crucial against the quality pitching of the Capitol Conference. Coach Wahl and assistant Dean Nettesheim have been impressed with the hitting of the girls so far this season. Across the board, the Knights feature a line-up that should produce plenty of runs.

In all, the Knights feature plenty of varsity experience and are hoping to be resilient and scrappy as they roll into the new season. Leadership and maturity will be keys as New Glarus and coach Wahl work to continue to build a program and a softball tradition at New Glarus. The Knights open on April 1 with a non-conference game at Pecatonica.



Belleville - Coach: Jon Benash 4th Year, Assistants: Bill Froehich & Joe Benash - Belleville returns everyone from last year's team that finished third behind

Waterloo and Marshall in their first year in the Capitol South. The Wildcats

will be led by junior Jenny Walejko. Walejko an All-Conference first teamer

last year will be joined by senior catcher Cindy Ziegler and battery mates

junior Courtney Adams and sophomore Leigh Baker who were all second team

All-Conference performers from a year ago. Although the seasoned Wildcats

return all 9 starters from last year, those starters will be pushed hard by a

group of very talented freshmen this year.