The Fastpitch Chronicle

Here is a great preview of the new ECC contributed by a longtime supporter of this website and fastpitch in Wisconsin. Other coaches, fans etc. are encouraged to compose previews for their conference and forward it to us here at the Fastpitch Chronicle.   

East Central Conference Preview

In 2016 the newly formed ECC Conference, which is made up of Plymouth, Kewaskum, Campbellsport and Waupun from  the Eastern Wisconsin Conference, Berlin, Ripon and Winneconne from the Eastern valley Conference and Kettle Moraine Lutheran from the Flyway Conference. Waupun was a top team in the EWC for years, Winneconne was always a top 3 team in the old EVC and Kewaskum has been a solid program as well.

ECC Outlook

Berlin (3-13 EVC, 8-18 Overall) Berlin has some work to do they lost a few key kids and their top pitcher, so they will need to find some pitching in order to beat some of the top teams.

Campbellsport (8-6, EWC, 13-10 Overall) They return a good number of players off of last years team and should challenge some of the top tier teams.

Kewaskum (12-2, EWC, 21-6 Overall) Kewaskum had 6 losses on the season and they were all to very good programs, Horicon, Grafton, Waupun (2), Winneconne and Oakfield. They did lose 5 seniors from last year’s team in McKenzie Rosenthal, Maddie Kreis, Lindsey Winkler, Maura Roberts and Melanie Juech. They still have solid pitching and a good nucleus in Kewaskum. They should be a title contender for the 2016 Season.

Kettle Moraine Lutheran (6-8 Flyway,8-13 Overall) The Chargers leave the Flyway conference with Division 3 powerhouse programs of Laconia and Lomira to head to Division 2 perennial powers like Waupun, Winneconne and Kewaskum. KML will have a seasoned team as they have 8 seniors on the roster, so that should be a strength as they head into the 2016 season.  

Plymouth (5-9, EWC, 9-15 Overall) Plymouth is in the second year of their rebuilding since the departure of longtime coach Gale Grahn. They will need to find some quality pitching and continue to play good defense behind their pitching and get some production for their batting order.

Ripon (0-14 EVC, 0-20 Overall) Ripon is also in the same situation as Plymouth, they are trying to rebuild after the departure of Coach Krentz in 2014. They need to find a pitcher and have many holes to fill, but Ripon will be a work in progress.

Waupun (14-0, EWC, 27-5 Overall) Waupun is the Division 2 State Runner up from last year losing to LaCrosse Logan in the Championship game. This will make Waupun the conference favorite heading into the 2016 season. Waupun did lose 7 seniors off the State team including, Taylor Brown C, Taylor White and Nicole Gerber OF,  along with seniors Mallory Uttech, McKenna Keach, Emily Peterson and Ashley Vree. Brown and Peterson were key cogs on the 2015 squad, but Waupun will have pitcher Megan Van Ruiswyk and Kyra Verheyan and Danielle Hopp returning which will make the the conference favorite.

Winneconne (11-5 EVC,19-9 Overall) Winneconne will have roughly the same team it has had for the past 3 years. There roster will consist of 6 seniors and 4 Juniors and 1 Sophomore of the 11 players 10 have been Varsity players their entire careers. Winneconne should have a solid season and should contend for a top spot in the conference. Winneconne will return every position player from last year except First Base, as that player suffered a season ending injury in basketball this past winter.

Many new teams who have not played each other much before, but it should be an exciting and competitive season in the new ECC.