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The Mishicot Indian Girls Fastpitch Softball Team is headed to state for a second consecutive season and for the sixth time in ten years under Head Coach Dawn Shimek.
They’ll meet The Laconia Spartans in a Division Three semifinal at 10 a.m. Friday morning at The Goodman Diamond Softball Complex on the UW-Madison Campus.
Senior outfielder Sydney Brossard says it seems a bit “surreal.”
“It’s such a surreal experience knowing that we could finish my career winning a state title. That’s crazy. Just being there is enough for me.”
The Indians are undefeated at 29 and 0, ranked first in the state and seeded first in the Division Three Field. Shimek tells Seehafer Sports–
“I knew we had the potential. I knew we would be successful, and I knew after how successful we were last year I knew that we had it in us. Did I think we would be 29 and 0? No, not at all.”
Mishicot has a talented mix of veterans and upperclassmen, including senior first baseman Katelyn Callahan.
She’s hitting a robust .633 with 11 home runs and 39 runs batted in, and her OPS (on-base plus slugging percentages) is a whopping 1.881. She says everyone has bought into “the grind” to succeed.
“Seeing all the hard work pay off is so satisfying and fulfilling. This sport is in the spring, but we work all year for this, and it’s great to see all our hard work pay off.”
Junior pitcher Kiran Sanford replaced senior Cora Stodola in the circle about a third through the season, despite her 9 and 0 record and earned run average under a run and a half.
It paid off as Sanford is 19 and 0 with an ERA of point-33. She’s walked only 13 batters and struck out 210. Kiran says Cora is the “perfect teammate.”
“She’s the most selfless person on this team. There’s nothing more that I can say that’s more complimentary (about her).” Sanford adds,
“Defensively, we’re a better team after making the change. Cora is super selfless and always does what’s best for the team.”
Stodola, now playing second base, is hitting .358 with 9 home runs and 36 runs batted in. Junior shortstop Kalein Adair says knowing they’ll get everybody’s “best shot” is a privilege.
“It’s a compliment to have all that pressure on you. We’re made for this, which is what we’ve worked hard for.”
This elite Division Three field includes Friday’s opponent, Laconia, and defending state champions Broadhead and Prescott.
All these schools have at least one championship, and Indian Junior Catcher Kasey Brouchoud says it’ll be a whole lot of fun in Madison.
“I’ve heard a lot about the fact that we have unfinished business (in Madison), but so do many of these other teams who want to win just as much as we do. I’m looking forward to the competition.”
Senior outfielder Taylor Bohman says she’s not taking anything for granted.
“Surrounding schools don’t get these opportunities like we do. It’s just amazing that we are heading to state for a second straight year. I’m blessed to be a part of this team.”
Senior centerfielder Cora Nelson on what it would mean to come home undefeated and with their second state title in school history.
“That would mean everything to me. We‘ve put in all the hard work, and we deserve it. We do have unfinished business, and if our 2024 senior class could leave that mark with that (a championship), it would be crazy. It would be everything.”
Coverage of Friday’s game begins at 9:30 a.m. on 97.1 WCUB and cubradio.com.
