Courtney and Nicki Ainsworth not only created a family memory at the Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches senior all-star game Tuesday, they also were the first Shawano Community High School duo to appear in more than a decade.
The two cousins were selected the WFSCA executive board in April after Courtney and Nicki were nominated by SCHS coach Kevin Isaacson.
“Nicki and Courtney were incredibly hard workers and it showed on the field,” Isaacson said.
SCHS has sent one player to the all-star game in each of the last three years: Allison Weisnicht (2012), Alison Van Grinsven (2013) , LaRissa O’Kimosh (2014).
“It’s pretty cool I was part of one of two in history, and it was more special that it was with my cousin,” said Courtney Ainsworth, who played catcher for the Division 2 White squad. She blasted two home runs, was 2 for 5 and drove in three runs.
Nicki Ainsworth showed good plate discipline, drawing two walks and scoring one run, and strong defense at first base, making a few catches down the line, according to Isaacson.
“She had quite a few plays on the field, made some good defensive plays,” Courtney said. “She made good contact with the ball.”
The White squad won the game, 8-3. The squad consisted of players from Rice Lake, River Valley, McFarland, Monroe, West De Pere and Adams-Friendship.
Forty-eight girls were named to the Division 2 all-stars game. Sixty were named to the Division 1 team, and 36 to both the Division 3 and 4 squads.
“It was cool to see how many good girls there are in state softball, that actually wanted to play every single inning. It was awesome.” Nicki Ainsworth said.
“The best thing was being able to meet all the other girls and play with the best,” Courtney aid.
Their experience closed the Ainsworths' high school careers in style.
Courtney Ainsworth was named a unanimous first-team All-Bay Conference selection. She led the Bay in hits with 29 and batted .475. She also collected eight doubles, a triple, 16 runs and 14 RBIs in 16 conference games.
Nicki Ainsworth had a team-leading 27 RBIs as the Hawks’ No. 5 hitter in the lineup. She hit .353 with 18 hits, 11 runs scored and 15 RBIs. She also stole four bases.
Courtney plans to continue her softball career at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where she plans to study exercise and sport science.
Nicki’s career will draw to a close when she attends a school without a softball program, UW-Milwaukee. She seeks to pursue a career in interior design and study architecture.
The memories will remain with the Ainsworths as they head in different directions.
“We grew up together and played together and went to every tournament and it was awesome to have on last game as an all-star with her,” Nicki said.
