Pirates start transition to new, young collection of talent

GILMAN SOFTBALL PREVIEW

The Gilman Pirates softball team got young and lost some depth in a hurry before the start of the new season, but the girls that have worked through the first two-plus weeks of practice have veteran head coach Brian Phelps optimistic that this season marks the start of a new wave of success for the program.

The Pirates didn’t get the number of participants they were expecting following a solid 13-9 season in 2021 that included a third-place finish in the Eastern Cloverbelt Conference 9-3 and a spot in the WIAA Division 4 regional final round, where the Pirates lost a close 4-1 game at Thorp. As of this third week of the new season, Gilman has a roster of 11 players that includes just one senior and one junior, Tychelle Duellman and Tatum Weir, both of whom were big pieces in last year’s success.

The four sophomores and five freshmen will need to pick things up quickly for Gilman to remain competitive, which Phelps is confi- dent they can do. “The young kids have latched on to Tychelle and Tatum,” Phelps said Monday. “They are getting along great and everyone is having fun. And that’s fun for us as coaches.” The Pirates were hoping Mother Nature would allow them to get their season started Saturday with their invitational event in Poynette. But games against Manawa and Wisconsin Heights were canceled Wednesday. Next week the Pirates are scheduled to be in Prentice Monday and host Columbus Catholic in the conference opener on April 8.

With All-ECC award winners Madisyn James and Hannah Vick choosing not to play this spring, Duellman is left as the lone senior. Gilman’s centerfielder and a tough out at the top of the order a year ago, she’ll return to those roles this spring. Duellman was a second-team All-ECC pick last year after her speed, bunting and slapping ability allowed her to post a .532 batting average in league play and a .632 on-base percentage. Her 22 runs and 16 stolen bases in league play were team highs.

Weir was an honorable mention pick last spring after hitting .360 in league play with 11 runs batted in, 10 runs scored and a .404 on-base percentage. She played third base last year, but now she steps into a much bigger role as the team’s top pitcher.

“Tatum’s very athletic,” Phelps said. “She’s been working hard. If we can play defense behind her we’ll be in a lot of games. Tychelle will be our number-two pitcher this year. She’s always pitched in the past. She has a couple of pitches and she’ll throw strikes.

“They’re our two upperclassmen.

Those two are leading the way, doing it very positively, keeping it fun.”

Three of Gilman’s four sophomores played a lot as freshmen.

Bryn Hendricks turned herself into an honorable mention All-ECC pick with solid play at second base and a .467 conference batting average with 12 RBIs, 15 runs scored and an on-base percentage of .612. Ava Warner should see time at both of the key defensive positions of catcher and shortstop. Jayda Rosemeyer got a lot of time in rightfield and was a solid offensive player at the bottom of the batting order. She moves to first base this year. “Ava, she’s a really good athlete,” Phelps said. “Plays anywhere. One of the things about Ava is she’s very aggressive just overall. Bryn played second base for us last year and that’s where we’re initially looking to pencil her in. She was an honorable mention all-conference for us and a lot of that was because of her offense. She was a freshman playing varsity on the right side of the infield with a fast pitcher and she got a lot of action. We’re excited about the options with her there.” Ruth Lee is the fourth sophomore and Phelps said she has improved a lot after joining last year having never played the game before. The freshman class may be young and inexperienced, but Phelps said the group has played a lot of softball growing up and shouldn’t be overwhelmed by stepping into the varsity spotlight. Abby Chaplinski will start the season at third base. Kenlyn Kroeplin, the daughter of Gilman baseball coach Dave Kroeplin and brother of recent baseball players Kade and Grady Kroeplin, has had the advantage of growing up around the game and, Phelps said, it shows in her play. She could see time at shortstop, catcher or the outfield.

Kayleigh James has the ability to play anywhere other than pitcher and catcher and brings a solid bat to the lineup. Paige Daley could bring some power to the offensive lineup and Alison Krizan will fill one of the corner outfield positions.

“All of these girls have played summer ball for me and they’re all familiar with our system already,” Phelps said. “That does help us significantly in that they already know what we’re doing and what our plays are. Now getting past the freshman nerves and all that, that will be the challenge, of course.”

Defense will be crucial now that last year’s strikeout master, Addy Warner, is gone and now playing at Madison College. Scoring more runs also would help Gilman’s new pitchers and Phelps is confi dent these Pirates will find a way to produce.

“We have a young group of athletes that are working hard,” he said. “Their form is already pretty good. We’re pretty well set with them coming up. I think we’re going to be able to put some pressure on the defense. We have a group of athletes that will allow us to be aggressive at the plate and on the bases. That will be kind of fun.”

In the Eastern Cloverbelt Conference, defending champion Neillsville is the odds-on favorite to repeat as the Warriors bring back the majority of a team that went 11-1 in league play a year ago and 17-6 overall. Columbus Catholic was the only league team to get into sectional competition. The Lady Dons return first-team All-ECC pitcher Hailey Zimmerman and look to improve from their 5-7 league record of a year ago.

Loyal-Greenwood remains a co-op after first joining forces last spring. They have to replace their pitcher, Katlyn Lindner, but should remain solid after going 10-2 in league play and 16-8 overall last spring.

Colby-Abbotsford was 5-7 in league play last year, while Owen-Withee and Spencer tied in the basement at 1-11.

Among the non-conference games to watch are a home battle on April 11 with Thorp, who is still coached by former Gilman assistant Kurt Rhyner, and Fall Creek on April 19. The schedule is still being finalized for the Gilman-Thorp Slamfest on May 7, but the field for that event still looks solid with teams like Medford, Hurley, Tomahawk, Athens, Marathon, Stratford, Grantsburg, Shell Lake and Pacelli among those on the list of teams attending.