Heights softball had high hopes

Editor’s Note: The WIAA recently canceled spring sports due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the Star-News, we’d like to give recognition to the athletes and coaches who had their seasons stopped prematurely. So over the next few weeks, we’ll run a series of stories on the teams that didn’t get a chance to perform in 2020.   Expectations were sky high. Wisconsin Heights’ girls softball team believed big things awaited. That greatness was in its future. Of course, we’ll never know. The softball season — and all spring sports — were canceled recently by the WIAA due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. “I feel the Vanguards would have won the Capitol Conference in 2020 due to our success from the past two seasons along with a solid freshman class coming in,” Heights coach Dennis Wood said. “There was no team in the conference able to match the batting performance of Heights along with the defensive skill level of the team.” The Vanguards graduated standout pitcher Tayler Kraemer and third baseman Haylee Cummuta from last year’s team that won the Capitol Conference with a perfect 10-0 record. But the rest of that stellar 2019 team was back. Wood believed juniors Kourtney Mercer and Sydnee Duhr were more than ready to handle the pitching duties. The Vanguards also had some gifted incoming freshmen to add depth to the rotation. The infield would have been an enormous strength. Senior catcher Miranda Keith, senior shortstop Jada Wood and Duhr — who also plays first base — were all first-team all-conference selections a year ago. In fact, Wood and Keith were both selected to the Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association Division 4/5 Senior All-Stars Game. That game was originally scheduled for June 18 in Wisconsin Dells, but will be moved back due to COVID-19. “Both players have helped lead the Vanguards throughout the last three seasons,” Dennis Wood said of Duhr and Jada Wood. “Congratulation to Miranda and Jada.” Kelsie Drager was the frontrunner to play third base, while Kourtney Mercer would have also played some first base. The outfield was loaded with Alycia Hosking in center field, Riley Lynch in right and Izzy Graham in left.   Others such as Kaya Teela, Daryn Schaefer, Ashley Mickelson, Anna Burkholder, Emily Van Riper, Amber Thomson, Makayla Westphal, Johana Thuesen and Olivia Buol gave the Vanguards tremendous depth at a number of positions. “The team had the right attitude and commitment to have a great season,” Dennis Wood said. “I feel we would have come away with “Pitcher and Player of the Year” honors as well as the conference title! “Having finished the past three seasons, winning regionals and advancing to the final sectional game in 2019 I know this team was due to have a great season.” Heights returned three players that batted over .400 in 2019, and five players that hit over .300. And defensively, the Vanguards fielding average was above .900.    “I wanted to give a big thank you to our Heights administration and our athletic director Andy Pickett for their efforts trying to salvage some type of sports for all our spring sport athletes,” Dennis Wood said.   Wisconsin Heights    Softball Roster Seniors Miranda Keith C/1B Kelsie Drager P/2B/3B Alycia Hosking OF/2B Jada Wood 2B /SS/OF           Juniors Isabel Graham OF/3B/2B Kourtney Mercer P/1B/OF Kaya Teela C/OF Sydnee Duhr 1B/P Riley Lynch OF    Sophomores Daryn Schaefer 2B/P/OF Ashley Mickelson 1B/OF Anna Burkholder  2B/SS/OF      Freshmen Amber Thomson, Emily Van Riper, Makayla Westphal, Johanna Theusen, Olivia Buol.