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Fort Atkinson Blackhawks

Head Coach – Jeff Agnew (19th Year) – 276-117 overall head coaching record

20-7 Overall – 10-2 in Badger South

When asked about Fort Atkinson’s team goals for the upcoming season Head Coach Jeff Agnew got right to the point. “Conference title, regional title, sectional title and state championship. We have the ability.”

“This game starts with pitching and catching as we have that.” said Agnew. “Kaitlyn Hollman and Aly Gartland have worked hard all off season to improve on a great sophomore season. Our veteran infield has 11 years of varsity experience.”

When asked what might be an area that needs to be worked on he said that his young outfield is untested but is also very athletic.

Fort Atkinson lost 10 letter winners from a team that made it to the WIAA Division 1 sectional final. They missed making a state tournament quarter final appearance when Wilmot took them down 2-0.

The Blackhawks have eight returning letter winners though including Gartland who was a second team all conference player although batting just .194. She’s noted for her defensive ability but Agnew says her offensive abilities have really improved and he looks for her to break out this season. Hollman was first-team all conference last season and all district with a 16-4 record and 1.58 ERA which included five shut outs. Backing up Hollman will be Alix Baker who was 3-0 in 2011 with a 1.93 ERA. Also coming back is Lauren Pfeifer a junior at first base who batted .385 last year and was a first team all conference selection. Amber Foerster a senior at second base returns after batting .383 and making first team and was first tam all conference and all district. She will walk on to the UW-Madison softball team. Maddie Bare is a senior at third base who batted .358 and was first team and is planning on playing softball at the D-2 level. Lexi Weigand is a senior shortstop who hit .346, was second team all conference and will be a four-year starter and will look to play Division 2 college softball. Others expecting to help propel Fort Atkinson to those lofty goals are: Tiffany Henze who is a sophomore outfielder with good speed; Holly Deuster a junior center fielder who was the JV team’s leading hitter last year at .488; and Bree Brandl a senior DP and team captain.

“The Badger South will be tough top to bottom this year,” said Agnew. “That will help make all the conference teams a force in both the Division 1 and Division 2 tournament series.”

According to Agnew, Monroe returns their pitcher after making it to the state Final Four last year while Edgewood only lost one starter off their team. Monona Grove has plenty of upper class talent while Milton is always strong. Stoughton plays everyone tight and Oregon is returning some nice players as well.

Sun Prairie Cardinals

Head Coach - Jamie Olson (1st year)
Assistant Coaches  -  Carla Kriel;  Allie Feys

22-5 Overall – 15-3 Conference

After making it the sectional final and coming up just short in a 2-1 11-inning loss, Sun Prairie will look to first-year head coach Jamie Olson to lead the Cardinals to the top of the Big 8 conference in 2012. Olson has been an assistant coach with the Sun Prairie program for 6 years. She started off as the head JV coach (2 years) and then moved to the varsity Assistant coach (3 years).  

Players lost to graduation include: Chelsey Rodenkirch, Sam Kanak, Maggie Scott, Taylor Lenz, Allie Lee, and Liz Brown.

Returning Letter Winners:
Kristen Hoppman: .485 BA/ 47 Hits/ 8 Doubles/ 5 Homeruns/ 39 RBI’S (Pitching stats: 11 wins-3 Loses/ 107 strike-outs); Nicole Hoffmann: .293 BA/ 2 Doubles/ 1 Homerun/ 7 RBI’S; Katelyn Huemmer: .386 BA/ 39 Hits/ 11 Doubles/ 2 Homeruns/ 21 Stolen Bases/ 16 RBI’S; Hanna Running: .277 BA/ 23 Hits/ 8 Doubles/ 1Triple/ 1 Homerun/23 RBI’S
(Pitching stats: 11 wins-2 loses/ 92 strike-outs); Heidi Morrical: .398 BA/ 33 Hits/ 6 Doubles/ 2 Triples/ 2 Homeruns/ 29 RBI’S; Briana Peterson: .262BA/ 16 Hits/ 3 Doubles/ 10 RBI’S; and  Stephie Klupper.
Incoming Players joining our 2012 Varsity team are: Caroline Trier, Cheyenne Holmes, Ellie Plonsky, Jenna Dammen, April Hommerding, and Raylin Betthauser

