Manawa to open softball season at home
By Holly Neumann
A handful of returning players has coach Todd Zielke and the Manawa softball team excited about the upcoming season.
The Wolves are scheduled to open their season at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, March 23, with a nonconference home game against Tigerton at Lindsay Field. The Central Wisconsin 8 Conference opener at home against Bonduel is set for Monday, April 3.
Manawa posted 4-10 record in the Central Wisconsin 8 Conference and an overall mark of 11-14 last year.
“I have a very good feeling about this season,” said Zielke, the team’s coach the past six years. “We are trying to turn that (4-10 CWC record) around to 10-4 and see the girls improve, be a top contender in our conference and go far in the playoffs.
“Last year, we had too many fielding errors and too many runners left on base,” he added. “We have a good group of girls that are hard-working, eager to learn and excited to get out on that field.”
The Wolves lost Kassie Dunnihoo and McKenzie Zielke to graduation, but will suit up 27 other players, including seniors Skye Amador and Claire Kreklow and junior Morgyn Zielke.
Meanwhile, Zielke expects newcomers Kirstin Schernecker, a freshman, and sophomore Chloe Johnson to contribute.
The roster also includes seniors Taylor Schuelke, Alexis Wepner, Maria Soares and Alice Vitali; juniors Sydney Bailey, Joline Denton, Kelsey Jaeger, Zoe Newlun, Matayah Pethke and Lesley Wilz; sophomores Emily Kons, Macy Krenke, Kylie Rosenau, Brooklynn Wepner and Kassidee Zander; and freshmen Alyssa Hedtke, MaKenna Jaeger, Teanna Jaeger, Sydney Lee, Grace O’Brien and Mikayla Wegener.
A knee injury in her final basketball game will keep senior Haley Reierson from playing, but she will be a part of the team.
Zielke’s assistant coaches include Jill Krause, Pat O’Brien and Kali Draeger.
“I like being able to teach the girls what this sport is all about and see them progress and succeed,” he said.
He expects Pacelli, Weyauwega-Fremont and Shiocton to contend for a CWC-8 championship. Pacelli won the league with a 13-1 mark, while W-F and Shiocton finished second and third, respectively.
Besides Bonduel, the CWC-8 also includes Iola-Scandinavia, Amherst and Wittenberg-Birnamwood.
“We respect all of our opponents,” Zielke said. “We are in a tough conference.”
Manawa 2017 Softball Schedule
Varsity
• Thursday, March 23 – vs. Tigerton, 4:30 p.m.
• Thursday, March 30 – vs. Gillett/Suring at Gillett, 4:30 p.m.
• Monday, April 3 – vs. Bonduel, 4:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, April 4 – vs. Wild Rose, 4:30 p.m.
• Thursday, April 6 – at Pacelli, 4:30 p.m.
• Friday, April 7 – at Winneconne, 4 p.m.
• Tuesday, April 11 – at Shiocton, 4:30 p.m.
• Thursday, April 13 – vs. Shiocton, 4:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, April 18 – at Weyauwega-Fremont, 4:30 p.m.
• Thursday, April 20 – at Amherst, 4:30 p.m.
• Monday, April 24 – vs. Weyauwega-Fremont, 4:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, April 25 – at Iola-Scandinavia, 4:30 p.m.
• Thursday, April 27 – at Bonduel, 4:30 p.m.
• Saturday, April 29 – at Marathon Invitational, 10 a.m.
• Monday, May 1 – vs. Pacelli, 4:30 p.m.
• Thursday, May 4 – vs. Iola-Scandinavia, 4:30 p.m.
• Friday, May 5 – vs. Berlin, 7 p.m.
• Monday, May 8 – vs. Weyauwega-Fremont, 4:30 p.m.
• Thursday, May 11 – vs. Amherst, 4:30 p.m.
• Saturday, May 13 – Manawa Invitational vs. Elcho, Marion, 10 a.m.
• Monday, May 15 – at Wittenberg-Birnamwood, 4:30 p.m.
Junior Varsity
• Monday, April 3 – vs. Bonduel, 6:30 p.m.
• Friday, April 7 – at Winneconne, 6 p.m.
• Tuesday, April 11 – at Shiocton, 6:30 p.m.
• Thursday, April 13 – vs. Shiocton, 6:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, April 18 – at Weyauwega-Fremont, 6:30 p.m.
• Thursday, April 20 – at Amherst, 6 p.m.
• Monday, May 1 – vs. Pacelli, 6:30 p.m.
• Monday, May 8 – vs. Weyauwega-Fremont, 6:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, May 16 – vs. Rosholt (DH), 4:30 p.m.
• Thursday, May 18 – at Pacelli, 4:30 p.m.