Bucking the odds?

Most successful sports programs often credit a positive family atmosphere for their success. The 1979 World Series Champion Pittsburgh Pirates even used the hit song “We Are Family” by the pop group Sister Sledge as their official theme song.  Sauk Prairie’s girls softball team is off to a great start on forming a family atmosphere of its own this spring with the Zick sisters helping form a solid nucleus for the Eagles. “I will have three sisters on varsity this year, the first time I’ve ever had three from the same family,” Sauk Prairie manager Shane Been said.  Natalie, a junior, will compete at first base and in the outfield. Emma, a senior, will be at second base and Aubrey, a freshman, will catch. With three siblings on the squad, that could make for some interesting conversations on and off the diamond. “I think they’ve had to have some conversations at home because they are spirited young ladies,” Been said. “They’ve come in and competed and supported each other very well. They are setting an example for us. When you have you three together, it’s a good base to build on.” Sauk Prairie returns five starters from a team that finished 5-16 overall and 3-11 and in seventh place in the Badger West Conference a year ago. While the Eagles graduated two senior starters, they were dealt a huge blow during the off-season with the loss of returning starters Morgan Larsen and Macee Gulden due to season-ending injuries. Larsen, a senior, who was a returning All-Badger West Conference second-team selection as a pitcher and infielder, suffered an ACL injury last summer while playing softball.  Been said Gulden, a junior who is also a varsity player in volleyball and basketball, will have season-ending shoulder surgery. “We are without our second-team all-conference player, our best player,” Been said of Larsen, who has remained with the team and has been named a co-captain. “That stings for her and her family, to not be able to play this year. It is really tough for her and the team. “Macee just found out she will have to have shoulder surgery. We’re hoping that will just be for softball and not bleed into volleyball or basketball next year.” But despite the off-season setbacks, Been is optimistic that his team will field a competitive lineup after what he has seen out of the Eagles following the opening week of practice. “It was the best first week of practice that we’ve had because four out of the five days, we got to be outside,” he said. “The weather was that nice, and the field was dried out, so we had that opportunity. “The girls responded with a lot of energy. They were excited after being in open gyms all winter long and competing in basketball or gymnastics or whatever sport you’re in. “To be able to come outside and have a couple of days to be able to wear tee-shirts, you can’t argue with that. Any time you get to practice or play outside, it makes a difference.” In addition to Emma Zink, Sauk Prairie returns four other starters who are all underclassmen. Been said sophomore Riley Kerl will be the Eagles’ primary pitcher, while junior Lexi Cegiel-ski is back at shortstop. Sophomore Alayna Robinson, who earned all-conference honorable mention honors at catcher last season, will be moving to third base. Junior Thea Harpold will be in center field. Been said the Eagles will be more athletic and possess greater team speed this season. “For our returning girls, I see some growth and some knowledge from last year,” Been said. “I think we will be a better defensive team. Our fundamentals are better. We will have some younger hitters who are going to have to step up. All our home run hitters or those who could drive in runs are hurt or graduated.”  “We will have a freshman start at catcher, Aubrey Zick, who will do a lot of nice things. We also have a nice crew of sophomores who could make an impact, including Kylee Ballweg, who has taken some nice steps from last year.” Other sophomores who could make an impact include Paisley Clemens, Rylee Olsen and Jenna Shimpach, along with freshmen Lily Nurkula and Ava Cannon. Been said Morgan Larsen, even though she is injured, will serve as a co-captain along with Emma Zick, Harpold and Cegielski. “Morgan has shown a lot of leadership all winter long even though she’s known since last summer she won’t be playing,” Been said. “She will be contributing in the dugout.”  Due to an ongoing lawsuit, Sauk Prairie does not have a playable varsity field to compete on. But Been said the Eagles won’t let that impact their play on the field. “We are still working through a lawsuit. We know we won’t get resolution on it because it won’t go to trial to the summer of 2025 at the earliest,” he said. “So, we have a long way to go. We will be playing on the JV field. We are grateful the district realized there would be this time lapse and they redid the sod and underlying dirt on the new JV softball field. “It’s in fantastic shape. So, the varsity will play there. The varsity field, we can practice on the infield but not the outfield. Unfortunately, that is the field with lights and has the cameras and scoreboards. But it was generous of the district to give us an option.” Sauk Prairie will also be a member of another new conference this season, the Badger Small Conference. “We don’t back down from the competition and like to play a Waunakee, DeForest, Watertown and Beaver Dam,” Been said of four of the schools now in the Badger Large Conference. “They’re all great schools with all great softball programs with long traditions. We will miss playing them. “But I do appreciate the athletic directors in the conference going this route. It just puts us on a little bit more of an even playing field from a numbers perspective.” The Eagles will still play one game at DeForest, a non-conference contest, on March 28.  Sauk Prairie was due to open the season against Platteville on March 22, but that game was postponed due to snow. Been, though, said the addition of McFarland and Stoughton to the Badger Small Conference will provide two new rivals, who will be title contenders. “Certainly, McFarland coming into the conference has had a solid program for years,” he said. “Stoughton also joins us and there are the traditions from Baraboo and Portage. It will be a competitive group. I think this is the right move for the conference. But I certainly will miss those other schools.” “Reedsburg has (Kylee) Molitor, who has committed to play at UW-Madison next year. She’s a solid player and leader. They will be good. Portage is always fantastic and will be reloading. Give McFarland an edge early. But until we get on the field, it will be hard to say how the conference will shake out.”  Been said getting to play the other seven teams in the Badger Small Conference twice — which also include the Madison Edgewood co-op and Oregon — each is what makes conference play so valuable.  “Playoffs are great,” he said. “But I have so much respect for teams that win a conference. It’s really the course of the season work and not what you do at the end. So, I’m excited to get back to that format.”