When asked about her thoughts for the upcoming season Olson said, “There is not one team that stands out above the other.  I believe this upcoming season will be tough for all teams within the Big Eight Conference.  I don’t think any one team in this conference should be under-estimated.  There is a lot of really great talent out there and I think this is the year for it to shine!  Every team wants that conference championship and that state run this year.  It will come down to the end of the season to see where everyone ends up.

Rosholt Hornets
 
Head Coach: Aaron Dobbe (aadobbe@mail.rosholt.k12.wi.us) (2nd  Year)
Assistant Coaches: Shane Larson (3rd season), Paul Rink (7th season), Tiffany Cichon (1st season)

18-7 Overall – 16-2 in Conference

Rosholt lost to Athens in the sectional semi-final last season.

Players lost to graduation: Erin Dulek (1st team all conference CWC-10), Amanda Gagas (2nd team all conference CWC-10), Kristin Hintz, Randi McLean, Chelsea Zoromski, Cassi Hoppa

Returning letter winners: Stephanie Skibba (1st team all conference CWC-10, .364 batting average as a junior), Alyssa Yenter (2nd team all conference CWC-10, .466 batting average as a freshman), Anna Gliszinski (honorable mention all conference CWC-10 .360 batting average as a junior), Carrissa Wright (.309 batting average as a sophomore), Erin Weirzba (.333 batting average as a sophomore), Heide Jakubek (senior), Shannon Simonis (senior), Renae Bembenek, (junior, missed much of last year with an illness), Maria Lewandowski (junior), Rachel Smith (sophomore), Cassie Glodowski (sophomore)

Newcomers who could see varsity time: Kennedy Bianco (sophomore), Nikayla Glodowski (freshman), Anna Cole (freshman), Morgan Kruzicki (freshman), Kendra Kruzicki (freshman)

Outlook:  We have to find a way to replace a really good pitcher in Erin Dulek this year.  Carrissa Wright and Shannon Simonis will need to fill that void for us.  I think we will have a good hitting team this year, which could offset the loss of Dulek.  We have a lot of young girls who played a full season of varsity ball at a high level, so that should also help.  I think the team to beat in our conference is once again Tigerton.  The Ortner girls are extremely good players.  They are very fun to watch, but not so fun to coach against twice a year!

Howards Grove Tigers

Head Coach -  Tom Heier (3rd  Year
Assistant  Coach -   Melody DeRuyter (3rd  Year)

18-7 Overall 13-2 conference (conference champions)  Central Lakeshore     
    **made it to the sectionals for the 1st time in school history for softball. Lost to
        Laconia 8-1.

Lost to graduation:  Steph Bergman (3 time 1st team all conference 3B)   .438  32 rbi;                                 Tracy Wehrmann (2nd team all conf OF)    .317   17 rbi; Beth Meyer (reserve OF);       Jenna Rautmann (part-time starter at 1B)

Returning letter winners:
Alexia DeRuyter      Sr    7-0 record as pitcher in conference/1B   .339   18 rbi
Brenna Lunde        Sr    reserve IF/C
Emily Schuh        Sr    2nd team all-conf SS last two years   .364   14 rbi
Brenna Steines    Sr    2nd team OF, 1st team utility, and 2nd team C last 3 seasons  .369 14 rbi
Jazmin Stauss        Sr    starting OF   .308
Emily Wagner        Sr    part-time starter at 1B
Amber Reineman    Jr    2 time unanimous 1st team OF    .430  20 rbi
Ashley Rose        Jr    2nd team all conf at 2B    .291   14 rbi
Katie Sohn        Jr    reserve pitcher/OF
Robyn Bitter        So    will move into 3rd/C position this year
Valerie Free        So    will be backup IF/possible starting OF
    
