The Fastpitch Chronicle

Watertown

Division 1 – Enrollment this school year is 1242 – Sectional #4 with Final at Hartford
Conference – Badger South
Head Coach – Patty Jansen – 29th Year – (400+ Wins) 13 Conference Titles; 14 Regional titles; 5 Sectional Titles thus 5 State Division 1 appearances – 4 Final Fours, 2 times Division 1 State Runner-Up (2015 and 2016)
Assistant Coaches: Matt Meracle, Erica Schwantes
Entering her 29th season at the helm of the Goslings Head Coach Patty Jansen long ago established herself as one of the state’s premier fastpitch coaches. A former collegiate player herself she brings a wealth of knowledge and tradition to this year’s Watertown players. If you have ever watched her teams play you are aware of the fact that they are solid, year-in-and-year-out in the field. Pitching is always among the state’s most consistent and they can hit. “We pride ourselves on our defense,” stated the head coach. “We work day in and day out on basic fundamentals. It’s the building block for what we do as a program. We have to support our pitchers, score runs and play great defense. The Goslings return a great nucleus of all-conference players in the Badger South including: Lauren Harshbarger, Brianne Korducki, Brianna Hendricks, Payton Zubke and Paige Bacchi. When asked to look down the road and into the upcoming season Jansen said she views Monroe, Fort Atkinson and her own Gosling squad to be the strongest Badger South clubs. When it comes tournament time she sees Oshkosh North, Oshkosh West and Slinger to be right in the mix with her own club. Over the past 28 years Watertown has always been on fastpitch softball’s pre-season watch list. They are always in the rankings.

Cedarburg

Division 1 – Enrollment this school year is 1101 – Sectional  #7 at Germantown
Conference – North Shore
Head Coaches – Jeff Langkamp and Mark Jessup (3rd Year) (27-21)
Cedarburg features a set of Co-Head Coaches again in 2019. Now in their third year they are working diligently to bringing the program back into the forefront of WIAA Division 1 fastpitch going 27-12 in the first two years of work.  Cedarburg, under Hall of Fame coach Rod Wilterdink played in nine WIAA State Tournaments with a state tournament record of 3-9. This season Langkamp and Jessup welcome back all-conference performers in Julia Eberhardt, MaKenzie Goethel and Kylie McInerney to lead the way. Goethel broke the North Shore Conference record for stolen bases. They look for freshman pitcher Paytn Monticelli to provide some strength in the circle so that the six of nine starters returning can create a push for the program. “We need our freshman pitcher to really step up after having some great success in summer competition,” stated Jeff Langkamp who himself brings a wealth of men’s fastpitch playing experience in the central part of the state over the years as well as being one of the best players in the former Janesville men’s fastpitch scene. He sees Slinger as the favorite in the North Shore and views Menomonee Falls as the top team in the sectional.