Hoffmann, Olig repeat on All-EWC first team

Junior center fielder Kaitlyn Hoffman of Plymouth was named to the All-Eastern Wisconsin Conference softball first team for the third consecutive season.

The Panthers had three other players voted to the first team by the EWC coaches. Junior pitcher Emma Olig is on the top unit for the second straight year. Also selected were junior catcher Sydney Holdridge and junior first baseman Shyanne Heimerl. Holdridge was a second-team pick in 2009.

Plymouth’s other all-league player is freshman shortstop Sophia Kiela who is on the second team.

Heimerl is one of five players who were unanimous first-team selections. The others are Waupun senior pitcher Demi Kasten, Kewaskum junior catcher Abby Amerling, Waupun junior Cyan Scheer at the utility position and Waupun senior outfielder Liz Federer.

The other first-team repeater is Kasten.

Hoffmann had an excellent season on offense and defense. She ranked third in the EWC in batting with a .481 average, RBIs, 19 and run scored with 20. She had nine doubles, two triples and one home run.

Hoffmann had an impressive .788 slugging percentage and .509 on-base average. She had 17 assists and a .955 fielding average.

“Kaitlyn set a team record for hits [in a season] with 38 and led the team in runs and slugging percentage [for the overall season]. She has excellent range in center field,” said Panther head coach Gale Grahn.

Hoffmann played the final eight games of the season at shortstop after Kiela went down with a knee injury.

Olig was outstanding on the mound in league play with a 2.76 ERA, 10-4 record and 75 strikeouts in 94 innings. She finished second in the EWC in wins and strikeouts.

“Emma had a solid junior year. She made some mechanical adjustments and finished strong,” said Grahn.

Holdridge was strong at the plate and at catcher. She had an outstanding 30 assists in league play and a fielding average of .956.

She hit .320, had 13 RBIs, six doubles and scored 16 runs in conference action.

“Sydney had a solid .321 average with 20 RBIs [for entire season]. She threw out over 50 percent of base stealers and was excellent on bunt defense,” the coach pointed out.

Heimerl hit a red-hot .435 and had an outstanding .630 slugging percentage in EWC games. She had a strong .491 on-base average, drove in 17 runs, scored 13 runs, and hit one homer to go with a triple and four doubles.

“Shyanne had an excellent power year,” Grahn said.

Kiela batted .333 with four RBIs and 10 runs in league play. She was 12-for-12 stealing and had an excellent .541 on-base average. The stolen-base total led the EWC.

Kasten was selected the EWC’s “Player of the Year.” She had a sensational season – leading the league in ERA with 0.69, wins, 11 and strikeouts, 92.

Kasten also paced the league in batting with a sizzling .600 average and runs, 23; and was second in RBIs at 20. Senior Nicole Whitty of Campbellsport was first in RBIs with 24.

Tom Hagstrom, who coached Waupun to its third straight EWC crown, was voted the league’s “Coach of the Year” for the second consecutive season.