Is a return trip to state in the cards?
By Casey Krautkramer
Last season was special for Stratford’s varsity softball team, because the Tigers made their inaugural state tournament trip in school history. Although the Tigers lost a tough 6-5 WIAA Division 4 state semifinal to Waterloo, the players took the school’s softball program to new heights. Stratford finished last season with an 1810 record.
The following was the Tigers’ path to Goodman Diamond on the University of Wisconsin campus. Stratford broke a scoreless tie against Edgar in the bottom of the sixth inning with five runs to win its home regional championship. Then No. 2 seed Stratford won, 10-8, at No. 1 seed Auburndale in the sectional semifinal. Stratford also upset No. 1 seed Blair-Taylor, 4-1, on the road in the sectional championship to advance to state.
It’s a whole new season this spring and Stratford is replacing starting third baseman Sonia Peterson and its entire starting outfield of Tessa Berg, Bailey Linzmaier and Lexie Christopherson who were all seniors that graduated last spring. Stratford does return five of its nine starting players from last year’s state tournament squad and head coach Mandy Pankratz, now in her 17th season at the helm, said there is lots of competition among this spring’s players for those open starting positions on the field.
Stratford’s top returning players this season are senior second baseman Kressa Wenzel, senior outfielder Ashley Hollatz, junior catcher and third baseman Emma Roeper, junior pitcher and infielder Laney Pankratz, sophomore shortstop Gracie Schmidt and sophomore pitcher and first baseman Tria Tubbs.
Newcomers to this season’s varsity team who’ll experience playing time on the field are senior outfielders Ashlyn Solinsky and Cassandra Cano-Aquilera; junior outfielder Emerson Roy; junior infielder and outfielder Kalyn Schueller who played varsity her freshman year and is back this year; junior catcher and infielder Abbi Lewerenz; sophomore infielder and outfielder Mykayla Stueber; sophomore pitcher, infielder and outfielder Alyssa Bargender and freshman catcher, infielder and outfielder Carly Pankratz.
Stratford might be replacing some position players who graduated from last year’s team but at least the Tigers have their best pitchers back this season including their ace Laney Pankratz and No. 2 Tria Tubbs.
“Pitching is definitely a strength for us with having both Laney and Tria,” Mandy Pankratz said. “Our defense will have some growing pains but they are up to the challenge and we are excited to see where we will be at the end of the season.”
Wisconsin Rapids Assumption has won six consecutive Marawood South Conference championships and will be tough to beat again this season. Assumption shared the South title with Marathon in 2018 and with Marathon and Auburndale in 2019.
“The Marawood South is one of the best small school conferences in the state and it is going to be very tough all the way around this year,” Mandy Pankratz said. “It will be interesting to see game results each night.”
She is not worried about whether the this year’s team can repeat last season’s success with another state tournament berth.
“We keep our goals very simple,” Mandy Pankratz said. “We talk about competing day in and day out in a tough schedule, growing our skills and knowledge, learning how to respond in tough situations and having a blast.”
Her assistant softball coaches this season are Kellen Kafka, Brittany Bredemann and Troy Bargender.
STRATFORD VARSITY SOFTBALL TEAM- Introducing the 2024 Tigers varsity softball squad. Pictured, from left to right, front row: Carly Pankratz, Mykayla Stueber, Emma Roeper, Laney Pankratz, Kressa Wenzel and Emerson Roy; back row: Abbi Lewerenz, Alyssa Bargender, Gracie Schmidt, Kalyn Schueller, Tria Tubbs, Ashley Hollatz and Cassandra Cano-Aguilera.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
