MONROE — The Cheesemakers will be a bit younger on the softball field this spring. Just five of the 12 preseason varsity players are juniors or seniors.
“We are going to be a very young team,” said coach Joe O’Leksy, now in his sixth year at the helm. “The expectation as always is for a winning season here in Monroe and this year is no different.”
Monroe will carry three seniors: Sloane Ambrose (Utility/P), Karis Paulson (SS/OF) and Bethany Drafall (OF). Paulson was honorable mention Badger South in 2021, while Ambrose was honorable mention in 2019 as a freshman. Junior Katie Witt can play 1B and 3B, while fellow junior Sydnee Conway will patrol the outfield.
“Our Senior captains, Karis and Sloane will have to lead this young group. The potential is there for success. It will all depend on how well everyone works together as a team,” O’Leksy said. “I have confidence that our two senior captains, who are the last players who played on the 2019 team that took second in the state, will be able to help make this group very competitive.”
After that, the youth movement takes over.
The Cheesemakers were 11-11 overall last season and just 5-9 in the Badger South. They graduated a bevy of longtime starting seniors, including two-time all-state pick Sydney Updike, as well as catcher Katie Hayes and 2B Alyse Maurer, both of whom had started since their freshman season. Starters Lizzy Snider, Sarah Prien and Maddie Leck also graduated a year ago.
“We lost a lot of seniors over the past two seasons,” O’Leksy said.
Three sophomores and four freshmen will fill the varsity roster. For sophomores, Katie Kundert is expected to fill in as catcher, while Katrina Sathoff can pitch and play any position needed. Emma Tran brings a strong bat and will patrol the outfield. The freshmen include 2B Olivia Feller, OF Chesney Slotten, C/Util Brinley Roidt and 1B/P Sophie Golembiewski.
“We have a number of players who have played substantial club softball which will help them get ready for our normally tough schedule,” O’Leksy said.
To help the team bond and gel, the Cheesemakers are returning to their bi-annual trip down south during spring break for a series of games.
“We are taking the varsity team to Myrtle Beach over spring break to practice and play three games over five days. We hope this will be a great team bonding experience,” O’Leksy said. “If we play as a team and understand what we can and can’t do we will be competitive in every game. It will be a work in progress all season.”
This is the first season of the Badger West, and the West-South Division in the conference. O’Leksy said two teams stand out already.
“Mount Horeb has the top pitchers and team in our conference and Oregon will also be strong. We hope to compete well against both,” he said.
