The Fastpitch Chronicle

Arcadia:

Head Coach: Dave Bjorge (12th year)
Assistants: Pat Lisowski (6th year); Mike Brueggen (2nd year); Joleen Jereczek (5th year); Katie Pryzbilla (1st year)

Arcadia returns 5 starters for a year ago and has some big holes to fill, hopefully some of our young kids we be able to step up and fill those roles. We hope to contend for a conference title but will be tough to unseat last years champs, Luther. I believe the conference is going to be very tough this year and very balanced from top to bottom, you better come to play every game as you can be knocked off by any team on any given night.

Lost all conference performers Lexi Bergum and Abby Waters to graduation as well as starters Olivia Knudson, and Shaylah Roesler. Also lost to graduation was reserve Erin Nilsestuen.

Returning all-conference players: Michaela Brueggen & Taylor Haines (1st team); Other returning letter winners: Alli Petz, Alyssa Pronschinske, Chandler Halverson, Mariah Haines, Dana Haines, Megan Ammann; Newcombers this year: Brooke Ackerman, Jordin Hannon, Becca Weltzein, Alana Tulip, Hilliary Filla

2013 record: 11-4 overall 4-2 conference (3rd place)

Black River Falls:
Head Coach: Mary Danielson

Our conference record last year was 2-4, and overall we were 9-8. We have Mackenzie Hoeschele as the only returning all-conference player. There are 7 returning letter winners. My prediction is that we will finish middle of the pack again. Not sure we're consistent enough to do more than that. We do have Kate Hegna and Sonja Cook as 3 year returning pitcher/catcher duo. We also don't have Riley Smith or Lydia Cloud this year so our defense will look a bit different.

GET:
Head Coach: Dan Stuhr

We are young again this year. With youth it is sometimes hard to predict. If our sophomore pitchers come through we will be competitive. As far as All-conf. Abbie Gunderson was 2nd team last year.

Luther:
Head Caach: Mark Ross
Returning Letter winners:C – Emily Appold (12);1B – Sara Beckendorf (10);2B – Miriam Beagle (12);SS – Eliza Dobbe (11);3B – Nicole Beckendorf (11);LF – Anna Hemmelman (10);CF – Bethany Beitlich (12);RF – Carlena Yang (10)
Reserves – Michelle Beranek (12), Shelby Zillmer (12)
All-Conference:1^st Team – Emily Appold;2^nd Team – Nicole Beckendorf, Sara Beckendorf, Bethany Beitlich
2013 Record (22-2, 6-0)

Our only loss from last year’s was Mariah Schultz, but as our #1 pitcher and lead-off hitter, and probably the best player ever in our program, she will be tough to replace. We are looking for Sara Beckendorf (5-1, 2.65 ERA) to step into the role as our #1 pitcher. Offensively we will need everyone to improve to make up for the production loss from Mariah to compete for a conference championship.

Westby:

Coach’s Name: Morgan Stenslien

Years coaching: 9th Year

Assistant coaches: Randi Smalley - Varsity Assistant;Jenna Jansen - JV/C Team Coach

2013 Record: Overall: 15-6, Conference: 5-1

Returning Letterwinners:(Sr) Natalie Anderson; (Sr) Brooke Kendall; (Sr) Alexis Gilkes; (Sr) Morgan Gran

(Sr) Katie Gillespie; (Jr) Samanta Korn

Returning All-Conference Player(s): (Sr) Brooke Kendall - 1st Team; (Sr) Natalie Anderson - 2nd Team

2014 Team Expectations:

I look to our upper classmen to set the tone for the season. Their energy and enthusiasm needs to be contagious. I believe it will take the girls some time to figure each other out, as we will have many new faces in new positions. We will focus on the things we can control (our attitude, effort, and attitude). We will be ready and successes should follow.

 

West Salem:

Head Coach: Brian Babiash

West Salem returns 8 players from last season. May not say much as the regular season was not very strong but a very good play-off run should set up a strong start to 2014. Our season will start in Florida with a trip to Disney at the end of March. Will be our first outside time for the year.

We will return our Pitcher (Tori Hansen-Jr.) and Catcher (Olivia Aleckson-Jr. 2nd team all-coulee) Infield is late season starter Stephanie Glassmaker-Sr. at first, Sara Frank-Sr. at second for a third season. Short will be new with three sophomores fighting it out to start. Third base is also a late season starter in Mariah Nichols-Sr.. Our Outfield is all seniors with Kaitlin Brueggen in left for the fourth year, Paige Brenengen in center HM all-coulee and Elizabeth Trocinski in right

New additions will be sophomores Halee Meyer, Mackenzie Dejno, Raeann Rich added to the mix of players.

As with every teams season it all starts with pitching Tori has worked hard this past off season but will have to wait to see how that all works out. Lost our back-up to injury on day one of the season and hope she can come back an old injury that keeps coming back. Our young girls will push our upperclassmen for the playing time as the season goes along.

 

Viroqua

Head Coach: John Lendosky

Team Preview:

We have some holes left in our lineup and in the field with 4 girls graduating last season with a total of 12 years of varsity experience. We're planning to move returning girls to some of the positions left open, and some younger talent should help fill in the rest. All of our pitchers from last year are returning. If they are improved from last season, that should help neutralize any defensive losses we have. As hitters, we believe our younger girls are up for the challenge and will be able to fill in to make a balanced lineup.

Returning letter winners: Shana Hardy (12); Rachel Arch (12); Brianna Vikemyr (12); Mallory Berg (11); Kristen Fiske (11); Haley Ostrem (11);
Returning All-Conference players: Mallory Berg (2nd team);
2014 Expectations:

We are hoping to be over .500 in conference and overall. This would be the first time Viroqua has accomplished this since 2001.

2013 Records:

7-10 Overall; 3-3 Conference