Wedekind wants to put numbers on the board

Brik Wedekind has been around Princeton High School long enough to know something is missing hanging above the walls of Prouty Gym.

The placard for softball remains empty, the only sport displayed on the wall with no championships of any sort on the board. Wedekind, a 2010 PHS graduate and three-sport athlete who has taken over the Tigresses softball program this year, wants his first team to take a direct hit on that matter.

You could say he will build his program Brik by Brik.

“The overall plan/goal is to put numbers up on the softball board in Prouty Gym. Softball is the only board with no numbers on it,” Wedekind said.

“In order to get that done, we’ve talked a lot with the girls about being committed to softball. It can’t be just a sport that we have in the spring. If we really want to achieve our goal and make this a solid program, we need to have commitment.

"Putting numbers up on the board is a very broad statement for us. Obviously, that is what is viewable for the community/public to understand that we have a successful program, but I think what’s more important is giving the girls an opportunity to compete against opponents, their teammates, and most importantly, themselves.

"In life, every day is a competition about constantly striving to be a better person than you were the day before. In our case, we try and teach this through softball, in pushing our players to be better than they were the day before and the girls push each other, competing for one the nine spots on the field.”

Wedekind said he wants his girls to have fun, “but being realistic, losing isn’t fun. Nobody likes to lose, but if we’re able to compete with ourselves to continue to get better and better, then we’re already winning. I know it’s kind of cliche, but I really believe in it.”

The rookie head coach is excited about the new year and new start.

“I think we have a great group of girls who all desire the same thing of wanting to accomplish the same goal," he said. "Our seniors are awesome. They want their number to be the first up on that board.”

Princeton

Nickname: Tigresses

Coach: Brik Wedekind (first year)

Last year: 4-20 (3-9)

Conference: TRAC East

Returning leading pitcher: Adrienne Snethen (.279)

Returning leading hitter: Snethen (5-19, 4.97)

First game: Thursday at Wethersfield

Outlook: Wedekind has a good piece of the puzzle to begin with junior Adrienne Snethen, who is PHS’ returning pitcher and hitter. “She’s not overpowering by any means, but she has great mechanics and is capable of mixing speeds. She reminds me a lot of Greg Maddux, if I were to compare her to baseball. I would say she’s better, though, because she can swing the bat pretty well, too.”

The new coach has shifted some of the pieces around. Junior Olivia Vergamini, who Wedekind describes as “very athletic,” moves in from the outfield to short stop this year, while classmate Miranda Sorenson jumps across the diamond from third to first.

Vergamini will also pitch along with classmate Katie Bauer.

Sophomore sisters Sydney Pierson and Kenzie Coleman have been called up, plugged in at third base and center field, respectively. Weekend likes the “dynamic they bring to our varsity team.”

At other positions around the infield, juniors Paige Smith and Macie Jansen will handle duties behind the plate, senior Maddie Forristall and Sorenson will share first base, Bauer and senior Becky Hughes will take care of second, with junior Kaylee Hammerich and senior Ariana Sanchez backing Pierson at the hot corner.

Outfielders include senior Jocelyn Lucas and juniors Jazmin Abbey, Kesi Hjertstedt, Shea Dzurisin and Hughes.

Last year's team won its first four games, but lost its last 20.

St. Bede

Nickname: Lady Bruins

Coach: Rob Ruppert (third year)

Last year: 9-15 (9-3)

Conference: TRAC East

Returning leading pitcher: Abbie May (9-14, 1.92, 129 K)

Returning leading hitter: Maggie Sons (.538, 8 RBI)

First game: Thursday at home vs. Mendota

Outlook: After a season of losing some close games, Ruppert said he is hoping to be able to finish games this year and put those close games in the win column. They are returning several key players, including the pitching duo of May and Gina Elias (3-3, 3.17). May pitched against most of the toughest opponents in the conference last year. Because of her excellent strikeouts-to-walk ratio (129/11), Ruppert says, “We look to be in every game again this year." Elias pitched well early in the season, but struggled later with a back injury, Ruppert said. The Lady Bruins could also get some innings from soph Hailey Short.

The Lady Bruins will also benefit from a full season from Sons, the junior short stop, who has verbally committed to Div. 1 Akron University. She sustained a season-ending broken jaw on a bad hop ball in practice early in the year. Still, she received First Team All-BCR and TRAC East honors.

St. Bede also looks for contributions at the plate from senior third baseman Brooke Tonozzi (.306, 16 runs), Elias (.317, 12 RBI, 2 HR), May (.306, 13 RBI, 1 HR), junior OF Kate Plankenhorn (279, 12 RBIs) and senior catcher Ally Borkowski, who made the most out of a .191 average with a team-high 15 RBI.

