The Fastpitch Chronicle

A quick look at the list of returning players in the Eastern Wisconsin conference show that Waupun, Plymouth and Campbellsport all return their top pitchers from 2013. That puts all three in the list of teams, pre-season wise, in the hunt for the conference title during the upcoming season,.

A Plymouth, Head Coach Gale Grahn is in his 24th (315-157) season at the helm. He will welcome his battery back for another campaign. Plymouth was 12-2 in the conference last season and 18-3 overall. Rachel Romps be in the circle with her toes on the pitcher's plate while Sara Romps will be stationed behind the plate. Both were first-team Eastern Wisconin last year. Grahn will also look to second team third sacker Mikaela Holdrige at the hot corner. Grahn will have to find replacements for: Sara Thompson (first team), Marissa Grapentine (first team), Joa Cain (second team), and Sophia Kiela - who was hurt in 2013 and is now playing at Concordia.

In Waupun, Head Coach Tom Hagstrom will be looking to reload after a season that saw his club go 13-1 in the Eastern Wisconsin and 19-9 overall. Hagstrom will look to first-team pitcher Tiffany Killiam to help lead the charge to a conference title and a deep run in the tournament series. Joining Killiam is first team first sacker Kelsey Thompson and second team outfielder McKenna Keach. Waupun will have to replace Kenzie Winning (first team) Holly Loomans (second team) and Joslyn Kounelis (second team).

Over in Kewaukum, Head Coach Jeff Gosse enters his 12th year at the helm. His club went 9-5 in Eastern Wisconsin action last year and was 12-6 overall. Gosse is strong behind the plate as Melanie Juech, a first team All Eastern Wisconsin selection last year returns. In the outfield Lindsay Winkler was a first team selection and returns to anchor that aspect of Gosse's attack. Gosse has most of his starters returning this season. Kewaskum graduated Jenny Riecher (first team) and honorable mention selection Erica Chesak).

Now in his second season, Campbellsport Head Coach Troy Schill will see first team pitcher Brianna Gruenwald return to the circle. On the receiving end of the slants tossed her way by Gruenwald will be second team catcher Nicole Hepp. IHonorable mention infielder Chey Renderman also  returns in 2014. Campbellsport went 8-6 in conference action last year and had a 13-8 season overall.

Over in New Holstein Head Coach Julie Woefel aslo enters her third season. New Holstein graduated ten seniors, seven of whom were starters.  Last year her club went 4-8 in the Eastern Wisconsin and 8-9 overall. Woefel will see outfielder Kelly Schmitz, a second team All Eastern Wisconsin selection last year. She will have to replace Tara Zipperer who earned honorable mention honors in 2013.

Kiel has a new head coach in Sabrina Hodden who will be looking to lead a group that will try to improve a record of 3-7 and 4-12 overall. Heading the list of returning players at Kiel is first team outfielder Breanna Spencer. Kiel loses Brooke Goehring a second team selection last year as well as Katie Kracht, second team and Allyson Bonde, also a second team all conference selection.

Two Rivers coach Kirk Shillkox enters his third season and will be looking to improve on a 1-11 conference mark and a 1-17 overall record. He will look to second team infielder Bailee Walesh to bring leadership to his program.

Sheboygan Falls Head Coach Brian Beeck (sixth season) has honorable mention infielder Abbi Christianson coming back for this year. Falls will be looking to improve at all the positions and looks to move up in the conference race after a 1-12 and 3-14 season a year ago.

A year ago, the weather really limited the number of games that Eastern Wisconsin Conference teams were able to play. They are all, like everyone else in the state, hoping for better weather in 2014.