Athens expects to win conference
Softball squad won’t settle for anything less
Athens varsity softball coach Craig Diedrich recently told his players during practice they should win the Marawood Conference North championship this season. He truly believes the Bluejays can return to capturing conference titles again this season, after a two-year hiatus. His confidence in the squad accomplishing the feat ascends onto his players.
“The 2021 Athens softball team most definitely is in the front running for a Marawood North Conference title,” Craig Diedrich said. “We have an incredibly talented group of girls. These girls understand softball, they understand competition and best of all they don’t like to lose. The 2021 Athens softball team has the potential to be very good, but potential means nothing and performance means everything.”
The team’s experienced coaching staff, including Diedrich who enters his 21st year at the helm and assistant Chris Czech, who begins his 19th season, guided the Bluejays to eight consecutive Marawood North Conference championships. Athens was the outright winner of seven of those conference titles during a stretch that lasted until 2017. Chequamegon captured back-to-back North titles in 2018 and 2019, and COVID-19 canceled last season.
Craig Diedrich explains how Athens softball can regain Marawood North supremacy this season.
“Athens softball will need to work hard every day in preparation to con- tinue leading the Marawood North Conference,” he said. “The Bluejays will need to continue to improve every day, learn from their mistakes and make fewer of them when the games matter the most.”
He also explains how the Bluejays can string together another long winning streak of Marawood North titles.
“The players will need to ‘sell out’ and ‘buy in’ to work together,” Craig Diedrich said. “The girls must understand their success in 2021 and into the future depends on their desire to play for each other. Athens softball is very excited to get back onto the diamond in 2021.”
He explains how COVID-19 has affected the Athens High School softball program.
“We will never know the true effects COVID-19 had on our program, but I do know not playing softball last spring saddened me and many players and families in the Athens community,” Craig Diedrich said.
Allison Wolf, a senior last season, would’ve been Athens’ ace pitcher had COVID-19 not canceled her final year of softball.
“Allison, her family and teammates were very upset by COVID-19 cancelling the 2020 spring season,” Craig Diedrich said. Wolf was able to receive some playing time on the village of Athens softball diamond when Athens played eight games last summer, in which the squad hit the ball well and scored lots of runs during its games.
Another strong pitcher, junior Siarra Hart, received some playing experience last summer. Craig Diedrich is excited about her pitching ability in the next two seasons.
“Siarra has the ability to be the ace pitcher for our team this year,” he said. “Siarra is very powerful; her physical strength makes her a promising pitcher for the 2021 Bluejays softball team. Athens has seven different players working to earn the No. 1 pitching spot in 2021. We will be trying many different pitchers out at the beginning of the season, and I pray we’ll find a solid No. 1 pitcher sooner rather than later.”
The Athens coaches and players are excited to return to the softball diamond this season, after COVID-19 cancelled last season. “The 2021 Athens softball team is very eager to play,” Craig Diedrich said. “Spring symbolizes many things for high school girls in Wisconsin, which are the end of the school year, summer fun and a chance to play ball with their friends.”
Craig Diedrich is also excited about his team’s hitting potential this season.
“Athens has 13 players who are good hitters and they’ll get better with repetition in practice and game experience,” he said. Athens begins this season with a pair of games in Thorp on Saturday, April 24. Athens plays against Gilman at 11:30 a.m. and Thorp at 1 p.m. Athens varsity assistant coaches this season consist of Emily Roesler, daughter of Chris Czech who enters her third year on the staff; Kyncaide Diedrich, daughter of Craig Diedrich who starts her second year, and newcomers Alyssa Wilhelm and Bill Coker.