Top teams in our conference:  Oostburg and Howards Grove
Team improving:  Cedar Grove
Teams Rebuilding:  Elkhart Lake and Sheboygan Lutheran

Other local teams to watch would be Plymouth and Sheboygan North

Howards Grove will need to replace four seniors this year including all conference 3B Steph Bergman and RF Tracy Wehrmann.  However, we will return 7 starters including 1st team all conference pitcher Alexia DeRuyter (7-0 conference), 1st team Jr CF Amber Reinemann, and Brenna Steines(2nd or 1st team at different positions the last 3 years).  Add to that 2nd team SS Emily Schuh (2 years) and 2nd team 2B Ashley Rose and that gives us a solid core to build on.  We will have a strong hitting team with solid pitching.  Jr Katie Sohn will give us depth at the varsity pitching position.  Depth is not a problem as we will have 3 seniors coming off of the bench.  Sophomore Robyn Bitter will be the likely starter at 3b and sophomore Valerie Free will be a part time infield/outfield starter.

I believe Howards Grove has to be considered the team to beat this year as we return almost our entire lineup that went 13-2 in conference last year and had some big wins out of conference against Kewaskum, Mischicot, and Kewaunee.  Oostburg returns a solid team with senior pitcher Hailee Brill, but they need to replace a 1st team all conference SS and C.  Elkhart Lake will be rebuilding as they lost their perennial 1st team all conference Pitcher and Leadoff hitter Steph Knepfl who batted over .600 last year.  Each of these teams will need to find key replacements.
Cedar Grove improved their program a lot last year, but also lost their key C and P combination to graduation.  The conference lost Stockbridge from the conference this year.

Predictions:
Howards Grove 1st
Oostburg   2nd
Elkhart Lake 3rd

Turner

Head Coach – Bob Sulser (13th Year at Turner)
Assistants - Sam Bennett 7 years coaching;  Regan Peters (1st year)

14-10 Overall – 11-5 in Rock Valley South 2nd Place

Players lost to graduation include: Zoe Hale - C - leading hitter All State (3rd) Catcher; Megan Zandler - P - All Conference; Amy Wright – OF; Maci Wesier – OF; Janessa Snippen - IF
Alex Lillard - Utility - All Conference (2d Tm)

Returning Players are: Kristina Bordner - Jr - IF - All Conference 2d Team IF; Hayley Jordan - Sr - IF/P - All Conference 1st Team IF; Cooki Casey - Jr – IF; Kellie Dailey - Jr – OF; Emily Beyer - So - OF

Head Coach Bob Sulser expects five or six  freshmen to compete for starting positions on varsity this season.

Top teams in RVC South: Brodhead, Parkview RVC North: Edgerton, McFarland

Player to watch is Kelsie Packard who is a freshmen pitcher.

New Lisbon Rockets

Head Coach – Steve Loew (1st Year)

New Lisbon is looking to continue the rich tradition they have established over the years; however they are going to have to do it with a new head coach.  Previous head coach John Costello stepped down after 19 years because of taking position in the southern part of the state.  New head coach Steve Loew is no new face to the program.  He has been the assistant coach for the past two seasons and so far has the girls excited to compete at a high level.  

In conference play, New Lisbon has lost a total of 6 games in the last 5 years and were fortunate to make it to sectionals all 5 of those years…only to fall short of making it to Madison. Some key players lost to graduation are short stop Paige Neitzel, outfielder Asia Delgado and two time conference player/pitcher of the year and All District Pitcher Kiley Costello.  These three girls will be missed dearly however the will be replaced by very talented players, sophomore shortstop Lisa O’Meara, Junior outfielder Elayne Hansen and Junior Pitcher Michaela Vinz.  These ladies have contributed to the success of the program over the past two seasons and they certainly have some big shoes to fill.  They have gained valuable experience over the summer and exceeded expectations which have made the coaching staff very excited. Some other ladies who have some potential of contributing are junior infielder Krista Ulrich, Sophomore Infielder Mackenzie Dalke and sophomore infielder/outfielder Alyssa Spaniol.  

