With a solid group of seniors and the team’s starting pitcher back, Gillett High School softball coach Jill Weyers is optimistic her girls will have a strong season.
The Tigers lost just two seniors to graduation – Becca Schroeder and Abby Walker — and return eight players, five of whom were starters. Gillett has 14 players on its roster, but the team is already hampered by injuries with two girls out.
Gillett will rely on this year’s senior class – Kara Brennan, Karli Woodke, Rachel Ransom and Ella Miller – for leadership.
“We talk a lot about we’d rather hear their voices than ours out there,” Weyers said. “We’ve been working on situations where they’re going to be in control and tell the other girls what to do, instruct them where to go if they’re confused.”
Sophomore pitcher Jessica Anderson returns after missing half of last season due to a shoulder injury. Anderson toughed it out and pitched in Gillett’s season-ending playoff loss to Sevastopol.
“She’s talented and she’s been working on some new pitches and increasing her speed,” Weyers said. “Having Jessica back just kind of lets the rest of the girls breathe a little easier just knowing that’s just one more big helper that we can use to win games.”
Anderson has been going through therapy to build up her arm strength and is feeling great on the mound.
“She worked a lot in the offseason, so I think she looks better than she did at the start of last year,” Weyers said.
Along with Anderson, the Tigers will be strong up the middle with Brennan back at shortstop and Woodke at second base. Brennan is quick, athletic and has a great arm, and Woodke was a first-team all-conference selection as a utility player last season.
Ransom, who suffered a jammed finger early in the season, will start at first base, and Mackenzie Simpson will get the nod at third base, replacing Schroeder, who was second-team all-conference. Catcher Maya Breed broke her thumb during basketball season, so Weyers is plugging in sophomore Kayla DeBauch, with Brittany Fetterly as the backup.
In the outfield, Miller will get the start in right field, freshman Miranda Pratsch will be thrown right into the mix in center field, and sophomore Hailey Brock will be in left field. Miranda Ness, Tyra Tholl and Katelyn Decorah will be the backups in the outfield.
The Tigers return a good nucleus of hitters, led by Woodke and Brennan. Woodke hit over .500 last season and had one of the highest batting averages in the Marinette & Oconto Conference.
“I think we’re going to be strong,” Weyers said. “We were strong last year. Our girls had pretty high batting averages. We will probably be playing more of the small game this year. We’ve been working on bunting and fake bunting and slaps. But they can hit, and that’s promising for us.”
Weyers said the team still needs to get better at defensive situations and base running.
Following a 2-7 season last year, Weyers hopes her team can turn it around this season. Gillett had a tough season, falling in the bottom half of the Marinette & Oconto Conference and having to forfeit one game since it didn’t have enough players.
“I’m pretty positive we’ll have a better record than last year,” Weyers said. “We’re optimistic this year for sure.”
Weyers said her team can hold its own in the M&O this season.
“I would say we’re probably middle of the pack,” Weyers said. “We have some good teams ahead of us. Wausaukee is always difficult, and Peshtigo, they usually win the conference. I think we’re not going to be at the bottom, but because this is kind of a rebuilding year for us, we may not be at the top. We’re definitely going to be competitive.”
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