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Waupaca aims to build on successful season

What a difference a year makes.

Last season, the Waupaca softball team didn’t make it out to the softball diamond until the Comets’ first game, a 13-12 loss to Ripon.

It’s a different story this season, as second-year coach Stephanie Imhoff has had the team outside since practice began more than two weeks ago.

“In a way, it’s nice to be in the gym because you have the (batting) cage and it’s easy to get a lot of swings to see what you have for sticks,” she said. “It’s nice to be able to get outside and see the field. Last year, the first time we saw the diamond was our first game. This season is very different, as we can put some people in positions and do some live playing vs. bouncy-ball in the gym.”

The Comets tied for fifth place with Little Chute in the Eastern Valley Conference with an 8-8 record last year and were 12-9 overall. Waupaca opened state tournament play by outscoring Berlin and Ripon 29-4 in two Division 2 regional games before falling to Adams-Friendship 4-1.

“We had a very successful season last year, making it to a regional final,” Imhoff said. “We graduated a lot of players from last year, so there are a lot of spots to fill. There were a lot of question marks, but the first week (of practice) has helped answer some of those questions. We have a lot of options.”

Returning players include three senior starters from last year: catcher Mandy Tomlinson, a first-team all-conference catcher as a junior; outfielder Mara Abrahamson; and second baseman Bobbi Sell.

“Our three seniors are very strong leaders,” Imhoff said. “Mandy’s a four-year starter at the varsity level behind the plate and she will put the ball in play. Two years ago, she went the entire season without a strikeout and last year, I think she had two. She makes the other team work every single time she’s up. She can catch, she can cover the plate and she’s a very strong leader.”

Also back is junior Brenna Oleson, a second-team all-conference infielder.

“Our infield can all play different positions, depending on where we need them that day,” Imhoff said.

The Comets will go with freshman Alyssa Engebretson and sophomore Lexi Schuelke on the mound.

“We graduated three senior pitchers last year, so that was definitely one of our big question marks,” Imhoff said. “Bobbi did throw some last summer, just because she knew that we would be needing that. She may end up going in there for an inning or two, but she won’t be our ace.

“Lexi has a lot of movement on her ball and Alyssa seems to be a pretty solid strike pitcher,” she added. “She has some movement, but doesn’t have control of that movement yet. They’re both decent, but very young.”

The Comets were originally scheduled to open the season March 27 with a nonconference game at Weyauwega-Fremont, but that game was called off due to a wet field and has been rescheduled for 4 p.m. Monday, April 6.

Nine of the Comets’ next 10 games are conference games, including home matchups against defending EVC champion Freedom and Winneconne.

“Winneconne’s going to be tough this year and I don’t know if they lost any girls from last year,” Imhoff said. “Freedom has a very strong program. Do I think we can compete with them? Yes.”

Imhoff’s job as an eighth-grade English and math teacher at Waupaca Middle School helps her keep an eye out for upcoming talent.

“I was talking today to a couple of girls in the hall just trying to figure out who my eighth-grade girls are,” she said. “There’s a better feeder program than there was 10 years ago, but kids have to get involved and want to put in the effort. A lot of times, they sit in front of the TV playing video games. The Waupaca music program is very strong, so that takes a lot of kids as well.”

The Comets have 32 players that are divided between varsity and junior varsity teams.

“We’ll probably start the season with 12 or 13 on varsity,” Imhoff said. “We’ve always played with the philosophy that we are two teams, but we are two teams that can be quickly moved. If somebody starts making some good plays at JV, they have to get looked at to move up. If somebody needs to get that extra practice at varsity, then go down and get that extra practice. I don’t like doing the down because it’s difficult to say, ‘You’re not ready for this,’ but you have to know that the competition at varsity is a lot different. JV allows that extra work, but on varsity, you have to be ready.”

Waupaca 2015 Softball Schedule

Varsity

Monday, April 6 – Softball at Weyauwega-Fremont, 4 p.m. (rescheduled from March 27)

Tuesday, April 7 – vs. Freedom, 4:45 p.m.

Thursday, April 9 – at Little Chute, 4:45 p.m.

Saturday, April 11 – vs. New London (DH), 10 a.m.

Tuesday, April 14 – vs. Clintonville, 4:45 p.m.

Friday, April 17 – vs. Fox Valley Lutheran (DH), 4 p.m.

Tuesday, April 21 – at Appleton Xavier, 4:45 p.m.

Friday, April 24 – vs. Winneconne (DH), 4 p.m.

Tuesday, April 28 – vs. Berlin (DH), 4 p.m.

Thursday, April 30 – at Ripon, 4:45 p.m.

Thursday, May 7 – at Freedom, 4:45 p.m.

Friday, May 8 – vs. Iola-Scandinavia, 4:30 p.m.

Monday, May 11 – vs. Little Chute, 4:45 p.m.

Thursday, May 14 – at Clintonville, 4:45 p.m.

Saturday, May 16 – at Brillion Invitational, 11 a.m.

Monday, May 18 – vs. Appleton Xavier, 4:45 p.m.

Tuesday, May 19 – vs. Amherst, 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 21 – vs. Ripon, 4:45 p.m. (rescheduled from March 31)

Junior Varsity

Tuesday, April 7 – vs. Freedom, 4:45 p.m.

Saturday, April 11 – vs. New London (DH), 10 a.m.

Tuesday, April 14 – vs. Clintonville, 4:45 p.m.

Friday, April 17 – vs. Fox Valley Lutheran (DH), 4 p.m.

Saturday, April 18 – at Ashwaubenon JV Invitational, 9 a.m.

Tuesday, April 21 – at Appleton Xavier, 4:45 p.m.

Friday, April 24 – vs. Winneconne (DH), 4 p.m.

Tuesday, April 28 – vs. Wautoma (DH), 4 p.m.

Thursday, April 30 – at Ripon, 4:45 p.m.

Thursday, May 7 – at Freedom, 4:45 p.m.

Friday, May 8 – vs. Iola-Scandinavia, 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 14 – at Clintonville, 4:45 p.m.

Monday, May 18 – vs. Appleton Xavier, 4:45 p.m.

Thursday, May 21 – vs. Ripon, 4:45 p.m. (rescheduled from March 31)

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