The Fastpitch Chronicle

Top Cloverbelt East Contenders: Spencer, Neillsville, Gilman. Greenwood is an x-factor.

Other Top Area Teams:D3 Stratford and Marathon. D4 Athens and Thorp

Spencer Preview:

Spencer lost two great seniors in Sam Nikolay and Paige Johnson. Paige is one of the best softball players in school history. They are bringing back a lot of talent and depth. They  might not hit as many home runs or steal as many bases, but they can be just as productive on offense. There is a lot of competition to fill the open middle infield positions. Marisa Johnson may move from 3rd to Short leaving major competition at both 3rd and 2nd base. There are some talented sophomores and freshmen that will be pushing for playing time. Tynae Philipps returns as last year’s top pitcher and Macie Weber has taken major strides in the circle. Mandie Schultz was arguably one of the top catchers in the conference last year as a freshmen. Marissa Johnson and Brooke Kettleborough are both 5-tool players that are among the very best in the conference. Heidi Guenther, Amanda Skrzeczkoski, Colleen Arnold and Marissa Nigon bring great experience to the program as upperclassmen, while Lindsey Vaughan, Kallie Reckner, Sydney Kind, Katie Fleischman, Jenna Schober, Ellayna Lyon, and Courtney Buss all bring some talent and athleticism to the competition for starting positions.

Cloverbelt East Conference Preview

TOP TIER

Spencer- Defending Conference Champs (15-1) lost only two (very good) seniors.

Key Losses: Paige Johnson SS and Sam Nikolay 2B

Key Returners: Marisa Johnson 3B, Brooke Kettleborough CF, Mandie Schultz C, Tynae Phillips P/1B, Macie Weber P/1B

Strengths: Pitching, Hitting, Experience.

Areas of concern: Speed on the bases and replacing middle infield.

 

Neillsville- Well-established and well-coached program. Certainly in the mix for a conference title. Finished 3rd last year (9-3).

Key Losses: P Courtney Poeschel (best pitcher in conference),

Key Returners: Jenny Lindner, Sam Larrabee, Katelyn Crothers, Taylor Henchen, Taylor Gleisner

Strengths: Bringing back a strong ball-club in many positions and in the batting order.

Areas of concern: Who will replace Courtney Poeschel?

Gilman-

 

Gilman may be one of the smallest schools in the Cloverbelt East conference but don’t tell the girls on the Pirate softball team that they need to take a back seat to the schools with lots more students. In Gilman’s case it’s about quality instead of quantity. It’s also about a dedicated, committed coaching staff.

 

Brian Phelps enters his 21^st year at the helm of the Pirates and along with longtime assistant coach Kurt form as strong a tandem coaching team in the state. The Pirates are always fundamentally sound, compete aggressively and win. Under Phelps the Pirates have amassed an overall record of 278-146 and has been to the state tournament one time.

 

The 2013 season saw them enter with lofty expectations. Although they didn’t get to where they wanted, they finished the season at 19-3 and went 16-2 in the conference race, good enough for second place.

 

The Pirates lost to graduation: Jenna Fedors Catcher 2X 1st team all conf. 2x all district .490 ba

Tiara Latz 2x 1st Tema All conference All District Pitcher 2.04 era .500 ba,

 

 

Returning players include: Kelsie Rosemeyer who will be the leadoff batter for the fourth straight year. Last year Rosemeyer batted .450 with an on base average of .600, was named second team all conference; Brenna Piekarz who batted .400 and was second team all conference; Shelby Skabroud who was also a .400 hitter in 2013 with an on base average of .570; Kendall Skabroud, a .450 hitter and on base .600 and had an ERA of 2.75; Brooke Webster at .475, Emily Johnson at .480 and an ERA of just .298, Morgan Birkenholz at .378 and Shaelen Schmitt who was on base .650.

 

“We are looking to improve each day and prepare for tournament time,” said Phelps.

POTENTIAL TO MAKE SOME WAVES

 

Greenwood- Will have a new head coach this year. Starting pitcher is in third year as varsity starter. Finished 4th last year (9-7).

Key Returners: Rylie Johnson, Teagan Mayenschein, Madison Lucas, Paige Lindner

Strengths: A good deal of talent returning and an experience pitcher in Madison Lucas (Jr.) who is a third year starter. Rylie Johnson is one of the top players in the conference.

Areas of concern: Keeping up with the scoring production of the other top teams.

 

Loyal- Always a very good hitting team and is very sound defensively. Finished 5th last year (7-7).

Key Loss-McKenzie Rowley

Key Returners- Devyn Schoonover, Taylre Wilke

Strengths- Can score with the best of them. Good hitters up and down the line-up.

Areas of concern- Can pitching keep up with the rest of the conference?

 

Augusta- Rumors of pitching talent coming in with freshmen class could be a game changer. Finished 7th last year (2-10)

Key Returners- Amber Herrick was a very good player last year.

Key Losses- Catherine Shaffer

Strengths- Pitching may be improved which can have a big impact. Couple of good athletes that can be productive players.

Areas of concern- Scored just 55 runs last year.

WORKING TO IMPROVE

Colby- Finished 6th in the conference last year (4-8).

Key Returner- Karynna Swatzina

Columbus Catholic- Finished 8th in the conference last year (2-12). 

Owen-Withee - New coach this year. Finished 9th in the conference last year (0-14).

Key Returner- Bailey Karaba

 

 

Spencer Softball Preview 2014

Head Coach: Jason Gorst entering 5th Year Overall Record 66-24

1st Base Coach: Randy Reckner

JV Coach: Jenny Sanasac 1st Year

Team records last season

Overall 17-5

Conference 15-1 (Conference Champs) Cloverbelt East

Lost to Stratford in 2nd round of Playoffs 

Key Losses

Paige Johnson SS .462avg44rbi 8hr 12sb 1st Team All-Conference, Conference Player of the Year, All-District, Senior All-Star Game

Sam Nikolay 2B .323avg25sb Honorable Mention All-Conference 

Top returning players (started all or many games)

Marisa Johnson Jr SS/3B/P .474avg 19rbi 1hr27sb 2.55era 1st Team All-Conference;Brooke Kettleborough Jr CF .333avg26rbi 2hr 17sb 1st Team All-Conference;Tynae Phillips Sr P/1B11-2record 2.68era 78k 2nd Team All-Conference;Mandie Schultz So C .359avg31rbi 1hr 8sb, 5 runners thrown out 2nd Team All-Conference;Macie Weber So P/1B .299avg 12rbi2hr, 3.89era Honorable Mention All-Conference 3.89era;Lindsey Vaughan So LF .240avg 15sb;Colleen Arnold Jr UTIL .147avg;Amanda Skrzeczkoski DP .130avg;Heidi Guenther P .227avg 4.50era----*Breakout alert-Marisa Johnson at SS (can you break out from .474??) Macie Weber at P
Top newcomers
Kallie Reckner So IF; Katie Fleischman Fr OF; Sydney Kind So OF; Marissa Nigon Jr OF; Jenna Schober Fr IF; Courtney Buss Fr C/IF; Ellayna Lyon So P