Resorters look to challenge for CLC crown

ELKHART LAKE – With good experience and several key players returning this year, the Elkhart Lake- Glenbeulah Resorters hope to be a contender for the Central Lakeshore Conference softball championship.

The Resorters finished third in the CLC last season with a 9-6 record and were 12-8 overall. Elkhart has four all-league players back among 10 letter winners from 2009.

“We hope to finish in the top three again this year with a chance of moving up to second or even contending for the conference title,” said Resorter head coach Keith Knepfel.

“Having many players back from last year and with Abbey [Neils] pitching again, we should be competitive in all the games she pitches.”

Neils, a junior, was an All-CLC second-team pitcher last year. She was 12-8 with a 2.89 ERA and 113 strikeouts in 114 innings.

The other all-conference players are junior outfielder Stephanie Knepfel, a first-teamer; senior third baseman Casey Sippel, second team; and senior first baseman Katelyn Winkel, honorable mention.

Knepfel (coach’s daughter) led Elkhart in batting last season with a red-hot .542 average and stolen bases, 27. Unfortunately, Knepfel suffered a broken wrist recently and will probably miss the rest of the season.

“Steph’s loss will really hurt us in low-scoring or close games as she has a career batting average of around .500 and also is always a threat to steal a base as she has only been thrown out once in two years,” the coach said.

With the key loss of Knepfel, Elkhart has only 11 healthy players. The coach thinks the lack of depth, especially in pitching, is the team’s biggest weakness.

He said the strength is having experience at many positions, especially at pitcher. The coach said he needs to fill two outfield spots, and replace catcher Brianne Neils and shortstop Hillary Kammerzelt who were four-year starters.

The coach said freshman Charity Rodriguez has looked at shortstop and he hopes speedy freshman Emily Grunewald can fill in at the leadoff spot with Knepfel out.

“The major keys for us would be consistent pitching and development of a new catcher. We also need to improve our defense [cut down on errors] to contend for the conference title,” coach Knepfel pointed out.

He offered his take on the CLC race.

“I see Oostburg as the favorite and us, Howards Grove and Sheboygan Lutheran/Kohler all battling near the top trying to knock off Oostburg.”

Oostburg is the defending league champion and Howards was second last year.

The coach’s top goals include:

“Contend for the conference title, improve throughout the season and make a strong showing in the tournament,” he said.

The Resorters won their Division 4 regional opener over Gibraltar last year and then fell to Sevastopol in the semifinals.
ELKHART LAKE-GLENBEULAH
VARSITY SOFTBALL SCHEDULE
April 13 – Cedar Grove, here
April 15 – @ Sheb. Luth./Kohler
April 16 – Kewaskum, here
April 17 – @ Two Rivers Tourney
April 20 – Stockbridge (2), here
April 22 – @ Oostburg
April 23 – Howards Grove, here
April 26 – Kiel, here
April 27 – @ Cedar Grove
April 29 – Sheb. Luth./Kohler, here
April 30 – @ Stockbridge
May 4 – Oostburg, here
May 6 – @ Howards Grove
May 11 – Cedar Grove, here
May 13 – @ Sheb. Luth./Kohler
May 20 – @ Oostburg
May 21 – Howards Grove, here
May 24 – @ St. Mary’s Springs (FDL)
ELKHART LAKE-GLENBEULAH

VARSITY SOFTBALL ROSTER
Seniors – *Katelyn Winkel (1B), *Casey Sippel (3B) and *Chelsea Watry (OF).
Juniors – *Stephanie Knepfel (OF), and *Abbey Neils (P).
Sophomores – *Paige Steffes (2B), *Morgan Voigtlander (OF), *Haley Kammerzelt (OF), *Brenna Lunde (C-2B) and
*Ali Holzmann (OF).
Freshmen – Emily Grunewald (2B-C) and Charity Rodriguez (SS).
* = Returning letter winners.