A mix of key returners and a strong freshmen class has the Verona softball team eyeing conference and postseason success.
The Wildcats bring back a 2023 first-team Big Eight selection in junior outfielder Sierra Ejercito, along with second-team selection and senior outfielder Taylor Peterson. Other key returners include junior pitcher Mallorie Kreuser and senior catcher Harriet Salas.
Ejercito hit .370 with seven RBIs and 29 runs scored. Kreuser was 9-2 last season with a 1.65 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 67 innings.
“Our expectation is to battle for a conference title and be successful in the postseason,” Verona head coach Todd Anderson said.
Key newcomers for Verona include freshmen Addison Quackenboss, Emma Parker and Rayna Vogel. Quackenboss and Parker are expected to help in the circle.
Anderson said there are a total of four freshmen who could be competing for starting roles.
“All four play on top travel teams and as a group, they may surprise some people with their skillsets right away,” he said.
Verona went 19-7 last season and 16-4 in the Big Eight behind conference champion Sun Prairie East (19-1). The Wildcats lost to the Cardinals in a Division 1 sectional semifinal.
“We expect Sun Prairie East and Middleton to be their usual strong contenders and we expect to be in the hunt ourselves,” Anderson said. “But, we also see teams getting better across the conference and giving the usual contenders more competition for top spots. There may be several to many upsets this year.”
See newspaper for schedule.
