Tigers win opening tourney
By Casey Krautkramer
Stratford’s varsity softball team won the Danny Mac Softball Classic in dominating fashion on March 28-29 while the Hodag Dome remained inflated. The Hodag Dome was deflated and damaged on March 30 when its generator failed when an ice storm caused the power to go out in Rhinelander.
Tigers varsity head softball coach Mandy Pankratz is in the midst of her 19th year coaching softball in Stratford. Her assistant softball coaches are Kellen Kafka and Brittany Bredemann.
Stratford finished last season with a 207 record after losing to Auburndale in a road WIAA Division 4 sectional semifinal. Stratford did win back-to-back regional championships after a thrilling come-from-behind extra inning home win against Edgar.
The Tigers lost the following four players to graduation: Kressa Wenzel who was a four-year starting second baseman, right fielder Ashley Hollatz and utility players Ashlyn Solinsky and Cassandra Cano-Aguilera.
Strafford has a plethora of experienced players returning this season including senior catcher Emma Roeper, senior pitcher Laney Pankratz, junior pitcher and first baseman Tria Tubbs, junior shortstop Gracie Schmidt and sophomore centerfielder Carly Pankratz. Other top returning Tigers are senior infielder and catcher Abbi Lewerenz, junior outfielder MyKayla Stueber and junior infielder, outfielder and pitcher Alyssa Bargender.
Newcomers to Stratford’s varsity softball team this season are senior infielder and outfielder Maci Stueber, senior outfielders Addison Bauman and Claire La-Pointe, junior outfielder Gracie Krummel, junior infielder Lucy Zaleski, sophomore infielder and outfielder Dakota Knetter, sophomore infielder Madelynn Kroening and freshman infielder and outfielder Reese Spindler.
Stratford returns its top two pitchers from last season including ace Laney Pankratz, who was a unanimous first team all-Marawood Conference selection for the second straight season last year after earning second team all-conference as a freshman. She had a 14-3 pitching record last season. Tubbs is Stratford’s No. 2 starting pitcher who earned second team all-Marawood Conference last season.
“We are again fortunate to have two strong pitchers, Laney and Tria, who do a great job on the mound and provide confidence for the team on both sides of the ball,” Mandy Pankratz said. “Our catchers are also a big part of our pitcher’s success, which is often overlooked.”
Laney Pankratz earned the completegame win in Stratford’s 12-4 win against Clinton to begin the Danny Mac Softball Classic on March 28 at the Hodag Dome. She also hit three for four with four RBIs and a run scored in the victory. Her younger sister, Carly Pankratz, batted two for three with an RBI and three runs scored. Krummel hit two for three with two RBIs and a pair of runs scored. Tubbs hit a two-RBI home run.
Tubbs earned the complete-game pitching win in Stratford’s 10-4 win against Wautoma in its first game on March 29 at the Danny Mac Softball Classic. Laney Pankratz batted three for four with a triple, a walk and three runs scored. Roeper hit two for four with a double, three RBIs and two runs scored. Kroening was two for three with a run scored.
Laney Pankratz pitched the completegame win in Stratford’s 11-2 win against Shawano on March 29 to go undefeated and win the Danny Mac Softball Classic. Laney Pankratz batted three for three with two walks and a pair of runs scored. Krummel hit one for four with three RBIs and two runs scored. Spindler was one for two with a walk and two RBIs.
See STRATFORD SOFTBALL/ page 15
STRATFORD VARSITY SOFTBALL- Introducing the 2025 Tigers varsity softball team. Players pictured, from left to right, front row: Reese Spindler, Addison Bauman, Gracie Krummel, Emma Roeper, Laney Pankratz, Maci Stueber and Dakota Knetter; back row: Carly Pankratz, Abbi Lewerenz, MyKayla Stueber, Gracie Schmidt, Tria Tubbs, Madelynn Kroening, Lucy Zaleski, Claire La-Pointe and Alyssa Bargender.
PHOTO BY CASSIDY LEMAY Stratford softball
Continued from page 10
“We really enjoy starting our season at the Hodag Dome and we had a strong start, but we know we still have a great deal of work to do,” Mandy Pankratz said. “Our conference is so tough because every team has the ability to compete for a conference title in the Marawood South. There is good pitching all the way around, which makes every conference game a tough battle.”
Stratford’s varsity softball team last won the Marawood South Conference in the 2011 and 2012 seasons. Auburndale won the conference championship outright last season after Wisconsin Rapids Assumption had won it outright the previous three seasons. The Marawood South Conference has had state tournament qualifiers in each of the Division 4 and 5 divisions the past two seasons. Auburndale qualified for Division 4 state and Assumption for Division 5 state last season. In the 2023 season, Stratford qualified for Division 4 state and Assumption for Division 5 state.
“Our conference always has strong postseason success, and we are so grateful to be in a tough conference that prepares us for the postseason,” Mandy Pankratz said.
