After a winless 2011 campaign, the Madison College softball team took a big step toward competitiveness last year.
The WolfPack finished 14-24 overall and 7-9 in conference, posting the team’s best winning percentage since 2008.
Six returning players from last year and a strong group of freshmen recruits give Madison College several reasons to expect its improvement to continue.
Returning to the Madison College team this year will be Madison Milsap, Marissa Shaner, Samantha Schuchardt, Heather Edgren, Haily Hovland and Jodee Taylor.
Milsap and Edgren are the top returning hitters. An infielder and catcher, Milsap hit .273 last year with 17 runs batted in and 20 runs scored. Edgren, a first baseman, hit .241 last year, scored 17 runs and had 16 RBI.
Gone, though, are the team’s top four hitters from a year ago: Brittany Kaltenberg, .472 average and 34 runs scored; Courtney Ullmer, .333 average and 20 RBI; Amber Clifcorn, .299 average and 32 RBI; and Lindsey Reno, .274 average and 16 RBI.
Shaner and Schuchardt are the top returning pitchers from a year ago. Shaner had a 9-11 record last year with a 3.32 ERA and 101 strikeouts. Schuchardt had a 5-10 record with a 4.03 ERA and 64 strike outs.
They will be joined by freshman pitchers Paige Weber and Tesha Peer. Weber is from Janesville Craig High School, where she was named second team All-Conference (Big Eight) both her sophomore and senior seasons. Peer is from River Ridge High School in Lancaster and was first team All-Conference (Six Rivers West) her senior year and second team All-Conference her junior year.
The WolfPack softball team had two doubleheaders scheduled to begin their 2013 season on March 16 and March 17, but inclement weather forced the cancelation of both.
Their first action of the season is delayed until Friday, March 22, in Titusville, Fla., against Ecclesia College of Arkansas. Madison will also face SUNY-Potsdam of New York. Doubleheaders also are scheduled for Saturday, Tuesday and Wednesday, along with a solo game, Sunday. Nine games in total are scheduled during Madison College’s six-day stay.