'Dedicated' to being the best: Kaukauna's Karly Meredith named Post-Crescent softball player of the year

KAUKAUNA − The competitive fire that fuels Karly Meredith will be at an all-time high next softball season.

The Kaukauna standout pitcher had a phenomenal junior season by any measure with a 27-1 record, 0.30 ERA and 335 strikeouts in 163⅓ innings. She was also sensational at the plate with a .481 average, eight home runs and 24 RBI. And all those accomplishments have earned her the Post-Crescent player of the year in softball for this season.

But having the season end without a state title will leave a chip on not only Meredith's shoulders but those of her teammates. Kaukauna dropped a 5-3 decision to Milton in the Division 1 state semifinals June 7. The loss snapped Kaukauna's 108-game winning streak and prevented the Ghosts from playing for their fourth consecutive state title.

That loss doesn't take anything away from Meredith's achievements, which included being named the Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association player of the year in Division 1 as well as the Gatorade state player of the year for the second consecutive season.

"It was definitely tough," she said of the loss. "We know we had to lose eventually, but we definitely didn’t want it to be at the state tournament because we made it that far. We took a lot of things away from it, because we don’t want to feel that again. We’re going to work even harder to be better so we don’t have to feel that again. I mean, we definitely learned about the game and what we need to do better and we can’t always be trusted on one or two runs. We always have to keep our bats rolling. I think we just had a bad game and it happens."

Meredith added the group of soon-to-be seniors she plays with is driven to make amends next spring.

"I've played with these girls forever and now it's our turn and it's our year," she said. "I think we're going to have even more drive, even more passion and even more want. We don't want to go down without winning it. Everyone wants to have their last game to be a win. It's going to drive us even more to want it and go get it."

Kaukauna coach Tim Roehrig said Meredith's strengths in the circle and at the plate make her unique.

"She's really dedicated herself at a young age to being the best," Roehrig said. "Just kind of watching her grow and mature ... her final tally on intentional walks this year was 13. The most we've ever had up to this point is two. So that just tells you what people feel and how they react to her at the plate — one swing of the bat and she's changing it.

"And then, of course, she starts throwing the ball. And the way that ball spins and moves and what she does (in the circle) is incredible to watch. I think I said at one point that if someone hasn't gone out and watched Karly Meredith throw a game, they should probably do that before she leaves because it's something to watch."

Roehrig said the team returning next spring will be hungry to reclaim the championship trophy and Meredith may be the most driven of all.

"I think she thought she threw some pretty good pitches (in the loss to Milton)," Roehrig said. "I think the coaching staff after looking at the tape thought that she threw some pretty good pitches and they weren't given to her. That's too bad, but I think she threw a hell of a game."

Meredith is verbally committed to play at the University of Virginia once her high school career ends. She said Michigan and San Diego State were also on her short list of preferred programs.

"I wanted to be somewhere a little bit warmer and it's definitely a little bit warmer," she said. "I loved it when I went there. I loved the coaching staff and I loved the community feel. I loved the scenery. So much different than what I’m used to in Wisconsin. I just loved everything. New facility that was super nice. It’s a really good school."

A closer look: Karly Meredith

Age: 17.

Year: Junior.

Position: Pitcher.

Family: Parents, Steve and Deb; siblings, Kyler (28), Kasey (25) and Kally (19).

Notable: Gatorade Wisconsin player of the year for the second consecutive season. Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association player of the year in Division 1 and first-team all-state. Unanimous first-team all-Fox Valley Association and the league's player of the year. Was 27-1 in leading the Ghosts to the state semifinals. Finished with a 0.30 ERA with 335 strikeouts in 163⅓ innings. Allowed seven earned runs all season and 45 hits. Batted .481 with eight home runs and 24 RBI. Was also 14-of-14 in stolen bases. Is 68-1 in her career in the circle. Verbally committed to the University of Virginia.

What her coach says: "She was out in California playing (with her travel team) and they're all over the United States. She plays at such a high level and she was out in California and faced a team that had seven Power 5 commits on it. And she threw a two- or three-hitter that game. It's not like Karly Meredith is going out and facing average teams that we see around here. She's facing some of the top talent in the nation as a high schooler. I think that's going to prepare her really well as she walks into Virginia either as a fresh arm in the bullpen or where she's at." — Tim Roehrig, Kaukauna softball coach

HER FAVORITES

Food: Spaghetti.

TV show: “Stranger Things.”

Movie: “47 Meters Down.”

School subject: Math.

Go-to snack: Ice cream.

Pro athlete: Haley Cruse.

Vacation spot: Florida.

POST-CRESCENT ALL-AREA SOFTBALL

FIRST TEAM

Pitchers

Karly Meredith, jr., Kaukauna: Post-Crescent player of the year.

Peyton VandeLoo, jr., Freedom: Honorable mention on the Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association Division 2/3 all-state team. Unanimous first-team all-North Eastern Conference. Was 15-3 with 164 strikeouts and an ERA of 1.607.

Catchers

Kaia McVay, jr., Freedom: Unanimous first-team all-North Eastern Conference. Batted .393 with 21 RBI.

Addison Wery, jr., Seymour: First-team all-state in D2/3. Unanimous first-team all-Bay Conference and the league's player of the year. Batted .571 with nine home runs, 30 RBI and a slugging percentage of 1.182. Also scored 46 runs, had 12 doubles and four triples.

