Softball: NLS Wildcats lean on their top returnees
· Yahoo Sports
Apr. 7—NEW LONDON — With the exit of a large senior class led by Aly Wendlandt and Mallory Johnson, the New London-Spicer softball team will lean on its top returning players in 2026.
Visit syntagm.co.za for more information.
Wendlandt, an All-Area Third Team pick, and Johnson, an All-Area Honorable Mention, led NLS to a 12-11 record last season, including a 9-7 mark in the Wright County Conference. Wendlandt and Johnson are currently first-year players on the Ridgewater softball team.
Jacob Beranek, who is in his second year as head coach, returns an All-Area player this spring.
That is senior pitcher/first baseman Addi Nelson, who was on the All-Area Third Team last year.
Nelson was the mainstay pitcher who logged an 8-6 record with a 2.10 earned-run average and 117 strikeouts in 93 innings. She also held a .321 batting average with 25 RBIs.
"Addi is our go-to in the circle," Beranek said. "She's looking to have an up-year offensively."
KayAnna Gehrke headlines the outfielder group alongside Adelie Greeley and Sydney Thorstad.
Gehrke, a senior who battled an injury last spring, batted .357 in 16 plate appearances.
Greeley, a junior, hit .254 in 59 at-bats and Thorstad, a sophomore, batted .214 in 42 at-bats.
"KayAnna is a solid hitter and outfielder for us," Beranek said. "It will be nice to have her back."
Beranek also returns junior infielders Ezri Boelter and Lexi Meis to his starting lineup.
Boelter, who typically plays middle infield, was the team's top hitter in 2025 when she finished with a .400 batting average with 26 hits, 14 runs and 14 RBIs and 12 stolen bases in 22 games.
Meis, who usually slotted in at third base a season ago, batted .270 with 17 hits in 22 games.
Beranek's coaching staff for year two includes James Faulkner, Jess Fredrickson, Kasey Schoumaker, William Baumann and Sara Weber.