The 2024 softball season was another successful one for the Waterloo Pirates. Fresh off of a Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) state runner-up finish the season prior, they spent most of the season ranked in the Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association (WFSCA) top-10.
Along the way, Waterloo claimed a share of the 2024 Capitol — South conference title and won the program’s second consecutive WIAA regional title. Those same coaches that had voted the Pirates into the top-10 remembered their top contributors when it came time to decide the WFSCA all-district and all-state teams.
Senior catcher Brenna Huebner and sophomore Emma Baumann took home the highest honors, both receiving first team all-state and all-district recognition. Senior center fielder Bri Lauersdorf was also named first team all-district and senior first baseman Katrina Freund was named honorable mention all-district.
Brenna Huebner, senior, first team all-state, first team all-district
This high-end level of recognition is nothing new for Huebner, the 2024 Capitol — South conference Player of the Year. Last season, she was named honorable mention all-state and first team all-district as she helped lead Waterloo to the Division 4 state title game as a junior. Additionally, she’s been a first team all-conference selection three times.
Her leadership shines brightest from behind the plate, where she provides a steady and consistent glove as the team’s longstanding catcher. Huebner did not commit an error all season, recording 125 putouts with 11 assisted putouts. She only allowed eight passed balls and caught six runners stealing.
Huebner was no slouch as a batter, either. She collected 33 total hits on the year, including 13 doubles, two triples, and a homerun. This helped her drive in 21 RBIs and come in to score a team-high 31 times. She also drew 15 walks and stole five bases. In total, she finished up with a 0.398 batting average, a 0.495 on-base percentage, and a 0.639 slugging percentage.
Emma Baumann, sophomore, first team all-state, first team all-district
Baumann’s stock in the state continues to rise despite only being halfway through her high school career. She debuted as a WFACA honorable mention all-district choice last season. She upped that level of play as a sophomore, catapulting to first team status at both the all-state and all-district level. She’s also made the Capitol — South all-conference list twice, first team this season and second team last spring.
Her importance as a batter this spring could not go understated. Baumann had the highest batting average (0.451) and on-base percentage (0.510) to go along with a 0.610 slugging percentage, second best on the team. Baumann led the way in total hits (37), singles (27), and RBIs (30). Of those 37 hits, eight were doubles, one was a triple, and another was a homerun. She also came in to score 22 times and drew 11 walks.
From her defensive position of third base, Baumann made just five errors on 68 total chances for a fielding percentage of 0.926. She recorded 31 putouts, assisted on 32 more, and helped turn a pair of double plays.
Briana Lauersdorf, senior, first team all-district
This marks the first WFSCA honor for Lauersdorf in her career. The Capitol — South conference was no stranger to her talents, though, naming her a second team all-conference last spring before upping that to first team this season.
Her highest level of contribution came as a speedy center fielder. Her combination of speed and softball IQ led her to commit only one error on 35 tries. She caught 32 balls and assisted on two more putouts for a fielding percentage of 0.971.
Lauersdorf was also a solid member of the batting lineup. She finished with solid averages across the board this spring, including a 0.254 batting average and a 0.346 on-base percentage thanks to 18 hits and nine drawn walks. One of those hits was a double, putting her in position to score 19 times and knock in 10 RBIs. She also stole three bases.
Katrina Freund, senior, honorable mention all-district
Freund hangs one more accolade up for her decorated high school career. Last season, she also earned honorable mention all-state and first team all-district honors from the WFSCA. This came in addition to three first team and one second team all-conference selections from the Capitol — South.
Her abilities as a batter truly make her stand out. Freund was strong across the board with a batting average of 0.325, an on-base percentage of 0.423, and a slugging percentage of 0.488. Of Freund’s 26 hits, nine were doubles and two were triples alongside 15 drawn walks. This set her up to drive in 21 RBIs and come in to score 24 times.
She’s also always been a reliable glove on defense at first base. This spring, Freund committed only two errors on 119 attempts for a 0.983 fielding percentage. She nabbed 110 putouts, assisted on seven more, and played a role in four double plays.
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