Infielders

Taryn Christopher, sr., Kaukauna: Second-team all-state. Unanimous first-team all-FVA. Batted .452 with four home runs, 34 RBI, 32 runs scored, nine doubles and six triples. Will play collegiately at Minnesota-Duluth.

Addison Lund, sr., Menasha: Unanimous first-team all-Bay Conference. Batted .444 with three home runs, 28 RBI and 11 doubles. Will play collegiately at Memphis.

Ellie Winkelman, fr., New London: Second-team all-state in D2/3. First-team all-Bay. Batted .500 with two home runs, 24 RBI and 40 hits. Also scored 28 runs. Was also 4-0 in the circle.

Sophie Hermus, so., Kimberly: First-team all-FVA. Batted .370 with .500 on-base percentage and 1.326 OPS.

Nevaeh Saringer, sr., St. Mary Catholic: Unanimous first-team all-Big East North. Batted .443 with four home runs, 43 RBI, 12 doubles and an OPS of 1.232. Was also 8-5 in the circle with a 3.84 ERA.

Outfielders

Paige Bodenheimer, so., Kaukauna: First-team all-state. Unanimous first-team all-FVA. Batted .494 with 31 runs scored and was also 25-of-26 in stolen bases.

Taylor Papendorf, sr., Menasha: Unanimous first-team all-Bay Conference. Batted .370 with two home runs, 18 RBI and 11 doubles with 28 runs scored.

Marlee Smith, jr., Freedom: Honorable mention all-state in D2/3. Unanimous first-team all-North Eastern Conference. Batted .432 with 24 RBI, 28 runs scored and was also 16-of-16 in stolen bases.

Utility

Paige Lillie, sr., Hortonville: First-team all-FVA. Batted .370 with a home run and 21 RBI. Also 2-4 with a 2.92 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 26-plus innings pitched. Will play collegiately at Butler.

SECOND TEAM

Pitchers

Kenna Mix, sr., New London: Unanimous first-team all-Bay Conference. Finished 16-4 with 135 strikeouts in 117 innings pitched with a 1.62 ERA. Also batted .380 with six home runs and 27 RBI.

Kyleigh Mathe, so., Neenah: First-team all-FVA. Finished 8-5 with 101 strikeouts in 88 innings pitched and an ERA of 1.43.

Catchers

Taylor Federwitz, so., Kaukauna: First-team all-FVA. Batted .371 with one home run and 18 RBI.

Eve Hedtke, jr., New London: First-team all-Bay Conference. Batted .329 with four home runs and 18 RBI.

Infielders

Jensen Mix, sr., New London: First-team all-Bay Conference. Batted .424 with 13 RBI.

Aubrey Hartleben, jr., Seymour: Unanimous first-team all-Bay Conference. Hit .407 with 24 RBI and an on-base percentage of .473.

Jozy Ebben, jr., Kaukauna: Second-team all-FVA. Batted .389 with a home run and 29 RBI.

Claire Kollat, jr., Winneconne: Unanimous first-team all-East Central Conference. Batted .470 with 39 hits, 27 runs scored and 13 RBI. Also had a .987 fielding percentage.

Outfielders

Corinne Setliff, jr., Seymour: Unanimous first-team all-Bay Conference. Batted .351 with three home runs and 25 RBI.

Paige Wyngaard, jr., Kimberly: First-team all-FVA. Batted .400 with a .481 on-base percentage and 1.214 OPS.

Mallory Colwell, jr., Wrightstown: First-team all-North Eastern Conference. Batted .387 with a home run and nine RBI.

HONORABLE MENTION

Pitchers: Madison Babcock, fr., Fox Valley Lutheran; Grace Danoski, so., Hortonville; Gillian Herrala, jr., Seymour; Molly Kelly, sr., Hortonville; Teagan Massey-Plamann, so., Menasha; Rhiannon Reichenbacher, so., St. Mary Catholic; Olivia Zielke, fr., Manawa.

Catchers: Elly Bauman, jr., Xavier; Bella Dontje, jr., Hortonville; Carson Harwood, so., Neenah; Kelsie Mohr, sr., Menasha; Maddie Tasch, jr., Chilton.

Infielders: Taelyn Bauer, sr., Neenah; Hailey Bechard, so., Waupaca; Kelsey Behnke, jr., Manawa; Brooklyn Blob, sr., Fox Valley Lutheran; Amaya Brooks, so., Brillion; Izzy Day, sr., Freedom; Shelby Glodowski, sr., New London; Karly Helf, sr., Menasha; Grace Mitchell, fr., Winneconne; Tori Neubauer, jr., Appleton East; Abby Tate, so., Clintonville; Gwendolyn Sell, jr., Chilton; Alyssa Wald, so., Appleton North; Addison Wegand, sr., Little Chute; Olivia Witkowski, jr., Weyauwega-Fremont.

Outfielders: Eliana Bates, so., Chilton; Bella Coulman, sr., Neenah; Gabrielle Farr, jr., Menasha; Gracin Foytik, jr., Hortonville; Maddie Heisler, sr., Appleton East; Carrington Klug, jr., Freedom; Sophia Pingel, jr., Chilton; Sydney Ritchie, sr., Shiocton; Summer Schmidt, jr., Kaukauna; Isabella Timm, jr., Menasha; Samantha Weiss, so., St. Mary Catholic.

Designated player: Lilly Boyle, fr., Kaukauna; Ella Mielke, fr., Little Chute.

Flex/Utility: Karlee DeGroot, sr., Kimberly; Lila Griffith, jr., Appleton North; Julia Mischler, sr., Hortonville.