Raiders always great in the postseason

Coach explains why team is so good in playoffs

By Casey Krautkramer

The Marathon varsity softball team’s regular-season record hasn’t been particularly impressive the last few years, but then the Red Raiders are successful in the postseason.

For example, last season number seven seed Marathon won at number 3 seed Auburndale, 7-5, in the WIAA Division 4 regional championship. Two seasons ago, number 6 seed Marathon won at number 2 seed Cochrane-Fountain City, 9-2, in the Division 4 regional title.

Paul Fredrickson, who has begun his fifth season as Marathon’s head softball coach, explains why the Red Raiders are able to enjoy more success in the playoffs compared to the regular season.

“Plain and simple our schedule is tough,” he said. “Last year, two teams we played that were sub .500 were both in Division 1. Our conference is by far the toughest in the state among schools our size. Wisconsin Rapids Assumption won the WIAA Division 5 state championship and Edgar was a Division 5 state semifinalist last season. Newman Catholic and us both played in sectionals last season and Auburndale lost to us in the regional final but was 18 inches away from winning the game. Stratford was in Division 3 last year and they are always a tough opponent.”

“The coaches in our conference, both in the Marawood South and North, know the game of softball and keep me on my toes. After what we go through during the regular season, we are more than prepared to play in the postseason. We could make an easier non-conference schedule to make our record better, but in the long run that would not help us.”

Marathon’s varsity softball squad has won 10 consecutive regional championships, not including the cancelled 2021 season because of COVID. The Red Raiders won WIAA Division 4 regional titles in 2022, 2021, 2019, 2018 and 2017 and Division 3 regional titles in 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 and 2012.

Coach Fredrickson will need younger players to step up their play this spring if Marathon hopes to have a successful regular season and keep its streak intact of winning regional championships.

“We lost six seniors to graduation last year,” he said. “The starters returning include our lone senior Kali Prihoda. She will spend a lot of time on the mound this year. If not there, she will be in centerfield. Bridget Salber is a junior who has started since day one of her freshman year. She will catch and play infield. Junior Lauren Karlen returns as a starter and she will play infield and some outfield. Finally, junior Ella Altfillish was the designated player/outfield starter last year and she will be an outfield starter this year.”

Prihoda earned the pitching win in Marathon’s season-opening 14-2 road victory on March 28 against Westfield. She struck out 11 batters while pitching the complete game. She also batted two for three at the plate with a walk and three runs scored.

“Kali Prihoda will be our number one pitcher this year,” Fredrickson said. “She is a three-sport athlete who knows how to compete and that will help her be successful.”

In the victory against Westfield, Salber hit three for four with a walk, pair of doubles, five RBIs and one run scored. Heise was two for four with a walk and pair of RBIs.

Marathon also won its second game of the season, 6-3, on Tuesday against Stanley-Boyd at home.

The team will have a tougher Division 4 playoff regional this spring with Edgar moving up from Division 5 and Stratford moving down from Division 3.