Glenwood City softball team returns handful of letter winners, looks to improve in 2025
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THE GLENWOOD CITY Softball Team lost half a dozen starters, via graduation, from last year’s 5-12 team. But, the Hilltoppers return five letter winners for the 2025 season. Front row (L to R): Morgan Blaser, Brooklynn Brite, Jenna McCarthy, Kiley Leduc and Izzy Davis. Middle row (L to R): Sadie Stansbury, Elizabeth Lawson, Emma Bliese, Hailey Monn and Haylee Deiss. Back row (L to R): Student manager Tori Miller, Lillie McGee, Kirah Krueger, Tori Ohman, Lilyana Giammattei, student manager Addyson Lee.
—photo by Shawn DeWitt
GLENWOOD CITY — Second-year head coach Tracy Marback will be leaning on her five returning letter winners to lead the 2025 Glenwood City softball team on an upward trajectory.
The Lady Hilltoppers, who were knocked out of last year’s WIAA playoffs by eventual state champion Fall Creek, lost six starters and strong contributors to graduation last spring. Departing the program were pitcher Maddie Klatt, catcher Michaela Blaser, infielder Madison Caress and outfielders Sydney Grant, a second team all-conference selection, Avery Rubenzer and Nikki Multhauf.
Five seniors will lead the Toppers’ diamond campaign this season.
Jenna McCarthy, a second team all-conference performer a year ago, was Glenwood City’s leading offensive players last year. Brooklynn Brite is a hard worker, who according to Coach Marback, has an innate feeling for the game. Both can play multiple positions.
Kiley Leduc looks to follow up on a great junior season as do fellow seniors Isabel Davis and Morgan Blaser.
Sophomore Kirah Krueger will be counted on to pitch this season. According to Marback, Krueger’s confidence on the mound is growing as she looks to take a big leap this season.
After spending much of last season sidelined by an injury. Junior Emma Bliese looks to get back on the diamond. She will be the Toppers starting shortstop.
While Marback and her staff have not fully evaluated the newcomers, she stated that freshman Haylee Deiss will be a fixture behind the plate and has the ability to have an immediate impact for the squad.
Marback sees hers team’s hardworking nature, dedication to the sport, experience and its collective focus on team goals are strengths while depth at some positions are a concern.
Marback would like to see her team improve its batting average, lower the pitchers’ ERAs and raise its fielding percentage.
“We want to put ourselves in a position to win every game,” said Marback.
As for who she believes will challenge for this year’s Dunn-St. Croix Conference championship, Marback lists Colfax, the defending conference champ, Elk Mound and Mondovi as the top contenders for the title in 2025.
But, Marback wants her charges to compete for wins against those top teams.
“We played a lot of close games last year. It is our goal to compete for victories in those games this season,” she concluded.
Sarah Kaiser and Matthew Schutz will be serving as assistant coaches.
2025 Roster
Seniors: Morgan Blaser, Brooklynn Brite, Jenna McCarthy, Kiley Leduc and Isabel Davis
Juniors: Lillie McGee, Emma Bliese, Sadie Stansbury, Hailey Monn,
Sophomores: Kirah Krueger, Tori Ohman, Harper Caress, Elizabeth Lawson, Lilyana Giammattei
Freshmen: Haylee Deiss