Tigers boast more experience

Stratford off to a 2-1 start

Stratford’s young varsity softball team struggled last season with a dismal 5-15 record, however, this year’s more experienced squad is already off to a 2-1 start in games. What a difference a year makes.

The Tigers began this season with a doubleheader sweep against the Stanley- Boyd Orioles by scores of 7-0 and 10-4. Stratford took one on the chin in a 15-0 loss at Wisconsin Rapids Assumption on April 11, but the Tigers battled back to win for an 8-5 win at Wausau Newman on Tuesday.

Tigers head softball coach Mandy Pankratz has coached 16 out of her 20 years in Stratford. She is impressed with what she sees in this year’s team.

“Last year we were very inexperienced and with inexperience comes mistakes,” Coach Pankratz said. “What we look for in athletes is how they respond to those mistakes, and I think the girls have come into this year with a little more focus because of their experience. We also have more depth which helps players push each other every day in practices. I’m really proud of this group and its determination to start the year.”

Straford’s top returning softball players this season are seniors Ally Zuleger, pitcher and infielder; Meg Wiese, third baseman and catcher; first baseman Delaney Dennee and outfielder Kylee Manecke. The team’s top junior players back this spring are

Bailey Linzmaier, shortstop and pitcher; Tessa Berg, outfielder and catcher; outfielder Ava Weix; Sonia Peterson, pitcher and third baseman; outfielder Tessa Miller and Lexie Christopherson, outfielder and catcher. Second baseman Kressa Wenzel is the Tigers’ top returning sophomore player.

Top newcomers to Stratford’s varsity team this season are senior infielder Kara Schara and senior outfielder Lauryn Wiesman; junior infielders Kenidi Palmer and Lauren Kraus and freshmen Kalyn Schueller, infielder/ outfielder; Emma Roeper, catcher and utility player and Laney Pankratz, pitcher and infielder.

Laney Pankratz tossed completegame victories against Stanley-Boyd and Wausau Newman this season. Ally Zuleger earned the 10-4 win in the pitcher’s circle during Stratford’s other game against Stanley-Boyd, while Sonia Peterson got the save. Coach Pankratz is pleased to have a bevy of talented pitchers in 2022.

“Ally Zuleger is a natural leader for our program; she is such a hard worker and leads by example,” Coach Pankratz said. “Last year we asked a lot of Ally, and it was probably too much at times. This year Ally will not only be in the pitcher’s circle but she’ll also be able to help us in other positions on the field while sharing pitching duties at times with Sonia Peterson and Laney Pankratz. Our goal is to keep opposing hitting lineups uncomfortable and we may use multiple pitchers in a night to do that.”

Emma Roeper belted a homer in Stratford’s 8-5 road win against Wausau Newman on Tuesday. Roeper batted three for three with two RBIs and a pair of runs scored in the victory. Zuleger was three for four with three runs scored.

Coach Pankratz’s varsity softball assistant is Kellen Kafka and her junior varsity coach is her former player, Brittany Bredemann. Stratford’s middle school softball coaches are coach Pankratz’s former players Dani Meidl and Rachel Wussow. Volunteer coaches are Troy Bargender and Jamie Pankratz.