Pitchers, shortstop earn recognition

Teams from the two smallest schools in the North Shore Conference didn’t have the best records in softball this season, but they had three of the best players at key positions.

Port Washington’s Ashley Zygowski and Grafton’s Sara Paschke, both primarily pitchers, each made the second team as utility players. In addition, Port junior shortstop Peyton Mueller-Stenz earned honorable mention recognition.

Zygowski, a junior, went 5-11 with an earned-run average of 3.32. In 113-2/3 innings pitched, she allowed 97 hits, 95 runs (54 earned) and whiffed 175, putting her among the top 15 for strikeouts in the state, according to wissports.net.

Her top pitch speed was 62 mph.

She walked 47 and hit seven batters.

Zygowski also played third base and between the two positions had an .860 fielding percentage.

At the plate batting cleanup, Zygowski hit .424 with an on-base percentage of .462. Of her 36 hits, five were home runs and two were triples. She hit .500 with runners in scoring position,  had 29 RBI, scored 21 runs and walked six times.

She stole 11 bases and was safe 84.6% of the time.

“Ashley is mentally tough and has confidence on the mound. She is a great hitter and a quick and aggressive base runner. We feel confident playing Ashley anywhere on the field,” assistant coach Cara Wittneben said of the three-year varsity starter.

Zygowski also brings intangibles to the team.

“She holds her teammates accountable, and is a mentor to our freshman players. This year, we had two junior varsity players who had never played softball before, and Ashley stepped up to form connections with them and help teach them the game,” Wittneben said.

Paschke was one of two seniors for Grafton and the team’s leader.

In the NSC, Paschke went 2-9 with a 5.11 ERA. She whiffed 61 in 63 innings.

At the plate, Paschke led off for the Black Hawks. She hit .365 and had an on-base percentage of .459. Her nine RBI and nine runs led the team, and she had two triples.

But Paschke, who pitched in 12 of the 18 NSC games and played first base, brought more to the Hawks than physical skill.

“As a senior with four years of experience, to be able to lead the way was so vital for us when we had a very, very young team this year,” coach Mike Bergmann said.

“She’s a vocal leader and has the personality of someone who cares. The other girls could feed off of her passion and see how important this was to her. The example she set for us was tremendous.”

Mueller-Stenz, another three-year varsity starter for Port and a co-captain with Zygowski, batted leadoff. She hit .409, second on the team, with an on-base percentage of .458. She tied Zygowski for the team lead with 36 hits and had two triples and one home run. She hit .400 with runners in scoring position, had 12 RBI and led the Pirates with 31 runs scored.

She stole nine bases and was only caught once.

Of 95 chances in the field, Mueller-Stenz had 70 putouts and a fielding percentage of .832.

“Peyton communicates at shortstop and knows where to go with the ball. She has quick bat speed and is an aggressive, quick and smart base runner,” Wittneben said.

“Peyton is excited to be at practices and games and spreads positivity to her teammates. She will often ask coaches to stay after practice to get in extra reps. She is a hard worker, goal oriented and is extremely coachable.”

Port finished 5-13 in the NSC but upset Kewaskum on the road, 8-3, in the playoffs before losing at New Berlin West, 4-2.

Grafton finished 3-15 in the NSC and upset Wisconsin Lutheran, 7-3, on the road in the playoffs before losing at Kettle Moraine Lutheran, 4-0.