For the first time since the 2007 season, the Weyauwega-Fremont softball team will not have Kayla Bastar on the mound or Kaitlyn Akey behind the plate.
That means this year’s version of the Indians will have a different look, according to coach Todd Breuer.
“We’re a totally different team this year with a totally different style,” he said. “We lost five starting seniors from last year, but we have new kids coming in. That’s part of the game and that’s what makes it fun.”
Bastar and Akey were made the all-conference first team as pitcher and catcher, respectively, from 2009-11. Bastar also made the first team in 2008 as a freshman, while Akey received honorable mention.
“They started for us the last four years,” Breuer said. “(Pitcher) Kelsey (Akey) is doing OK and we’ve been talking a lot about what she has to do. She’s totally the opposite of Kayla, so she’s not going to strike 10 people out in a game.”
While Kelsey Akey took Bastar’s spot on the mound Tuesday, March 27, in a scrimmage against Waupaca, Mariah Hulbert took Kaitlyn Akey’s spot behind the plate.
“(Akey) missed her spots a few times, but when she hit her spots, she did all right,” Breuer said. “She got batters to pop them up and ground out. We had one inning where we threw it around and it looked ugly, but the defense made plays. That’s how we’re going to be successful. I think we’re going to have one of our better defenses that I’ve seen here in a long time. Our outfield is going to be as strong as it’s been in four years.”
The Indians tied with Amherst for second place in the Central Wisconsin 8 Conference last year with an 11-3 mark in league games. Stevens Point Pacelli won the conference title with a 14-0 mark and went on to place second in Division 3 after coming up short to Poynette in the state championship game.
“Until they get knocked off, Pacelli’s the one I think who’d be favored,” Breuer said. “Amherst is going to be awfully tough to contend with and we’re worried about Iola, too. They have a decent program over there.”
Key players back for W-F include junior Macey Schoenick, starting her third season at shortstop, as well as Akey, Hulbert, Maggie Knecht and Anna Forslin.
The Indians hosted Iola-Scandinavia Tuesday, April 3, in the season opener and will host Wautoma at 4:30 p.m. today (Thursday, April 5). Fans will have plenty of opportunities to check out the team early in the season, as six of the Indians’ first eight games are at home.
Weyauwega-Fremont
2012 Softball Schedule
Varsity
Tuesday, April 3 – vs. Iola-Scandinavia, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 5 – vs. Wautoma, 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 10 – vs. Bonduel, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 12 – vs. Amherst, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 14 – at Marion, 10 a.m.
Monday, April 16 – at Shiocton, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 19 – vs. Stevens Point Pacelli, 4:30 p.m.
Monday, April 23 – vs. Manawa, 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 24 – at Bonduel, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 26 – at Iola-Scandinavia, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 28 – vs. Wittenberg-Birnamwood (DH), 10 a.m.
Saturday, May 5 – Weyauwega-Fremont Invitational, 9:30 a.m.
Monday, May 7 – at Amherst, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 10 – vs. Shiocton, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 12 – at Peshtigo (DH), 9 a.m.
Monday, May 14 – at Stevens Point Pacelli, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 17 – at Manawa, 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 22 – at Mosinee, 4:30 p.m.
Junior Varsity
Friday, March 30 – vs. Manawa, 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 3 – at Iola-Scandinavia, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 5 – at Wautoma, 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 10 – at Bonduel, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 12 – at Amherst, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 14 – at Marion, 10 a.m.
Monday, April 16 – at Shiocton, 4:30 p.m.
Friday, April 17 – vs. Wild Rose (DH), 4 p.m.
Thursday, April 19 – at Stevens Point Pacelli, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 21 – Weyauwega-Fremont JV Invitational, 9 a.m.
Tuesday, April 24 – vs. Bonduel, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 26 – vs. Iola-Scandinavia, 4:30 p.m.
Monday, April 30 – at Wittenberg-Birnamwood (DH), 4 p.m.
Tuesday, May 1 – vs. Rosholt, 4:30 p.m.
Monday, May 7 – vs. Amherst, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 10 – vs. Shiocton, 4:30 p.m.
Friday, May 11 – at Manawa, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 12 – at Peshtigo (DH), 9 a.m.
Monday, May 14 – vs. Stevens Point Pacelli, 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 22 – at Mosinee, 4:30 p.m.