'Mentally tough as nails': Kaukauna sophomore Karly Meredith is Post-Crescent softball athlete of the year
KAUKAUNA − A glance at Karly Meredith's pitching stats as the state's top softball player may trigger a double take.
The numbers seem almost absurd — like something out of a video game: 26-0 record, 0.23 ERA with only six earned runs allowed along with 239 strikeouts in 186.2 innings pitched. At the plate she was just as impressive, batting. 532 with five home runs and 48 RBI.
Her talents on the field helped Kaukauna capture its third consecutive state title. They also earned Meredith the Gatorade state player of the year award as well as a coveted second-team all-American designation from MaxPreps.
Meredith was also undefeated her freshman season: 15-0, 0.22 ERA with 131 strikeouts in 94 innings. Her combined 41-0 record in the circle has been a big part of Kaukauna's overall 81-game win streak and a big reason why she's the Post-Crescent athlete of the year in softball for the second consecutive season.
Meredith took time out recently to talk about her awards, her back-to-back state titles, playing her final season with her sister and having her father, Steve, on the Kaukauna coaching staff.
On being named Gatorade player of the year for softball
"I was really surprised because I know there are a lot of great softball athletes that are in Wisconsin and a lot in our conference. So it was really surprising and I didn’t think I would get it, especially as a sophomore. It’s crazy."
On the 81-game win streak
We’ve been really close to losing sometimes. You always just think about it in the dugout. Oh, this is when it’s going to happen, but you can’t really think about it. You just have to play the game and it doesn’t really matter in conference play. There’s really not that much pressure because if you lose, you lose. But when it gets to playoffs and stuff, it’s pretty scary because you know you always have that chance that you can lose. You can win all your conference games, but it’s playoffs is when it matters. You just can’t let it bother you and take it one game at a time.
On difference from freshman championship season
"There was definitely a lot more pressure this season because me and Skyler (Calmes) split (pitching). If she was doing bad, I could go in and if I was doing bad, she could go in. So I knew I was going to start every game this year and it was hard. You have to get more focused. It was definitely more nerve-wracking, because you know you had to do good and you knew you had to win."
On her final season as teammate to older sister Kally
"It’s going to be definitely sad not playing with her next year because she was a big impact to the team — a lot of seniors were. It’s going to be tough. But we have to step up and take their roles on the team."
On having her father Steve as an assistant coach
"It’s really cool to share the moments that we win stuff with him and having him on the field and you know every day that he helps us and helps the team get better. So we know he’s a really good coach so it’s good having him here and making the team better."
On her summer being busy with travel ball
"It’s fun. I mean sometimes you just want to go home once in a while. But it keeps me ready, especially with softball tournaments. It keeps me ready for high school and it keeps me ready for college, playing those travel ball tournaments and facing the pitchers I'll see in college one day."
Her coach says
"I believe she's the first MaxPreps all-American in school history. She hasn't lost a game in high school yet. Unmatched work ethic and a feisty competitive spirit. All of the accolades have been earned. Every night you are going to get her best. She's mentally tough as nails."
— Tim Roehrig, Kaukauna softball
A closer look at Karly Meredith
Age: 16.
Year: Sophomore.
Family: Parents, Steve and Deb; siblings Kyler (27), Kasey (24) and Kally (18).
Notable: Was a unanimous first-team all-Fox Valley Association pick and the league's player of the year. Named the Gatorade state player of the year and was also a first-team member of the Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association all-state team and the WFSCA's state player of the year in Division 1. Was a second-team selection on the MaxPreps all-American team. Batted .532 with 42 hits in 79 at bats with five home runs, five triples, 12 doubles and 48 RBI. Was 26-0 in the circle with a 0.23 ERA. Finished with 239 strikeouts in 186.2 innings pitched. Allowed just six earned runs all season to help lead Kaukauna to the WIAA Division 1 state title.
Her favorites
Food: Spaghetti.
TV show: "Stranger Things."
Movie: "47 Meters Down."
School subject: Math.
Go-to snack: Ice cream.
Pro athlete: Haley Cruse.
Vacation spot: Florida.
Post-Crescent all-area softball team
FIRST TEAM
PITCHERS
Karly Meredith, so., Kaukauna: Athlete of the year.
Peyton VandeLoo, so., Freedom: First-team all-North Eastern Conference. Finished 17-1 with an ERA of 1.118. Had 176 strikeouts and allowed just 19 earned runs. Helped lead the Irish to the Division 2 state championship.
Kenna Mix, jr., New London: Second-team WFSCA all-state. Unanimous first-team all-Bay Conference. Helped lead the Bulldogs to the Division 2 state championship game. Finished 19-5 in the circle with a 1.86 ERA and 173 strikeouts in 142⅔ innings. Hit .407 with eight home runs, nine doubles and 35 RBI.
MORE: Shiocton's Stingle named Post-Crescent boys track athlete of the year
CATCHERS
Addison Wery, so., Seymour: First-team WFSCA all-state in Divisions 2/3. Unanimous first-team all-Bay Conference and the league's co-player of the year. Batted .605 with 15 home runs and 39 RBI.
