Edgerton gearing up for positive spring sports season | Sports

EDGERTON — Edgerton’s spring athletic programs are aiming to continue last season’s success on both diamonds as well as on the track and field.

It starts on the boys side of the diamond with Edgerton’s baseball team (16-11, 4-3 Green Meadows Conference), which returns a bulk of the roster from a year prior with the exception of 2025 graduates Scottie Krontz, Cory Herman and Braden Leppelmeier.

Returning players include senior Noah Weaver (.238 batting average, 21 RBIs 20 runs), senior Maddox Baker (36 innings, 3-4 record, 38 strikeouts, .363 batting average, 12 RBIs 31 runs), senior Jackson Flower (.333 batting average, 19 RBIs 23 runs), senior Parker Elden (19 innings, 3-0 record, 14 strikeouts) and junior Kellen Sanchez (36.1 innings, 5-2 record, 39 strikeouts, .411 batting average, 26 RBIs, 27 runs).

Seniors Brady Everetts (.231 batting average, eight RBIs eight runs), Bryce Schroeder (.265 batting average, nine RBIs, three runs), Jacob Steffes and Corbin Wilson and junior Mason Elden (12 innings, 0-1 record, 12 strikeouts, .255 batting average, 10 RBI, six runs) also look to contribute to the Bulldogs’ efforts on the diamond.

Seniors Tucker Curl and Karter Gibson along with freshman Myles Baker look to make an impact as well as they aim to improve on their Division VII district final loss to Montpelier (5-4 in extra innings) from a year ago.

“We had everyone play together this summer and were able to get a lot of games in and get experience playing together and we return six starters and many pitchers with a lot of experience,” said seventh-year baseball coach Michael Gilliland, who holds a 66-61 overall record. “We graduated three players who played a lot of baseball for us and were key contributors. We have much more depth this year, so we will have a lot of competition for playing time.

“We have a lot of depth on the mound, we need to be better offensively this year and have a few players step into bigger roles than they have had in previous years.”

On the girls side of the diamond, the Bulldogs (18-7, 4-3 GMC) also look to improve on their district final appearance from a year prior where they fell to Hilltop 8-5, but they will have to do so without 2025 graduates Corinne Cape and Casey Everetts all while under the guidance of 20-year coach Marchetta Caryer.

Edgerton, however, returns a plethora of talent which starts with seniors Olivia Wallace (.368 batting average, pitcher/third base), Ava Giesige (.431 BA, catcher), Ava Swank (.387 BA, left fielder) and Alivia Farnham, who is returning from injury a year ago.

Juniors Cara Schroeder (.239 BA, second base) and Whitney Wright (utility) along with sophomores Austynn Landis (utility), Peytyn Baker (.403, first base) and Morgan Cape (.304 BA, right fielder) return to the diamond as well while freshman Ayden King (pitcher/third base) and Addyson King (shortstop/catcher) look to make an impact this season for the Bulldogs.

“We return a solid group with a lot of softball knowledge, that will push the younger girls to make them better each day,” Caryer said. “We should be very athletic and should have great team chemistry, this team has been communicating well.”

While the bulk of the roster is returning, Caryer is concerned with the spots left behind by the graduates, and hopes that the younger individuals can help fill those spots.

“(There’s) inexperience in key positions lost to graduation and how quick the girls can learn and adapt to new positions they are asked to fulfill,” Caryer said.

But regardless of these concerns, Caryer is enthusiastic and optimistic about the season and believes the team can play consistent, productive softball with a big key in being healthy throughout the campaign.

“We have an enthusiastic group of girls this year,” Caryer said. “To have a successful season, a big key will be to remain healthy and we also have to play consistent, productive softball. We hope to have a winning record, compete for a league title, and be playing our best ball come tournament time.”

For Edgerton’s boys and girls track and field teams, meanwhile, the Bulldogs have a bevy of promising athletes looking to make an impact while also returning key athletes as well.

But the Bulldogs will be without Gretchen Keppeler, Ava Herman, Keira Myers, Evan Stark, Andy Meyer and Heidi Meyer as all picked up their diplomas last spring.

Senior Kyli Hazelton returns along with juniors Eve Gerschutz, Clara Collins, Katilyn Burke and Zaelyn Eitniear and sophomores Chloe Hazelton, Elle Huard, Jade Saul look to make an impact for the Bulldogs as well.

Freshman Bryn Gearig, Kaydance Hobeck, Kaylyn Steffes, Madison Wilhelm, Spencer Abraham, Ajay Batt, Grady Bonecutter, Christian Stickan, Jack Stuck, Hayden Wehri and Devin Yantiss along with sophomores Kara Balzer, Lyla Kuhlman and Ava Stuzman and juniors Marta Garcia, Maddy Culler, Abby Fry and Addi Snyder all look to contributed to Edgerton’s efforts this season as well.

“Both boys and girls teams have better numbers this year which will help in giving us depth,” 27-year Edgerton track and field coach Jason Zumbaugh said. “We look to place better in invitationals as the season progresses and we look to be at the top of the invitationals that we compete in this year.”