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I-S has big shoes to fill

T-Birds replacing pitcher

By Greg Seubert


Tom Anderson has racked up more than 350 wins in his 26 seasons as Iola-Scandinavia High School’s softball coach.

How many more wins he can add to that total this year won’t be known for a few months, but they’ll have to come with a new pitcher on the mound.

“For the first time in four years, we need to find a pitcher to replace Kendall Johnson,” Anderson said. “Kendall almost started all our games the past four years.”

Besides Johnson, the Thunderbirds also have to replace two other starting seniors in Brooklyn Podgorny and Sadie Schustek at first and second base, respectively.

Anderson will rely on sophomore Mackenzie Kielblock to replace Johnson.

“She saw limited action pitching last season as a freshman,” Anderson said. “Mackenzie was our starting center fielder last season and earned second-team all-conference honors. She is very talented and athletic and we are very hopeful that she will do well transitioning to our No. 1 pitcher. We will need to give her a lot of support defensively and offensively to help make her job easier.”

Freshman pitcher Lizzie Jones will gain experience on the T-Birds’ junior varsity team, but could also see some action at the varsity level, according to Anderson.

“We also have three sophomores and one senior who started for us last season and we expect them to continue to improve this season,” he said. “Hannah Melum started at third base and Olivia Schustek was our starting catcher and they both earned honorable mention all-conference honors. Sophomore shortstop Bryanna Kisting and senior outfielder Erin Charles played very well offensively and defensively for us last season.”

Senior outfielder Quinn Hoyord, junior outfielder Emily Wolfgram and sophomore outfielder Lyncoln Podgorny also saw some varsity action.

I-S posted an 11-13 record last year and finished fifth in the Central Wisconsin 8 Conference with a 6-8 mark, a league that featured three state qualifiers in Weyauwega-Fremont, Pacelli and Shiocton. W-F and Pacelli eventually advanced to the WIAA Division 3 and Division 4 championship games, respectively.

The T-Birds’ season ended with a 3-2 loss to Shiocton on a Division 4 regional semifinal.

“At this time, we have seniors Brenna Bonikowske, Lindsey Frank and Makenna Stalter battling for varsity playing time,” Anderson said. “We also have three freshmen – Katie Cherek, Jones and Ashlynn Schmies – who have looked good in practice and may see some varsity time.”

The T-Birds’ junior varsity team will include junior Sophia Gullixon; sophomore Natalie Koepp; and freshmen Cherek, Schmies, Jones, Emily Finch, Grace Johnson, Payton Kielblock, Taylor Kielblock, and Cierra Snyder. Another freshman, Anna Rustad, will miss the season due to an injury.

“Due to graduation, we need to find a new second baseman and first baseman along with filling our three outfield positions,” Anderson said. “We have several girls working hard to earn playing time at those positions. It might take several games to settle in on a lineup or we may have to move girls around during the game or from game to game depending on who is playing well at the time.

“There is playing time available,” he added. “The question is who will step up and take advantage of it? It should be an exciting year.”

The CWC has a new look this season with the addition of Pittsville, Northland Lutheran and Wisconsin Valley Lutheran. Twenty softball and baseball teams have been divided into three divisions: East (seven teams), North (six teams) and South (seven teams). Northland Lutheran and Wisconsin Valley Lutheran will combine for one team in softball and baseball.

I-S will compete in the East Division with Weyauwega-Fremont, Amherst, Bonduel, Menominee Indian, Shiocton and Wittenberg-Birnamwood.

“This year’s conference favorite has to be Weyauwega-Fremont,” Anderson said. “The Indians return two first-team all-conference pitchers in Kiley Akey and Cadyn Ehrenberg and have some very nice players around them. Shiocton should be very good this year, along with Bonduel, Amherst and Iola-Scandinavia and Wittenberg-Birnamwood should be much improved this year. With the depth of quality teams in the conference this season, the race could be very exciting.”

Returning all-conference players include Amherst’s Grace Moe, Maizie Berry and Jessica Gutschow; Bonduel’s Brynn Reinke; Shiocton’s Tina Ubl, Jackie Korth, Gabby Gunderson, Leigha Young and Erica Gassner; Weyauwega-Fremont’s Akey and Ehrenberg; and Wittenberg-Birnamwood’s Vicki Dombeck.

The T-Birds are scheduled to open the season at home against Menominee Indian Tuesday, April 3, and Wittenberg-Birnamwood Thursday, April 5. First pitch for both games is set for 4:30 p.m.

“Our goal for this season is to be competitive in each game and improve throughout the season,” Anderson said. “If we compete and improve throughout the season, we will be OK.”

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