The Lady Rockets have these key players in place to lead New Lisbon to continue their quest to get to Madison….All Conference senior infielders Leah Nicksic and Lindsey Elsing along with senior all conference outfielder Emily Georgenson, and senior Cassie Loew.  These seniors along with All-Conference and All-District Junior Catcher Sam Olson have experienced a tremendous amount of success in the years past.  
 
The Scenic Bluffs Conference is certainly much improved from top to bottom.  Cashton, Wonewoc and Brookwood along with New Lisbon should contend for the title.  A team that is loaded with talent however not sure how they will fair is Bangor.  Necedah is always competing at a high level because head coach Kris Saylor always gets his kids ready to play.  So on any given night if the ball bounces just a few inches fair or lands foul could determine the outcome of this conference race.

The Rockets have a very difficult non-conference schedule where they will face power house programs Thorp, Athens, Poynette, Portage, Barneveld and LaCrosse Logan.  So with the improved Scenic Bluffs Conference and their brutal non-conference schedule the Rockets should be primed for an exciting late May run in tournaments and with a little luck and a lot of hard work, maybe, just maybe the Lady Rockets and new head coach Steve Loew will experience a season to remember for the rest of their lives.  

Shell Lake Lakers

Head Coach – Mark Lehnherr (5th Year)  after 2 years as asst)
Assistant Coach - Kelly Green (3rd Year )

8-11 Overalll – 1-7 in conference action

The Shell Lake Lakers, coming off a great WIAA regional tournament run in 2011 will be looking to use that success to boost them to great things this season.

In the 2011 season the Lady Lakers were only 2-6 in Conference play but the strength of the conference showed when the Lakers won a regional championship game over the Frederic Vikings 4-2. The overall record was 8-11.

The team lost only one player (Lindsey Green-All Conference Pitcher). They are very young but talented team who fills their schedule with hard competition. They have nine letter returners, one all conference player in Erika Kozial and Emmalee Statz an honorable mention pick and team captain returning. Also adding to the team is a very good freshman.

The Cameron Comets will be the team to beat in this year’s conference play. They are filled with many talented seniors including pitcher, Emily Krueger with a very well rounded coaching staff. Another player to watch this year from our conference will Lisa Featherly who is returning from a season ending injury last year she is the catcher of Teagen Harrings. These two will lead the team.

Pecatonica Vikings

Head Coach - Chuck Meyer (29th year at Pec)    31th overall
Pecatonica Overall Record: 304-237   Conference: 214-125

Assistance Coach -   Ike Campbell  (4th year)

6-17 Overall -- Conference 3-9   

Pecatonica lost Ellie Gifford at short and Andrea McGowan at first base from last year’s team.

They return nine players including seniors Michalla Boese and outfielder,
Katie Moen    a catcher and infielder; Katie Sather an outfielder; Allison Swenson an infielder and outfielder; Juniors Michelle Francois an outfielder; Emma Marion a catcher and utility player; Cora Demler in the circle; Lizzy Britt a utility player and Sophomore pitcher Julia Meyer.

Prospects: Yager Syverson – DH, Erin Kleppe – U, Emily Scoville – P/U

When asked to comment on the upcoming season Chuck Meyer said, “We will have experienced players returning this year with a large number of seniors and juniors. It will be hard to replace Ellie Gifford at short and Andrea McGowan at first, as they both shored up our defense. We will be as good as our battery is. You have to have good pitching, good catching, and timely hitting to be successful in this game. A glaring need this year is to improve our pitching. Cora Demler & Julia Meyer split time on the pitching rubber last year with Demler becoming more comfortable out there at the end of the season.  We will see who steps up this year.  We do have a good nucleus around them back this year. We still want them to learn a love of the game, the basics of the game, be fundamentally sound, and be aware when different situations are about to arise.  The players have to have high expectations of themselves, as this is their time to shine.

