Yesterday area teams got on the field for the first time in preparation for the 2024 season.
Mayville, coming off a shared conference title last year, heads into the year as the favorite in the Flyway.
The Cardinals, which finished 12-2 in conference play last year, return a league-high four players from the 2023 All-Conference first team, including pitcher Allie Schwirtz, who enters her junior season. Izzy McFadden, Addie Anderson and Hayden Schabel will also be back as part of the talented Class of 2025 for the Cards.
Hannah Wolf and Addy Youngbeck were picked as honorable mention players last year and will be seniors.
Winnebago Lutheran (12-2 in 2023) under first-year coach John Suprenand split the conference championship with Mayville in 2023, but the Vikings lost five all-conference players from last season, including their top-two pitchers, Audrey Schumacher and Natalee Boelk. Schumacher was a unanimous first-team selection.
Amber Johnson led the Vikings in hits, Alea Anhalt in RBI and Kiara Shea's speed and defensive prowess is now gone. Johnson was the Flyway's player of the year in 2023.
"We're losing a lot of those seniors from last year, but I am looking forward to this year and a lot of new girls stepping up," Suprenand said. "We do have girls that are ready to do that. I think there were girls already last year that maybe could have had an opportunity, but there just wasn't any room for them.
"We are turning the page into a different chapter here."
Averie Suprenand is back for the WLA for her senior season along with sister Addy, who will be a sophomore. Junior Maddie Anhalt will take over in the circle for the Vikings, which Suprenand said he thinks Anhalt is ready for.
"With [Schumacher and Boelk] moving on, yeah those are big shoes to fill, but I think Maddie is ready to do that," Suprenand said. "She's pretty excited about it and I'm looking forward to seeing what she can do in the circle for us."
Lomira figures to give Dodge County rival Mayville their toughest test. The Lions bring back a strong cohort of young talent, including first-team freshman Trista Gassner and sophomore Taylor Bloohm.
Lomira finished 3 games back of first last year. The Lions will also have Nora Buske, Haleigh Caspary, Savanna Frea and Morgan Schroeder return as all-conference performers.
Sam Schodrow and Campbellsport (8-6 in 2023) rounds out the top-four from last season's standings. Schodrow, a unanimous first-team selection, had 11 doubles last year and figures to play a large role for the Cougars this spring along with returning pitchers Megan McCarty and Peyton Hall.
Other returning players to watch:
Gracie Konkol & Aubrey Hafermann - Springs, Lauren Stettbacher & Allison Now - NFDL, Emma Bohn & Addison Maurer - Laconia, Madi Brooks & McKenzie Decker - Omro.
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