Only four seniors will be leaving the squad, with a raft of underclassmen ready to step in to fill those places.
Kelley Funke anchored center field for the varsity Blazers and racked up a .295 batting average, while delivering 31 hits, 18 RBIs and scoring 16 times. Defensively, she handled 46 putouts to lead the outfielders.
Emily Hogan took over right-field duties late in the year and was primarily a courtesy runner for the pitchers. She scored 14 runs in that key position and stole seven bases, tied for tops on the team.
Callie Lansing held down first base on the varsity reserve squad, and filled in several times for the varsity games.
Angie Kluesner handled both throwing and catching duties on the reserve squad and built a perfect 1.000 in putouts, 32-of-32.
The young Blazers saw a multitude of underclassmen shine during this campaign. Juniors Abby
| Advertisement |
|---|
|
|
Fitzgerald handled the bulk of the throwing duties, despite being gone for three weeks with a severe knee injury. The injury limited her batting time in the late season, but she built a .310 average early, with 13 hits. Her win-loss record of 5-12 in 18 games earned her the lowest ERA of the regular pitchers, 4.64.
Noethe switched from right field to left mid-season and built a .949 fielding percentage, with 35 putouts in 39 attempts. At the plate she drilled 32 hits, good for fifth on the team, with 12 RBIs and a .322 batting average.
The sophomore class was filled with varsity starters. Jenna Lansing anchored first base and built a .958 fielding average with 220 putouts in 239 attempts. She was second on the team in batting average for the regular starters, building a .405 with 49 hits, 18 RBIs, 21 runs scored, and eight doubles, tied for high on the team. Maddi Vaske held down third base, building a .893 fielding percentage with 53 putouts and 89 assists. She rapped out 41 hits, second on the team, with 19 RBIs and 20 runs scored. She led the team in triples with four.
Rachel Hall controlled second base and led off the batting order most of the season, hitting 21 times and scoring 17 runs, with a .181 average.
Freshman Claire Willenbring paced the team in batting average, hitting .434, with a .592 on base percentage. Willenbring rapped the lone home run for the Blazers this season. She scored 18 times and had 16 RBIs. She was second on the team in doubles (seven) and matched that number in stolen bases. Willenbring also pitched seven times, with a 2-2 record and 6.30 ERA.
Lauren Fitzgerald threw 21 games and built a 6.18 ERA with a 7-12 record. Lauren also added 24 hits this year, with 18 RBIs and five doubles, while building a .258 batting average.
Freshman Amie Conrad was behind the plate all year, building a .995 fielding average with 168 putouts. She rapped 26 hits, with 23 RBIs, four doubles, while amassing a .263 batting average.
Osterhaus said, "This team has made great strides in improvement from our first game against Senior. Now we keep building and look forward to next year."