Knetter is the Wildcats’ new ace pitcher
By Casey Krautkramer
High school softball teams just need one dominating ace pitcher to be successful. Edgar sophomore Jorja Knetter is hoping to be the next in line of great Edgar varsity softball pitchers this season.
Makayla Wirkus was an excellent ace pitcher during her first three years at Edgar High School before shoulder surgery derailed her senior pitching season last year. Wildcats catcher Morgan Streveler made the switch to starting ace pitcher in Wirkus’ absence on the mound last season, and Streveler turned out to be a stellar pitcher for the Wildcats. Now it’s Knetter’s turn to be Edgar’s No. 1 pitcher this season for Kevin Brown who is in his fourth season as the school’s varsity head softball coach.
“Jorja will lead the pitching staff along with senior Lucy Kolodzeij who missed the Rhinelander tournament,” Brown said. “Sophomore Annie Kolodzeij and freshman Kendal Apfelbeck could also see time on the mound during the season. I do need to see continued improvement from the pitching staff as that’s going to be the key to our season.”
Brown describes what skills Knetter possesses to be the team’s ace pitcher this season.
“Jorja works hard at getting better at hitting her spots and developing her pitches,” he said. “She also is mentally tough on the mound and doesn’t let things bother her. Jorja knew at the end of last season that she’d need to be a big part of our pitching staff. She pitched throughout the winter and played summer ball tournaments helping her development as a pitcher.”
Edgar’s varsity softball team lost the following four starting players from last year’s squad to graduation: Streveler, first baseman Macie Yonker, centerfielder Taylor Lemmer and left fielder Libby Woller.
The Wildcats’ top returning softball players this season are senior third baseman Alyson Kolano, senior second baseman Emery Borchardt, senior outfielder Riley Mueller, sophomore shortstop Bella Kaiser, sophomore catcher Alyssa Kolano and Knetter who will be an outfielder when she’s not pitching.
Edgar’s newcomers to this season’s varsity softball team are junior centerfielder Brandi Halvorson, senior outfielder Grasci Yonker, junior first baseman Ella Baumgartner, senior pitcher Lucy Kolodzeij, senior second baseman and outfielder Emma Hartway, senior catcher Kendra Mucha, senior first baseman Lily Schroeder, senior infielder Chloe Mellenberger and senior outfielder Carlie Stahel.
Brown’s assistant softball coaches this season are Hannah Schoenfuss, Stuart Davis and Macy Borchardt.
Edgar’s varsity softball team is off to a 3-1 start in games to begin this season. The Wildcats went 2-1 in the Danny Mac Softball Classic on March 28-29 at the Hodag Dome in Rhinelander. Edgar lost to Shawano, 15-5, to begin the tournament on March 28. Knetter started the game and was the losing pitcher. Apfelbeck relieved her on the mound. Yonker batted three for three with a run scored. Mueller hit two for three with a run scored in the loss.
Edgar rebounded from its season-opening defeat to edge Thorp, 15-13, in the late game on March 28. Knetter earned the pitching win and Apfelbeck entered in relief for the save. Kaiser batted one for two with a double, two walks, four RBIs and two runs scored.
Mellenberger hit two for three with a double, walk, three RBIs and three runs scored. Schroeder was two for three with two RBIs and three runs scored. Mucha batted two for three with a walk and three runs scored. Alyssa Kolano hit two for three with a triple and walk.
Edgar then beat Clinton, 12-9, on March 29 to finish the tournament. Knetter earned the complete-game pitching win. Knetter was also solid at the Wildcats’ leadoff hitter by batting three for four with a triple and three RBIs. Yonker hit one for three with a home run along with three RBIs and two runs scored. Baumgartner was three for three with a run scored. Halverson batted one for three with a pair of walks and three runs scored. Kaiser hit three for five with a double, RBI and run scored. Alyson Kolano was one for three with a double, an RBI and a run scored.
The Wildcats shut out the Neillsville Warriors, 10-0, in six innings during Friday’s road game. Knetter pitched the entire game to earn the win. Kaiser stole three bases. Mueller batted one for three with two RBIs and a run scored. Alyson Kolano hit three for three with a double and two runs scored.
Brown described his team’s hitters approach at the plate this season.
“Our approach so far has been to be aggressive early in the count and put the ball in play,” he said. “We need to stay aggressive while keeping our strikeouts down See EDGAR SOFTBALL/ page 15
EDGAR VARSITY SOFTBALL- Introducing the 2025 Wildcats varsity softball team. Players pictured, from left to right, front row: Brandi Halvorsen, Lucy Kolodziej, Alyson Kolano, Alyssa Kolano and Jorja Knetter; middle row: Emery Borchardt, Ella Baumgartner, Carlie Stahel, Riley Mueller and Bella Kaiser; back row: Emma Hartway, Kendra Mucha, Lily Schroeder, Grasci Yonker and Chloe Mellenberger.
PHOTO BY JIM STEINKE Edgar softball
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and still having plate discipline.”
Edgar’s softball team has lost two straight WIAA Division 4 regional championships against Stratford, but this season the two squads are in different Division 4 regionals and sectionals. Brown isn’t concerned about his team’s regional title losses the past two years.
“As a program we focus on what’s ahead of us and not what’s happened in the past,” he said. “We have new leaders and every year is a new opportunity.”