Arielle Schneider, sr., Chilton: Honorable mention WFSCA all-state in Divisions 2/3. Unanimous first-team all-Eastern Wisconsin Conference. Batted .493 with two home runs and 33 RBI.
INFIELDERS
Paige Miller, sr., Kaukauna: First-team WFSCA all-state in D1. Unanimous first-team all-FVA. Batted .500 with 43 hits, 27 RBI and 22 stolen bases. Will play collegiately at Wisconsin.
Savanna Knuth, sr., Neenah: First-team all-Fox Valley Association. Batted .449 with six home runs and 25 RBI.
Sommer Krull, sr., New London: Honorable-mention WFSCA all-state. Unanimous first-team all-Bay Conference. Led the Bulldogs in average (.425) and also had a home run and 16 RBI.
Rylie Murphy, sr., Freedom: First-team WFSCA all-state in Divisions 2/3 and was the state player of the year. Finished with a .446 average, 14 doubles, two home runs and 24 RBI. Also scored 32 runs and had 18 stolen bases.
Taryn Christopher, jr., Kaukauna: Honorable mention on the WFSCA all-state team in D1. First-team all-Fox Valley Association. Batted .409 with three home runs and 29 RBI.
OUTFIELDERS
Kally Meredith, sr., Kaukauna: First-team WFSCA all-state. Unanimous first-team all-Fox Valley Association. Batted .553 with 57 hits in 103 at-bats and 16 RBI. Finished with 51 runs scored and 54 stolen bases out of 55 attempts. Will play collegiately at Florida International.
Paige Bodenheimer, fr., Kaukauna: First-team WFSCA all-state. Batted .548 with 46 hits and 16 RBI. Also swiped 32 bases in 33 attempts.
Emily Roehrig, sr., Chilton: First-team all-Eastern Wisconsin Conference. Batted .340 with a home run, three triples and 15 RBI.
UTILITY
Paige Lillie, jr., Hortonville: First-team all-Fox Valley Association. Batted .389 with two home runs, 12 doubles and 15 RBI. Was also 7-5 in the circle with a 3.70 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 64-plus innings. Butler University commit.
SECOND TEAM
PITCHERS
Morgan Harwood, sr., Neenah: First-team all-Fox Valley Association. Finished 12-4 with an ERA of 2.38 with 148 strikeouts in 100 innings pitched.
Brianna Ott, sr., Chilton: First-team all-Eastern Wisconsin Conference. Finished 9-1 with an ERA of 2.50.
CATCHERS
Bella Dontje, so., Hortonville: First-team all-Fox Valley Association. Batted .434 with four home runs and 26 RBI.
Lilly Hurt, sr., Kimberly: First-team all-Fox Valley Association. Batted .359 with four home runs and 16 RBI.
INFIELDERS
Addie Lund, jr., Menasha: First-team all-Bay Conference. Led Menasha in batting average (.456), home runs (8) and RBI (38). Will play collegiately at Memphis.
Jayden McCoy, sr., Weyauwega-Fremont: Unanimous first-team all-CWC East. Batted. 559 with four home runs, 17 doubles and 32 RBI.
Jayda Nelson, sr., Kimberly: Second-team all-FVA. Batted .389 with six home runs and 34 RBI.
Savanna Knuth, sr., Neenah: First-team all-Fox Valley Association. Batted .449 with six home runs and 25 RBI.
Sophie Girard, jr., Kimberly: First-team all-FVA. Batted .356 with 20 RBI.
OUTFIELDERS
Sadie Jarmolowicz, sr., Freedom: First-team all-North Eastern Conference. Batted .342 with 22 RBI.
Lauren Schiebe, sr., Freedom: First-team all-North Eastern Conference. Batted. 373 with 21 runs scored and 23 RBI.
Claire Kollat, so., Winneconne: First-team all-East Central Conference. Batted .395 with 14 RBI and 18 stolen bases.
UTILITY
Quinn Marnocha, sr., Neenah: First-team all-Fox Valley Association. Batted .349 with 29 hits, a home run and seven RBI. Will play collegiately at South Dakota State.
HONORABLE MENTION
Pitchers: Grace Donoski, fr., Hortonville; Addison Hervey, so., Xavier; Kyleigh Mathe, fr., Neenah; Olivia Witkowski, sr., Weyauwega-Fremont. Infielders: Kelsey Behnke, so., Manawa; Jozy Ebben, so., Kaukauna; Sarah Hammerton, sr., Appleton West; Lily Krenke, so., Manawa; Morgan Miller, jr., Seymour. Catchers: Piper Alberg, sr., Neenah; Ella Bauman, so., Xavier; Eve Hedtke, so., New London; Kaia McVay, so., Freedom; Serena Timmer, sr., Appleton East. Outfielders: Karly Heif, jr., Menasha; Josie Hammen, sr., Kimberly; McKenna Herm, sr., Neenah; Taylor Papendorf, jr., Menasha; Corinne Setliff, so., Seymour; Adel Schneider, fr., St. Mary Catholic; Summer Schmidt, so., Kaukauna; Paige Wyngaard, so., Kimberly.
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This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Kaukauna's Karly Meredith is Post-Crescent softball player of the year
