RIB LAKE SOFTBALL PREVIEW - After turnaround season, Rib Lake’s expectations higher in 2024

RIB LAKE SOFTBALL PREVIEW

Going from four wins in 2022 to 15-5 and finishing in a WIAA Division 5 regional final last year certainly was a big confidence builder and motivator for the still-young Rib Lake softball team.

With almost everybody back, the Redmen know the opportunity is there this spring to contend in the Marawood North and beyond.

While many of the pieces to be a contender appear to be in place, head coach Craig Scheithauer is stressing with his crew that despite last year’s success, it is a new season and nothing is guaranteed. But there is no doubt this is a program that has an arrow that is pointing upward.

“We’re looking forward to it,” Scheithauer said last Thursday. “But I told the girls in day one in practice we’re not going to sneak up on anybody this year.”

Rib Lake got season started right this past weekend by going 3-0 in the Danny Mac Classic held inside Rhinelander’s Hodag Dome. An April 2 game at Edgar is the next potential game date on the calendar.

The Redmen are built around two seniors, three juniors and five sophomores, most of whom played key roles in last year’s success, which included a 6-2 mark that was good for second place in the Marawood North. Three of Rib Lake’s losses came to conference champion Athens, who beat the Redmen 14-4 in six innings in the regional final in a game that was 5-4 when the Blue Jays went on a nine-run rally in the bottom of the sixth. Six of the returning players earned All Marawood North awards last spring, led by unanimous first-team pick Josie Scheithauer who, along with second-team All-North centerfielder Leah Chmielowiec are the team’s seniors. Both have been key pieces to Rib Lake’s lineup since they were freshmen. Scheithauer was 9-2 in the pitching circle last season and hit .400. Chmielowiec hit .403 overall last season and .478 in Marawood North games.

Junior infielder Addison Gumz, sophomore Tahlia Scheithauer and sophomore Avery Niemi also were secondteam picks last spring and sophomore Kara Kennedy got honorable mention after driving in an amazing 23 runs out of the ninth spot in Rib Lake’s batting order and providing solid play in rightfield.

The team’s lone loss to graduation was All-North honorable mentionee Rhonnie Jo Scheithauer. The team, however, will pick up a key player in sophomore Tessa Weik, who missed last season due to a knee injury suffered early last basketball season.

Juniors Kiana Dallmann and Lily Butler and sophomore Madilyn Blomberg round out the list of returning players that figure to be key to Rib Lake’s success in 2024.

Of the many strengths Craig Scheithauer sees in this group, the top one probably is its versatility.

“The way I went about it last year in summer ball and I know Ryan (Scheithauer) did too in their younger years was to put the girls out there at different positions,” he said. “Especially at a small school, I think you have to do that. With just about all of these girls I can put them in any spot and I know we would be able to compete.”

That versatility becomes even more important because Rib Lake isn’t a team that is going to rely on one pitcher. Defensive lineups will change depending on who is in the circle at a given time.

That being said, Josie Scheithauer probably figures to get the most pitching time and deservedly so after she struck out 92 batters in 60.1 innings a year ago and only walked 33.

Tahlia Scheithauer gave Rib Lake 38 good innings last year as well. Gumz has some pitching experience and the wild card could be Weik who, obviously, Marawood hitters have not yet seen.

“Tessa gives us some options,” Craig Scheithauer said. “She’s a year less experienced, but she has a bigger frame that allows her to generate more speed and a different look than our other pitchers. All of our pitchers are similar but different in their own way. They have different styles.”

Defensively, Craig Scheithauer believes the Redmen will be strong up the middle, which most coaches would agree is the foundation of a strong defense. Niemi stepped right into the role of varsity catcher without much trouble, while Josie and Tahlia Scheithauer traded time at shortstop last year and bring experience to that key position. Then there’s Chmielowiec, the team’s outfield rock in centerfield.

Gumz probably will see most of her action again at third base, but Scheithauer is hoping to get her a few innings behind the plate just to save some wear and tear on Niemi. Scheithauer sees Dallmann and Butler getting infield time too. Weik slides into the first base spot, where Josie Scheithauer also has experience. Dallmann could fit into the puzzle at second base or the outfield. Kennedy is back in rightfield, while Blomberg will also fight for time anywhere she can find it as a capable fielder and hitter.

The team has five newcomers who may find it hard to find consistent playing time this season, but Scheithauer said he’s told them now is their time to improve, learn and be ready for when their chances come. They are sophomore Payton Lueth and freshmen Madelyn Dallmann, Abby Packenham, Megan Buksa and Annalee Roder.

Offensively, just like last year, Craig Scheithauer expects this team to create some havoc as long as it puts the ball in play.

“These girls are all good hitters,” he said. “And we have speed. Speed is something you can’t teach. We have some fast girls who are going to create problems on the base paths. We just have to get them on base.”

Offensively, Rib Lake scored 191 runs in 20 games for an average of 9.6 runs per game. Athens and Stratford were the only teams to shut Rib Lake out and the Redmen hit double figures eight times.

Athens is still expected to be the team to beat in the Marawood North, but the Blue Jays’ rivals are anxious to see how they respond after the school let long-time coach Craig Diedrich go. Phillips is always a contender and Chequamegon is always a solid team as well.

The Redmen will get solid tests from their crossover games with Marawood South rivals. A May 6 home game with Gilman could be an interesting non-conference test as well. “We certainly expect to contend for the conference title,” coach Scheithauer said. “And I think we’re capable of getting something done in the tournament. Of course on our side there are about five teams who I think could win the sectional.”