An encore at state this season?

Edgar moves up to Division 4 in the 2023 playoffs

By Casey Krautkramer

Edgar’s varsity softball team made school history last season by advancing to the state tournament for the first time. The Wildcats only lost one starting player, centerfielder Karlin Lipinski, to graduation so there’s great expectations for this season’s team.

The father-and-daughter duo of Kevin and Samantha Brown return as Edgar’s co-head varsity coaches this season. Macy Borchardt and Stuart Davis are also back as the school’s cohead junior varsity softball coaches this year.

Edgar’s top returning varsity softball players this season are senior second baseman Ashley Erickson, senior first baseman Leah Davis, senior shortstop Reagan Borchardt, senior leftfielder Jessica Mucha, senior third baseman Kendalyn Dahlke, junior pitcher and utility player Makayla Wirkus, junior catcher and pitcher Morgan Streveler, junior rightfielder and catcher Maycie Yonker and junior centerfielder Taylor Lemmer.

The team’s top newcomers who’ll contribute to the varsity team’s success this season are senior outfielder Carly Feltz, junior outfielder Libby Woller and sophomore infielder Riley Mueller.

Edgar finished as runners-up to Wisconsin Rapids Assumption in the race to win the Marawood Conference championship last season. Assumption also ended up wining the WIAA Division 5 state championship with a 21-2 season record. Edgar is definitely due to win the Marawood, because it last won the conference in 1991 which was already 32 years ago, but it won’t be easy against another tough Assumption squad this season.

“To overtake Assumption, we’re going to have to play as a team for each other,” Kevin Brown said. “We’re going to have to come ready to play each and every conference game as the Marawood South Conference is going to be extremely tough from top to bottom. As a team, we’re going to have to be more consistent with our bats and cut down on our strikeouts at the plate.”

Edgar’s southpaw Makayla Wirkus was a dominating force in the pitcher’s circle as a sophomore last season.

She pitched a complete game in Edgar’s 11-0 WIAA Division 5 sectional championship win against Sevastopol last season. She ran into a bit of trouble in the fourth inning of Edgar’s 5-1 loss to Barneveld in the Division 5 state tournament semifinal at Goodman Diamond in Madison last year. Kevin Brown expects Wirkus to continue improving her pitching skills during the course of this season.

“Makayla continues to work at developing the pitches she already has and commands, but she is always working on developing another pitch to her repertoire,” he said. “She works hard to get better and she is never satisfi ed with where she’s at. Makayla is a calming force in the pitcher’s circle for the rest of the team. She’s a competitor that studies the opponent and has a good knowledge of hitters’ weaknesses. She can throw any pitch called and hit her spots with great command. She also helps herself and team by being a great fielding pitcher.”

It could be tougher for Edgar to advance to the state tournament again this season, considering it is moving up to Division 4, but don’t count out the Wildcats.

“To make another run at state, it’s going to take numerous things to happen,” Kevin Brown said. “We’re going to have to coach better, practice harder, stay injury free and be a better hitting team up and down the lineup, play as a team for each other and be playing our best softball at the end of our season. Also, our players need to keep up the intensity and competition for playing time throughout the whole season.”

This season’s Edgar varsity softball team is off to a 3-1 start. Edgar began this season with a weekend tournament on April 7-8 at the Hodag Dome in Rhinelander.

Edgar won its first game, 9-3, against Laona/Wabeno on April 7. Wirkus struck out 11 batters to earn the pitching win and Streveler worked the final inning to gain the save. Jessica Mucha hit two for three with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored in the victory.

The Wildcats then lost to the Antigo Red Robins, 9-6, on April 7. Streveler took the complete-game pitching defeat.

Edgar beat Rhinelander, 6-0, as Wirkus struck out 10 hitters to earn the complete-game pitching win. Emery Borchardt had a home run.

The Wildcats edged the Auburndale Eagles, 3-2, on the road Monday. Wirkus struck out 10 batters to earn the complete-game pitching victory. Reagan Borchardt, Erickson and Streveler each collected an RBI in the win.