This story is sponsored by Victory Apparel
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
The Wisconsin Valley Conference recently announced its all-conference teams for baseball and softball.
SOFTBALL
Marshfield was well-represented on the 2017 All-Wisconsin Valley Conference Softball Team with three first-team selections and six players overall on the squad.
Junior pitcher Megan Donahue was a unanimous first-team pick after throwing every game in conference play for the Tigers. She finished 9-3 to help Marshfield to a second-place tie in the conference standings with D.C. Everest.
Donahue had a 2.09 earned-run average with 107 strikeouts in 77 innings pitched. She also was a force offensively, hitting .452 (14-for-31) with a conference-high five home runs. She finished fourth in runs scored with 13, fifth in RBIs with 15, and first in both walks (12) and on-base percentage (.605).
Joining Donahue on the first team for Marshfield were junior catcher Emily Draeger and sophomore center fielder Jenna Jakobi.
Draeger was also a unanimous pick to the first team after hitting .378 with 13 runs scored and 10 RBIs.
Jakobi batted .364 with nine runs scored and five stolen bases.
Junior infielder Morgan Nordbeck and sophomore right fielder Rhiannon Corozollla were second-team selections for Marshfield.
Nordbeck, who played both second base and shortstop during the season, hit .324 with 12 runs scored and four RBIs in WVC play.
Corozolla was eighth in hitting with a .429 average (15-for-35) with three home runs and eight RBIs.
Senior Melissa Roberts, who mostly played at third base for the Tigers, was the team’s lone honorable mention selection after hitting .237 with 14 RBIs.
D.C. Everest senior pitcher Miranda Gajewski was named the conference’ Player of the Year. She hit .455 with three home runs and 14 RBIs, and also was 9-3 pitching with a 1.84 ERA and 107 strikeouts in 83 2/3 innings pitched.
Tom Drohner of conference-champion Stevens Point was selected as Coach of the Year.
2017 All-Wisconsin Valley Conference Softball
First Team
(* denotes unanimous selection)
Infielders: *Maggie Plaza, sr., D.C. Everest; Patience Pyan, jr., Merrill; *Maddix Bonnell, jr., Merrill; *Brittany Flugaur, sr., Stevens Point.
Outfielders: Jenna Jakobi, so., Marshfield; Kelsie Belfiori, so., Merrill; *Ally Miklesh, jr., Stevens Point.
Pitchers: *Miranda Gajewski, sr., D.C. Everest; *Megan Donahue, jr., Marshfield.
Catcher: *Emily Draeger, jr., Marshfield.
Utility: *Aubrey Drohner, sr., Stevens Point.
Second Team
Infielders: Morgan Nordbeck, jr., Marshfield; Kayla Lass, so., Stevens Point; Brooke Tuszka, sr., Stevens Point; Chaela West, jr., Wisconsin Rapids.
Outfielders: Rhiannon Corozolla, so., Marshfield; Halle Pavelski, jr., Stevens Point; Alicia Pfiffner, jr., Wausau West.
Pitchers: Taylor Krueger, jr., Merrill; Andrea Cherney, jr., Stevens Point.
Catcher: Rachel Plautz, jr., D.C. Everest.
Utility: Sydney Schwantes, jr., D.C. Everest.
Honorable Mention
Infielders: Madalyn Peterson, jr., D.C. Everest; Sami Brown, sr., Wausau West; Taylor Mancl, fr., Wisconsin Rapids.
Outfielders: Lauren Witucki, so., D.C. Everest; Lexie Higgins, jr., D.C. Everest; Brianna Mancl, jr., Wisconsin Rapids.
Pitcher: Emily Gwidt, sr., Wausau West.
Catchers: Calli Oberg, jr., Merrill; Rachel Sullivan, jr., Stevens Point; Taylor Treu, sr., Wausau West.
Utility: Melissa Roberts, sr., Marshfield; Gabby Braatz, fr., Wausau East; Shaelyn Tailey, so., Wausau West.
Coach of the Year: Tom Drohner, Stevens Point.
Player of the Year: Miranda Gajewski, D.C. Everest.
BASEBALL
After a finishing 6-6 and in a tie for fourth place in the conference standings, Marshfield landed four players on the 2017 All-Wisconsin Valley Conference Baseball Team.
Senior outfielder Braden Bohman, senior pitcher Jake Brueggen, and junior catcher Paul Maguire were second-team selections, and senior first baseman Jared Klein was an honorable mention choice.
Bohman led the Tigers in batting, hitting .351 (13-for-37) with 10 runs scored, one home run, nine RBIs and six stolen bases.
Despite posting a solid 1.48 ERA, Brueggen was just 2-3 with one save. In seven games, he threw 28 1/3 innings and also batting .313 as he also played outfield when not pitching.
Maguire hit .257 with six RBIs and five runs scored, and Klein batted .262 with six RBIs for the Tigers.
Senior outfielder Payton Nelson of Wausau West was named Player of the Year after helping the Warriors to the conference title. He hit .477 with seven doubles, four home runs, 15 RBIs and 19 runs scored in 12 Valley games.
2017 All-Wisconsin Valley Conference Baseball Team
First Team
(* denotes unanimous selection)
Infielders: Brett Her, sr., Stevens Point; *Logan Grunenwald, sr., Wausau West; Zach Raeder, sr., Wausau West; Nate Jackan, jr., Wisconsin Rapids.
Outfielders: *Gus Turner-Zick, sr., Stevens Point; *Payton Nelson, sr., Wausau West; Jacob Wokatsch, sr., Wausau West.
Pitchers: John Breske, jr., D.C. Everest; Chandler Fochs, jr., Wausau West.
Catcher: Shawn O’Connell, sr., Wisconsin Rapids.
Utility: Zach Pearson, sr., Wausau West.
Second Team
Infielders: Connor Langbehn, jr., D.C. Everest; J.J. Berdal, jr., D.C. Everest; Joe Strigel, sr., Stevens Point; Carter Prey, jr., Wausau East.
Outfielders: Nathan Jagodzinski, jr., D.C. Everest; Braden Bohman, sr., Marshfield; Caleb Krommenakker, jr., Wisconsin Rapids.
Pitchers: Jake Brueggen, sr., Marshfield; Donovan Brandl, so., Wisconsin Rapids.
Catcher: Paul Maguire, sr., Marshfield.
Utility: Ryan Brock, sr., Wisconsin Rapids.
Honorable Mention
Infielders: Sam Nielsen, jr., D.C. Everest; Jared Klein, sr., Marshfield; Ryan Golisch, sr., Merrill; Cole Wright, jr., Stevens Point; Forrest Kronberger, so., Wausau East; Grant Hill, jr., Wausau West.
Outfielders: Ty Belfiori, sr., Merrill; Dan Duginski, sr., Merrill; Wyatt Rottier, jr., Wausau East; Josh Zwicke, so., Wisconsin Rapids.
Pitchers: Legend Kieliszewski, jr., Stevens Point; Dylan Trigg, so., Stevens Point; Logan Grunenwald, sr., Wausau West.
Catchers: Andrew Baranowski, jr., D.C. Everest; Trevor Cunningham, sr., Wausau West.
Player of the Year: Payton Nelson, Wausau West.