Chieftains State team remembered as cream of the crop
Making up the 2005 Lake Holcombe Chieftains Softball team, left to right, in front, were Maria Dost, Nicole Wundrow, Melissa Litke, Katie Tonnancour and Lacey Cigan. In the middle, were Kasey Fasbender, Kayla Anderson, Michelle Litke, Korina Frohn, McKenna Missfeldt and Kelsey O’Connor. In back, were Jonalee Franz, Lexi McEathron, assistant coach Jean Anderson, Lucy Dernovsek, head coach Bruce Anderson, Samantha Stansbury and manager Mariah Litke. Photo by Judy Teske
By Ginna Young
Another season of girls high school softball has wrapped up, bringing with it, a ton of memories for the 2005 Lake Holcombe team. That was the year they made a run in the WIAA playoffs, capping it off with a trip to the State championship.
“It was the best softball team that Holcombe’s ever had,” said former coach Bruce Anderson, who was at the helm for that exciting season. “It was the greatest success I’ve ever had as a coach. Any one of them could have played for higher divisions – they were that good, athletically.”
Their historic post-season began May 19, 2005, on an overcast afternoon on their home field, as they hosted Birchwood, but their spirits weren’t dampened. In the end, the 12-2 score in favor of the Chieftains, gave them the first East Lakeland Conference title in school history for the softball program.
That win propelled them onward to Regional action, where they made quick work of their opponents, taking out first New Auburn, then prevailing over Birchwood, in a 10-0 shutout, handing the Chieftains the second straight Regional championship.
Anderson feels that the group he coached since they were third and fourth graders, were a great bunch of kids and were blessed with talent.
“They made some of the most phenomenal plays I’ve ever seen – guys or gals – on the softball field,” he said.
One such example, Anderson likened to MLB great Willie Mays, who made an over-the-shoulder catch for the New York Giants, in game one of the 1954 World Series. Not to be outdone, Lake Holcombe player Maria Dost made two of those plays in her high school career.
“Clearly, the athleticism was one thing, but they were smart ball players, too,” said Anderson.
That savvy led the Chieftains to reach another milestone, as they captured the Sectional championship, winning over first Clear Lake, then Athens, 3-1, to take the title.
Anderson shared that when an opponent got on base, he wasn’t that concerned, because of how well the team knew what they were doing and could adjust, to get out of the inning without any damage to the score.
That baseball acumen was what led the Chieftains to the Division 4 State tournament, where they faced Pepin, June 10, 2005, in the semi-final game. Kayla Anderson was on the mound for Lake Holcombe, locked in a matching battle with her Pepin counterpart.
Both hurlers were so on-point, that Pepin scored the only run of the game, in the second inning. Hitting dried up for the Chieftains in the later matches of the post-season and this game was no exception. That lack of scoring put an end to Lake Holcombe’s storied run, but not to the memories they shared and continue to share.
The team finished with an overall record of 19-2 on the year, and was recognized with six All-Conference mentions (K. Anderson, Dost, Kayla Fasbender, Melissa Litke, Katie Tonnancour, Nicole Wundrow), along with K. Anderson named as All-State Honorable Mention. In addition, Litke received the 2005 WFSCA Senior All-Star and Senior Female Athlete Award, while Tonnancour was chosen for the Academic All-State and WIAA Scholar Athlete Award, and Wundrow was a U.S. Army Scholar Athlete.
Beyond that, the girls went on to achieve impressive personal life goals, with many excelling in professional careers.
“That’s what you hope kids turn out to be, not only from an athletic standpoint, but as a humanitarian standpoint,” said B. Anderson. “They’re just the cream of the crop.”
