Sheboygan South Coach Darren Weimann sees brighter days ahead in 2017 for the school's softball program. Now in his eighth year at the helm, Weiman welcomed five returning players including four starters back in March.
South went 10-16 last season and sixth our out of 10 Fox River Classic teams. That 10-win season was the highest total wins and highest conference finish in 11 years at South. A 2-1 defeat at the hands of a stout Beaver Dam team ended the season a year ago.
Weiman is looking for bigger and better things this season.
Junior catcher Ashley Weimann returns behind the plate after garnering First Team All Conference awards last season. She was also named First Team All District by the WFSCA district committee and was the Sheboygan Area Player of the Year.
Kourtney Mangan, a senior pitcher/third sacker and three-year starter returns for her fourth season for South while Lindsey Anderson, a junior shortstop, Lena Harvey a senior first sacker and Natalie Binversie a senior second sacker round out the four starters.
New players to keep an eye include junior outfielder Tessa Priebe, sophomore utility player Kelen Flynn, junior infielder Andrea Madson, junior utility player Samantha Kuehl, senior outfielder Emma Kloes, junior outfielder Kelly Kiefer and senior outfielder Arika Ploetz.
When asked what his thoughts are about the 2017 season Coach Weimann answered, "despite losing 7 seniors, we should be much improved. Lots of experienced softball players at the Junior and Sophomore level to go with some seasoned Seniors. This is our best team top-to-bottom since I’ve been coaching here. We’ve always had some very good skill players to lead the team, but our depth is our greatest strength this season.
Kourtney Mangan greatly improved as a pitcher last season. She kept us close even in losses (8 games lost by 3 runs or less). All 3 phases of our game will be improved. Pitching: Mangan plus newcomer Alyssa Frey will give us a strong 1-2 punch. Defense: Strongest and deepest defensive line-up in my tenure. Offense: We return 3 of the top 4 hitters from last season.
Pulaski should be the team to beat again in the conference. Returning 8 out of 9 starters from a team that won conference and got to the semi-finals at State.
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