Here is a look in depth at the Southern Lakes Conference for 2016. Thanks to a contributor you are able to get some great information on this highly competitive conference. In the coming days there will be more conference and teams outlooks. Wouldn't it be great if every coach contributed a preview on their team? We'll post what we get but don't count on a high percentage of returns.
It will be a fun year in the Southern Lakes Conference watching a group of seniors that have already had some great performances finish their storied high school careers. You have the extraordinary bats of Kayla Konwent (Westosha), Claire Ryan (Union Grove) and Talyn Lewis (Burlington), along with great pitching from Brittany Moore (Union Grove) and Allie Trudeau (Union Grove), plus the incredible versatility of players like Jennah Speth (Delavan-Darien) and Chyanne Onstad (Westosha). Each of these seniors has the ability to not just influence, but dictate a game’s outcome.
The Southern Lakes Conference’s best team is Westosha. Having finished 1st, 2nd, and 1st in Division 1 State Championship play the past three years clearly gives them a firm hold on the conference’s top spot as well as the State’s top spot. They return nearly every player from a year ago, have some of the best game day coaching, and have the leadership and culture of a champion. It should be scary for others to dwell on what this team can accomplish in 2016. Westosha’s offense revolves around the high on-base percentage of slapping Junior Alyssa Hrncar (1st Team All State, 1st Team All Conf, .381 overall), timely hitting of Senior Chyanne Onstad (HM All Conf, .429 overall), and pure power of Senior Kayla Konwent (State player of the year, 1st Team All State, 1st Team All Conf, .630 overall with a record shattering 21 homeruns). You could write a book on Konwnet’s incredible high school career as she establishes herself as the best player Wisconsin high school has ever seen. A solid defense backs crafty pitcher Hrncar, a pitcher who makes very few mistakes when in the circle. Year after year they play with a target on their back knowing many teams treat a game against them as a measuring stick and state championship test. There is no reason to think they won’t be up for that challenge again in 2016. Conference prediction (14-0).
Some might argue Union Grove has just as much talent as Westosha, but for a variety of reasons they just can’t get better results. It seems the intangibles could likely do them in again this season. Union Grove does return two of the State’s top pitchers in Seniors Brittany Moore and Allie Trudeau. Both garnering 1st Team All State and 1st Team All Conf recognition over their careers. They also have Junior pitcher Brooklyn Ottelien, a pitcher most teams would love to have, but she can’t break into Union Grove’s star-studded rotation. Union Grove’s offense is equally filled with talent. This is led by Senior infielder Claire Ryan (1st Team All State, 1st Team All Conf, .560 overall, 11HR). In 2015 she led the team in every offensive category while establishing a new benchmark for offensive production at a school already rich in softball history. Key offensive production is also expected from Junior lefty Kalista Hribar (2nd Team All Conf, .474 overall), injury free Senior Alyssa McClelland (2nd Team All conf, .435 overall), Moore (1st Team All State, 1st Team All Conf, .400 overall, and Ottelien (2nd Team All Conf, .366, 9HR). Conference prediction (11-3).
Wilmot year-on-year has lost the most after the graduation of Justine Schattner and Lauren Orszula plus Hannah Grossi moving out of the area. However, they used 2015 as a primer for what lies ahead in 2016 and beyond. A lot of players that are now upper-classmen saw playing time last season. The biggest among them was Junior pitcher Sarah Hutchinson who took her lumps at times during her first Varsity season. This experience combined with improvement over last summer should position her well for success in 2016. Their biggest question appears to be on offense. They need a blue-chip stud to step forward and be the heart of that offense. Candidates would include: Junior Kalyssa Koehn (1st Team All Conf, .429 overall) or Senior Sam Schloegl (HM All Conf, .348 overall). Conference prediction (10-4).
Delavan-Darien returns the core of a team that gave Westosha their only conference loss and held the offensive attack of Union Grove to 4 runs in each game played. In conference play they clearly are not intimidated by the “big boys”, but their Achilles heel seems to surface when they reach the Division 2 post season. Their pitching, offense and defense revolve around the play of sisters Jennah and Jada Speth. Also expected to contribute in 2016 will be senior Katelyn Gonzalez (2nd team all conf) and Junior Moryn DeLara (HM all Conf). Conference prediction (10-4).
After the top 4 teams in the conference, the drop in overall collective talent is quite steep. Burlington has the pitching of Senior Danielle Koenen (HM All Conf) to keep some games close, but overall they will struggle against stronger competition. Senior Talyn Lewis (2nd Team All State, 1st Team All Conf, .535 overall) has incredible talent, but leads a very limited offensive attack. Conference prediction (5-9).
Elkhorn has been viewed as a team on the rise and last year’s performance was proof of that. The team has no delusions of competing for a conference title; rather they view the brutal conference schedule as a meat grinding primer for when the post season starts. Last year freshman pitcher Rachel Gosh (2nd Team All Conf) got an introduction to Varsity softball and looks to build upon that experience. In 2016 they could catch one of the top 4 teams looking past them and get a marquee win. Conference prediction (4-10).
Waterford was incredibly young in 2015 and they need to hope the experience from 2015 is helpful in 2016 and beyond. They will continue to struggle until they can develop a pitcher to keep them competitive against even weak level competition. Conference prediction (2-12).
Badger is unfortunately rebuilding under new coaching and a very young team. They have a good player in Junior Cayleen Ryan (2nd Team All Conf), but after that the talent is very raw. Like Waterford, pitching is clearly a challenge spot. Conference prediction (0-14).
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