Also returning are seniors Cierra Espinoza (2B/OF) and Katie Ruppert (OF/2B/P) and junior Lauren Pillion (IF/OF) with some underclassmen looking to fill out the lineup.

LaMoille/Ohio

Nickname: Lady Lions

Coach: Dave Bobee (third year)

Last year: 7-12 (5-11)

Conference: Little Ten

Returning leading pitcher: Maddi Deery (90 K)

Returning leading hitter: Cassie Martin (.491)

First game: Friday at Oregon

OUTLOOK: The Lady Lions finished the 2017 season strong, which Bobee said allowed them "to build on our hard work and stay disciplined. This year, we have a great group of girls that are determined and hard working. We are looking forward to a positive and productive year."

The Lady Lions will be led by seniors Maddi Deery (P/3B), Karli Forbes (OF), Melanie Chasteen (1B) and Libby Wittenauer (2B/OF) along with juniors Adelyn Matznick (C/3B), Allie Carlson (OF), Hannah Weeks (IF/OF), Cassie Martin (SS/P) and Lillian Blackburn (OF).

Bobee said sophomores Cassidy Geiger (IF/OF), Brooklyn Matznick (IF/P) and Lexi Michael (1B/OF) will also be a big part to what makes the team run as a unit. Rounding out the varsity roster is freshman Meghan Davis (1B/OF).

Hall

Nickname: Lady Devils

Coach: Brian Holman (fourth year)

Last year: 18-11 (9-3)

Conference: TRAC East

Returning leading pitcher: Morgan Filippini (4-4, 4.11)

Returning leading hitter: Hanah Hart (.354)

First game: Thursday at home vs. L-P

OUTLOOK: Hall has enjoyed much success under Holman's direction, but he lost the link to to those teams with the graduation of ace pitcher Rena Barroso (14-6,1.35), who now plays at IVCC, and Hunter Galassi. The Hall coach turns to sophomore Morgan Filippini and senior Cassidy Jablonski to eat up a lot of innings, but sophomore Hanah Hart and freshman Taytum Hahn will also see some time in the circle.

While Jablonski and Lauren Bulak (3B) are the lone seniors, the Lady Devils return junior Sara Perkins (SS), Gabby Englehaupt (OF) and Janessa Hart (OF) along with Hanah Hart (OF) as position player starters from last year.

Juniors Rayme Loehr (U), Allison Lanham (IF), Brooke Bianchi (C), Alyssa Boers (IF), Anna Herrmann (C/IF), sophomore Hayleigh Brokaw (U) and freshman Hannah Parente (OF) are all fighting for spots and roles, Holman said.

Positions are not set in stone yet, Holman said, and he will mix and match to see what fits best.

"We're going to have to be strong defensively if we want to have a chance to compete with some of the better teams in the area," he said. "Our pitchers will pitch to contact and hopefully that will have us ready to make plays in big situations. Hopefully by 10 games in, our offense will have worked itself out, and we become a well-rounded team."

Bureau Valley

Nickname: Storm

Coach: Brian Humphrey (12th year)

Last year: 3-20 (2-10)

Conference: TRAC East

Returning leading hitter: Laura Philips (.352)

First game: Wednesday at home vs. AW

OUTLOOK: The Storm won just two games last year, both in conference play, in Humphrey's second tour of duty as head coach. But they bring back senior catcher Laura Phillips, a four-year starter, along with sophomores Morgan Ringle (CF), Sam Bohm (2B), Katherine Monier (OF/3B) and Jenna Nordstrom (OF), all whom started some or all of the season last year.

Senior Courtney Hoagland, who has signed to play for Sauk Valley, returns along with classmates Alyssa Newsome and Makina Carrington and juniors Morgan Freeman, Jessica Linley, Madell Carman, Lexi Ryan and Zoe Schindel.

Freshman pitcher Mackenzie Law will provide stability in the circle the Storm lacked last year, and classmate Brianna Boers (SS/3B) brings a speed element as the leadoff hitter.

Humphrey believes the Storm have a good young core to build around and be much improved this year.

"After last season's struggles, we are just hoping to improve and be competitive in our conference," said Humphrey, who returned to the Storm dugout after taking a year off. "I have set a goal of at least a .500 record overall, which would be a big step in the right direction after finishing with only three wins total last year. If we can limit our walks on the mound and play good defense, I think we can surprise some teams this year."