Juda is the defending champs (I believe) and has co-oped with Albany.  Ramos is back toeing the rubber and has lots of experienced players behind her. Davis is an outstanding pitcher in her own right, and will be ready when called upon. I also believe that Barneveld will have a tough team this year. Schave did an outstanding job against us last year, and they have a few more pitchers in Laube & Bowser, Monticello & Argyle have worked hard to improve.  Wow it could be a real donnybrook this year with teams beating up on each other.  Our hope is to stay competitive with them and win a few.

Port Edwards Blackhawks

Head Coach – Stephanie Treichel (3rd Year)
Assistant Coach – John Johnson

7-14 Overall --- 7-11 in Conference Play

Port Edwards Head Coach Stephanie Treichel will be looking to move her Blackhawks along this season. She returns Kali Gerts – Sr. Ulity IF; Shantel Brundidge – Sr. CF; Lindsay Larson – Sr. SS; Sarah Gildenzoph – Sr. C; Kate Gildenzoph – Sr. RF; Jenna Reas – Jr. 1B; Bryce Smith - Jr P; Nicole Marshall – Soph. LF; Ashley Kitts - Soph. Utility and Rachel Williamson - Soph. Utility .
Lost to graduation are Jenna Brundidge – P; Amanda Swiggum – C; Katie Wedig – 1B
Kelsy rember – IF Utility; and Molli Burgeson – 3B.

Treichel will look to the following list of newcomers to challenge the above mentioned players for spots. They are: Megan Burgeson (Fr); Lexi Schraeder (Fr); Jordan Schraeder (Fr); Jessica Grunden (Fr); Braylyn Stewart – LaViolette (Jr) ; Sammi Felkowski (Fr); and Sierra Houchin (Fr).

Teams to watch:  In the CWC Small Tigerton will definitely be a strong team to beat againthis year. They are returning their dominant battery of the Ortners. Rosholt and Almond will also be teams to watch and beat.  Strong teams also returning will be Marion and Wild Rose.  Throughout Central WI, you will always have SPASH and Pacelli to watch who always have very strong programs along with Assumption.  

Oregon Panthers

Head Coach - Michael Derrick (1st Year) 1st year head coach, 17th year as a coach in the Oregon program
Varsity Assistant Coach: Amanda Radke (1st year assistant coach) 3rd year as a coach in the Oregon program
    
9-14 Overall – 2-10 in Badger South

Players lost to graduation: Three including 1st team all-conference infielder Ashley Marshall

Returning letter winners: Catcher - Alyssa Damon – Junior; 3rd Base – Martha Rose Sommers – Senior – 2nd team Badger South 2011; Centerfield – Emma Xander – Senior; Rightfield – Lexi Nelson – Junior – 1st team Badger South 2011; Pitcher – Hailey Morey – Junior – 5-6 varsity record 3.62 REA 2011; Pitcher – CeeCee Herale – Sophomore – 3-6 varsity record 6.23 ERA 2011

Oregon Players to watch in 2012: Lexi Nelson, a starter in the outfield since her freshman year, is a lefty who hits for average and power (.304 average, 4 doubles, 2 triples and 1 homerun-2011). She has a strong arm with Division I potential. Lexi was 1st team all-conference as a sophomore. Senior Martha Rose Sommers, 3 year starter at third. Solid infielder and smart lead-off hitter who consistently get on base (.338 average with 18 walks-2011-career .300 varsity hitter). Martha Rose was a 2nd team all-conference pick as a junior.

Oregon will be a young team with new coaches and holes to fill defensively. Oregon’s up side will be some good offensive skills and returning pitchers/catcher. The team’s goal is to be fundamentally sound and play consistently from game to game. The Panthers plan to work hard so they can be competitive and improve their standing in the tough Badger South Conference.

The Badger South is traditionally an outstanding softball conference. All the teams are improving making the conference more balanced. This softball season will be a slug fest in the conference with any team able to beat another on any given day. Monroe, Fort Atkinson and Milton will return as front runners in the conference race.