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Vern Hollister - Correspondent

Crandon softball head coach Kyle Palmer didn't have to do much more than open the gym for spring practice to field a softball team. The Cardinals had no seniors last year, which means that all nine starters are back and eleven letter-winners. If everyone retains a starting position, Palmer will start three sophomores, two seniors and four juniors.

In addition, Palmer said, "We have the most girls out for softball we've ever had, 28, with ten freshmen and nine sophs. It might be tough for sophomores to win a starting job." Of the starters, he said, "It's their job to lose."

The Cards have enough for a junior varsity team coached by assistant Hillary Kane, if they find enough other schools with JV squads.

Included in the returning players is pitcher Andrea Wojnowski. The hard-throwing senior with a 2.49 era struck out 96 batters in leading the Cardinals from the mound. Palmer also has sophomore Jacee Anderson available for spot duty, though as a rightfielder, Anderson led the Cards in hitting with a lofty .469 batting average and 14 RBI's.

"We've got a good combination of experience and youth," Palmer said. "We're still young, but they've got a full season of varsity behind them. I look to Lacey Votis and Andi (Wojnowski) to be our leaders and team captains."

Votis, a senior along with Wojnowski, will hold down the first base position. Two of the top hitters behind Anderson are expected to continue their stellar play and perform in the infield with Votis. Marissa Tupper at second base hit .421 and shortstop Kathryn Mattson .333. Other top hitters include catcher Ashley Wilson at .366 and centerfielder Marki Fraley, also at .333. The Cardinals are strong up the middle.

Palmer said that another hitter, Jenna Bradley and who plays leftfield, finished at .207, but, "She's the hard luck hitter. She's a power hitter and hits the ball hard. Her average is deceiving because everytime she hit the ball, it was right at somebody. We've got some fast girls and good speed at the top of the line-up," Palmer said. "Marissa (Tupper) leads off and Marki (Fraley) second, and Jacee (Anderson) somewhere near the top."

Last season, the Cardinals sailed through their games including the first Laona/Wabeno game in Laona. Their only loss came against the Rebels, 6-3, in Crandon's final home game.

"Team-wise, our expectations are higher this year," Palmer said. "Last year, we were a brand new team. They did great, but they were still young. With experience, our expectations are higher."

After winning their opening playoff game, they lost to Crivitz the next round, something that hadn't happened to the Cards for the past few years. "Crivitz had a good pitcher. It's the first time all season they (Crandon) played young," Palmer said. "It keeps them hungry, too. It sticks with them. With our expectations so high, we still have to work hard in practice, and so far they have."

Palmer said he grew up in a "baseball family," and that playing ball was a large part of his youth. Though this is his third year as the Cardinals head coach, he was an assistant for eleven years. Not complacent, he said, "I'm excited about our non-conference schedule," as he has set it up to compete with solid teams. "We have Northland Pines, a D-2 school, and we're playing in the Medford tourney with more D-2 schools before regions."

The Cards also played in a senior league over the summer, and team members competed in a Tomahark tournament in July. They took second to SPASH.

"We were pretty proud of that," Palmer said.

Don't look for Crandon at home while snow and ice melt. Eight of their first nine games are away with only an April 15 game against Goodman/Pembine scheduled at the Crandon field. That's a lot of innings away, but the Cardinals don't go by games. Their motto is "One inning at a time."

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