Gresham softball team trying to fill voids

Coming off a strong season, the Gresham Community High School softball team will need to do a little rebuilding if it hopes to turn in a similar season in the Central Wisconsin Conference-North Division

Gresham finished the 2018 spring season with a 7-5 overall record, including a 7-3 mark in CWC-North play to take second. Of the three all-conference first team picks it had, the Wildcats will need to replace two of them.

“We lost a big senior group last season who have been playing together since they were seven,” Gresham coach Amanda Reindl said. “We will have to replace a lot of starters this season — with three pretty inexperienced pitchers, it will be a struggle to build up their stamina. We have a lot of new girls this season, very young, who will have to step up and fill some big shoes.”

Sophomore Destiny Reindl is the only returning first teamer from a season ago. She will now be asked to handle a bulk of the pitching duties, splitting time on the rubber with freshman Valarie Cerveny. When Reindl isn’t pitching, she will be behind the plate.

Seniors Kennedy Hoffman (outfield, second base) and Tiana Ferguson (second and third base) also return starting experience for Gresham.

“I feel it’s a huge responsibility since so many seniors graduated last year,” said Hoffman regarding stepping into a leadership role. “I have many years of experience with softball and I hope I can help some of the younger classmen gain more knowledge and confidence playing softball this year, and I hope that they’ll come back every year with more desire to be better.”

Juniors Jada James (outfield), Brooklyn Hoffman (second base, outfield) and Karisa Nietzer (center field) also will figure into the starting lineup for the Wildcats this spring.

Gresham will compete in the Division 5 regional pod that includes Bowler, Elcho, Florence, Green Bay NEW Lutheran/Providence, Niagara, Oneida Nation, Pembine/Goodman, Lena/St. Thomas Aquinas Academy and Wausaukee.

Marion

Marion enters the spring coming off a 4-9 season in 2018. The Mustangs went 3-7 in CWC-North action.

Program numbers are down this year for Marion, which is coached by Jenny Korth, but the Mustangs do return a trio of all-conference selections.

Senior Kendra Barrow made the second team last spring. She will serve as the team’s top pitcher when games start up.

Senior Amiya Peterson (outfield) and junior Tessa Brei (shortstop) were each honorable mentions and give the Mustangs a nice core to build around.

Senior Bridget Bazile and junior Kyla Zillmer also started last year.

Marion will compete in the Division 5 regional pod that includes Almond-Bancroft, Assumption, Columbus Catholic, Newman Catholic, Northland Lutheran/Wisconsin Valley Lutheran, Port Edwards, Tigerton, Tri-County and Wild Rose.

Menominee Indian

Menominee Indian was unable to record a victory in 2018, but that fact is something coach Miranda Hagberg hopes fuel the team this spring.

“My expectation for this team is to push these girls harder than they ever have been so they know what it means to be successful,” Hagberg said. “I just want them to play every game with heart and know that change can happen when they work hard. The softball program has struggled the last two years, but I expect to surprise a lot of teams this year.”

The Eagles did not have any players make an all-conference team a year ago, but do have a solid trio to build around.

Sophomore Selena O’Kimosh will handle pitching duties for Menominee Indian. Senior Jalen Corn will play the infield, including catcher. Freshman Alexis Wilber is also an infielder that Hagberg believes can make a big impact right from the start of the season.

The Eagles are in a Division 3 regional pod that includes Amherst, Bonduel, Gillett/Suring, Nekoosa, Northland Pines, Oconto, Peshtigo, Tomahawk and Wittenberg-Birnamwood.

Regional games are scheduled for May 16, May 21 and May 23, with sectional games slated for May 28 and May 30.

The state tournament will be held from June 6-8 at Goodman Diamond in Madison.