2024 Rib Lake Softball Season Preview
Coaching Staff:
Head Coach: Craig Scheithauer
Assistant Coaches: Kyley Williams, Erin Probst, Dennis Scheithauer
Key Returners:
We return all but one starter from last season. We lost Rhonnie Jo Scheithauer due to her
graduation. However, we are glad to have Tessa Weik (sophomore) back with us. She missed
last season due to a knee injury during basketball season, and she will give us some pop in the
lineup that we lost with Rhonnie’s departure.
The two seniors that we have this year will be key contributors for us. Josie Scheithauer will
pitch and play middle infield and/or first base, and Leah Chmielowiec will anchor the outfield as
she plays center for us. Both are in leadership roles as two of our three team captains, and they
are both solid hitters with decent speed as well.
Our three juniors are Addison Gumz (our third team captain), Kiana Dallmann, Lily Butler. All of
them are versatile players that can, and will, play both infield and outfield for us depending on
who’s on the mound and who’s catching on any given day. Addison and Kiana also pitch for us,
when needed, and Addison also catches for us, when needed. All three have better than
average speed and give us a real advantage on the base paths.
This year’s sophomores are Tahlia Scheithauer (pitcher and middle infield), Avery Niemi
(catcher and corner infield), Kara Kennedy (outfield and middle infield), Tessa Weik (corner
infield and pitcher), and Madilyn Blomberg (outfield and corner infield), and newcomer Payton
Lueth, who transferred from Medford when her family moved to Rib Lake this year. Tahlia,
Avery, and Kara are all solid at the plate and got extensive playing time as freshmen starters
last season. Tessa, as mentioned above, will play her first season softball this season, and will
give us another arm on the mound, as well as some power at the plate. Madilyn saw some time
as both a starter and a sub last season, and she showed the ability to play outfield and first
base at a high level. She also brings us some power at the plate.
Finally, we bring in four freshmen this year. Madelyn Dallmann (outfield and middle infield),
Abby Packenham (outfield), Megan Buksa (outfield), and Annalee Roder (outfield and catcher).
All of them are young, obviously, and some have more experience than others, but all of them
are working to challenge those in the grades above them for their spots. They all are making
good strides, and we plan to use them in whatever ways we can to best help the team. We also
hope to get them as much playing time as we can as the season progresses, which can be
challenging without a big enough squad to field a separate JV team.
Conference Outlook:
We took 2nd in the Marawood North last year, and with virtually the same girls who are a year better, I believe we can compete for the title this year. Athens will be good, as always, and
Phillips I expect will be a more well-rounded team than last year despite the loss of Kendall
them to compete as well. Prentice was down a bit last season, but I heard they may have a bigger squad this year, so we’ll see how they look and what kind of players they may have added once we play them. But again, I (we) fully expect to be in the hunt for a Marawood
Conference championship if we play like I (we) know we’re capable of playing.
Keys to Our Success This Season:
The main key to our success is to play like we know how to play: be versatile and gritty on
defense, consistently throw strikes as pitchers, put the ball in play on offense, and use our
speed and smarts on the basepaths. I told the girls on day one this year that they weren’t going
to surprise as many teams as they might have last year, however, they’re also a year more
experienced and better than they were last year too – – they just have to go out and prove it, and
have fun doing it.
Other Comments:
Let me know if you need anything else. I believe you already have/had access to our WisSports
info, but if not, let me know and I’ll figure out how to get it to you. Thanks for all you do to cover
our high school athletes all over the region.
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Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
