By Robert Whitmire

The SPASH Panther Softball team appears loaded – or rather, reloaded – and ready to start its march to a 10th state WIAA Division 1 state title.  

Headlining the talented group is the mistress of the mound, Aubrey Drohner, the 2016 Wisconsin Valley Conference and Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association Player of the Year. Drohner will take her post high school talents to Division 1 Indiana State University next season.

SPASH made its 17th appearance at state and won its ninth state title in 2016 with a 16 – 4 drubbing of Watertown. The Panthers finished the 2016 season with a 29 – 3 overall record.

The Panthers led the Wisconsin Valley Conference in 2016 with a .485 batting average and a .541 on-base percentage. From the mound, SPASH sported a league leading 1.44 ERA.

Stepping into the batter’s box, Drohner led the 2016 Panther attack with a .487 batting average and a .560 on-base percentage. Junior Ally Miklesh batted .477 with an on-base percentage of .521, including 24 runs on 21 hits and 7 RBIs in 48 plate appearances.

Senior Brittany Flugaur made 41 plate appearances, scored 21 runs on 17 hits with 7 RBIs and a .472 batting average.

Following an early spring trip to Florida, the Panthers traveled to Janesville Craig High School on March 31, and came away with an exciting 4-2 win. Drohner paced the Panthers with a home run and a triple, striking out nine in six innings on the mound.

Andrea Cherney, Brittany Flugaur and Halle Pavelski helped the cause, each with a double.

SPASH opens WVC play when Wausau West comes to town for a 4:30 PM contest on Tuesday at Morton Park.

The Panthers will hit the road for a Thursday contest at Marshfield, with first pitch scheduled for 4:30 PM.