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By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
Marshfield had three players earn second-team honors and had two others grab honorable mention status on the 2023 All-Wisconsin Valley Conference Softball Team, which was voted on by the seven conference coaches following the regular season.
Junior shortstop Ashlyn Barwick, junior outfielder Shylah Brogan and junior pitcher Katelyn Sternweis were second-team selections for Marshfield, which finished 4-8 and in fourth place in the Wisconsin Valley Conference standings this season.
Brogan led the Tigers in batting with a .378 average, driving in eight runs and scoring nine. Barwick hit .371 with eight runs scored, and Sternweis had a 4-7 record with a 5.34 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 61 2/3 innings on the mound, and hit .364 with one homer, 13 RBI and 10 runs scored.
Sophomore infielder Madison Kraus, utility player Lili Anaya and senior catcher Raina Manlick were honorable mention picks for Marshfield.
Manlick hit .343 and Kraus batted .316 in conference play for Marshfield.
Wausau East junior infielder Claire Coushman was named WVC Player of the Year after hitting .618 with three home runs, 13 RBI and 14 runs scored. She was one of six unanimous first-team selections, along with Stevens Point’s Mikah Keller, Aubree Itzen and Maren Sauvaugeau, Wisconsin Rapids’ Rhiannon Carroll, and Wausau West’s Taylor Liebelt.
Keller led the conference in batting with a sizzling .650 average (26-for-40) and in runs scored with 23. Itzen topped the conference with 18 RBI and also hit three homers while batting .522.
Stevens Point and D.C. Everest tied for the conference championship with 10-2 records.
2023 All-Wisconsin Valley Conference Softball Team
(*denotes unanimous selection)
First Team
Infield: *Mikah Keller, so., Stevens Point; *Claire Coushman, jr., Wausau East; Kaitlyn Klismith, so., Stevens Point; Sawyer Holberg, sr., Wisconsin Rapdis.
Outfield: *Aubree Itzen, fr., Stevens Point; Sydney Spear, so., D.C. Everest; Kristin Radtke, so., Wisconsin Rapids.
Catcher: Kendall Ziegahn, sr., Wisconsin Rapids.
Pitcher: *Maren Sauvaugeau, jr., Stevens Point; *Rhiannon Carroll, sr., Wisconsin Rapids.
Utility: *Taylor Liebelt, so., Wausau West.
Second Team
Infield: Claire Calmes, so., Wausau West; Mara Meverden, fr., D.C. Everest; Ashlyn Barwick, jr., Marshfield; Sydney Holberg, fr., Wisconsin Rapids.
Outfield: Brooke Brown, so., D.C. Everest; Shylah Brogan, jr., Marshfield; Morgan Groshek, so., Stevens Point.
Catcher: Caitlyn Kressel, jr., D.C. Everest.
Pitcher: Katelyn Sternweis, jr., Marshfield; Savannah Spees, sr., Wausau East.
Utility: Addy Schmeltzer, sr., Merrill.
Honorable Mention
Infield: Riley Pechinski, sr., Stevens Point; Dakota Witucki, jr., D.C. Everest; Madison Kraus, so., Marshfield; Delilah Abundiz, jr., Stevens Point; Maggie Nelson, sr., Wausau East; Sophie Wendorf, jr., Merrill; Izzy Gullickson, sr., Wausau West.
Outfield: Autumn Hughes, jr., Wausau West; Emily Friday, sr., Wisconsin Rapids; Hailey Valiska, sr., Wausau East; Bella Force, sr., Wisconsin Rapids.
Catcher: Raina Manlick, sr., Marshfield.
Utility: Baley Berndt, so., Wausau East; Lili Anaya, jr., Marshfield; Kelsey Meverden, so., D.C. Everest.
Player of the Year: Claire Coushman, Wausau East.
Coach of the Year: Tom Drohner, Stevens Point.