Marathon hopes to end its losing skid
By Casey Krautkramer
Marathon’s varsity softball team won its first two games this season but the Red Raiders have now lost four games in a row. Things don’t get any easier with three straight road games beginning with Wisconsin Rapids Assumption this Thursday, April 25. Then Marathon plays at Athens this Friday, April 26 and at Auburndale next Tuesday, April 30. All three of these road opponents are good softball teams.
Paul Fredrickson is in the midst of his sixth season as Marathon’s varsity head softball coach. Red Raiders fans are well aware that although his teams in the past might not have good regular season records, they almost always perform much better in the WIAA Division 4 playoffs. The reason for Marathon having more success in the playoffs is because it plays in the tough Marawood South Conference and it also schedules non-conference games against Division 1 teams Marshfield, Wausau East and Wausau West.
See RED RAIDERS/ page 11
MARATHON VARSITY SOFTBALL- Introducing the 2024 Red Raiders varsity softball squad. Players pictured, from left to right, front row are: Emily Knoeck, Kayla Freund, Cayden Sapinski, Ripley Skrzypchak and Elayne Westphal; middle row: Ava Ott, Riley Werner, Mayven Schneider, Clara Krasselt, Allison Podjaski, Danica Staus and Lauren Karlen; back row: Bridget Salber, Sophia Conn, Morgan Sorge, Hailey Martin, Mylee Haehlke and Danica Paszek.
PHOTO BY STACY STUBBE Red Raiders
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Marathon lost to all three of these Division 1 squads this season.
Fredrickson’s assistant softball coaches this spring are Andy Martin, Chuck Baldeshwiler, Amber Oelhafen and Cameron Sonnentag.
Marathon’s top returning player this season are four-year starter Bridget Salter who will play shortstop and do some catching behind the plate, three-and-ahalf- year starter Lauren Karen who is the centerfielder, senior second baseman Emily Knoeck, junior first baseman Danica Paszek, junior third baseman Clara Krasselt, junior right fielder Cayden Sapinski, sophomore Danica Staus who will play shortstop and also catch behind the plate, sophomore left fielder Myles Haehlke, sophomore pitcher Riley Werner and sophomore outfielder Elayne Westphal.
The Red Raiders’ newcomers to the varsity squad this season are freshman pitcher and third baseman Allison Podjaski; freshman Mayven Schneider who is a pitcher, infielder, outfielder and designated player and freshman Ripley Skrzypchak who is a catcher, infielder, outfielder and pinch hitter.
Fredrickson outlined the team’s goals this season.
“Our team goals are the same as they always are and that is to compete for a conference title and be playing our best ball at the end of the year and go as far as we possibly can in the playoffs,” he said.
