By Jacob Heid

Sports Editor

STEVENS POINT – The Pacelli softball team looked nearly unstoppable in the first 18 games of the season. 

Even falling for the first time on May 11 to Mosinee doesn’t take away from the impressive performance by Pacelli so far this season. 

As of May 15, the Cardinals were 20-1-1 (11-0) and clinched the Central Wisconsin-South championship. 

Offensively, the Cardinals have dominated the plate in almost every game they have played in, plating 277 runs on 240 hits. 

The production from the youth is the impressive part from the outside, but Pacelli Coach Ann Molski knew the talent she had coming in from the beginning.

Pacelli has 10 freshmen and sophomores on the roster this season. 

“I’m not surprised by their passion and ability for this game. What has been fun to see is how each of the girls has each other’s backs,” Molski explained. “Our total team focus has been to take each game one at a time, and it has been working.”  

The Cardinals have a team batting average of .403, led by sophomores Katy Ilkka and Kaylin Yenter, batting .464 and .535, respectively.

Freshman Kaydyn Nelson is batting .434 in 76 at-bats. She is the team leader in RBIs, driving home 48 runs so far. 

As much as the offense produces, the pitching and defense accompany it nicely. 

Pacelli has a team ERA (earned run average) of 1.96 and holds opposing batters to a .172 average. 

Junior Hannah Trzinski and sophomore Peyton Mancl have most of the innings this season, combining for a 15-1 record in the circle.

They also bring different pitching styles to the table for their team. 

Mancl has only allowed 34 hits and has 87 strikeouts in 53 innings pitched. 

Trzinski follows with 30 innings pitched and 31 hits allowed. 

“The different styles have been helpful to keep players on the opposing teams off-balanced,” Molski stated. “It has also helped my pitchers’ arm health going down the stretch.” 

Pacelli made state tournament appearances in four consecutive seasons (2017, 2018, 2019, 2021) and looks to return to Madison in 2023.