Ricardo ArguelloAppleton Post-Crescent
KAUKAUNA − There's one stat that may be overlooked when talking about the exploits of the Kaukauna softball team.
You probably know about the Ghosts' winning streak — the nation's best current mark at 107 victories in a row. You should know about their three consecutive state titles as they shoot for their fourth this weekend.
And junior ace Karly Meredith's 26-0 record, microscopic ERA of 0.23 and amazing 310 strikeouts in 149-plus innings pitched? You should already know about that, too.
But just as impressive are the four errors committed by the Ghosts' defense all season.
"We work hard every day on defense," Kaukauna senior shortstop Taryn Christopher said. "And we do '21 outs' a million times. We know that Karly is working her butt off, so we really just want to help her out all we can.
"When she does give up a couple of hits, she knows that we have her back as much as she has ours."
Meredith agreed.
"It's awesome," Meredith said. "I can throw any pitch. I'm not scared to throw my pitch or make a mistake on the play. I can trust them right behind me and I know they're going to make every play, which is shown now with their stats, obviously. It's insane and it's awesome."
The top-seeded Ghosts (26-0) play eighth-seeded Sussex Hamilton (19-7) in a WIAA Division 1 state quarterfinal Thursday at noon. The winner will play Friday at approximately 9 p.m. with the title game set for 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Goodman Diamond in Madison.
'They're not going to beat us because we made the mistake'
Kaukauna's defense has always been a strength. The Ghosts committed 12 errors last season in 30 games, 11 in 31 games in 2022 and 26 in 30 games in 2021.
But with only four this year in 26 games, what gives?
"From our perspective, it's just taking good angles on balls and staying low on your approach — basically all the things that we work on a nightly basis," Kaukauna coach Tim Roehrig said. "The kids have been really good just following through on that and now we have to carry out for three more games here.
"Our big thing is we play a game where (the opposing team) has to put multiple hits together and beat us that way. They're not going to beat us because we made the mistake. I think they've bought into that."
Key younger players have upped their game, too. Roehrig pointed to a pair of sophom*ores in third baseman Raivyn Rabideau and catcher Taylor Federwitz.
"She took over for (current UW Badger) Paige (Miller)," Roehrig said of Rabideau. "And she's grown up so much over the last 26 games and so much in the last year. She made two huge plays in the last two games — two Paige Miller-esque plays. And Taylor, she made three plays in the last two games that were just unbelievable. She threw a girl out from her knees. A ball that hit the dirt, she fielded it and blocked it down and threw her out by three steps. Those are big plays that don't show up in the box score, but they show up for us."
Rabideau says the culture of defense starts with the coaches and the players.
"During practice we really take our fielding seriously," she said. "And we lock in for the parts we need to lock in for. And Taryn really helps calm me down. Just like, 'Hey, do you.' And I think that's a big part of it. Just being calm and trusting the work I put in."
Kaukauna offense complements pitching, defense
The Kaukauna offense isn't quite as potent as last year's squad, but is averaging close to nine runs a game.
Meredith leads the team in batting (.500) along with eight home runs and 24 RBI. Paige Bodenheimer (.500) leads the team in stolen bases (23-of-24) with Christopher (.442) collecting five home runs and leading the team in RBI (30).
Sussex Hamilton finished third in the Greater Metro Conference and is led by junior outfielder Hailey Schaumberg (.562, home run, 19 RBI, 21 stolen bases). Senior infielder Maggie Watson leads the team in RBI (34) and also is batting .447 with three home runs. Junior infielder Maya Topolovich is hitting .470 with five home runs and 28 RBI.
The Chargers struggle in the circle, with Tori Hausman leading the team in wins (12-2) but with a 6.17 ERA.
The other quarterfinal matchups are Kenosha Bradford (25-3) vs. Cedarburg (24-4), Sun Prairie East (22-2) vs. Watertown (20-4) and Milton (24-2) vs. New Richmond (21-3).
The Ghosts would play the winner of Milton/New Richmond on Friday at 9 p.m. in the semifinals. Kaukauna is the heavy favorite and beat second-seeded Kenosha Bradford, 8-0, on May 18 with Meredith throwing a no-hitter.
Kaukauna hasn't allowed a run in the postseason and only 11 earned runs all season.
"We're confident, but not overconfident," Roehrig said. "We know that there are eight teams down there because they deserve it and now we have to go out and prove it."
Vote for the top athlete: Two standout track athletes and three top soccer players: Vote for Cellcom Post-Crescent high school athlete of the week
Christopher knows this week is the final time this version of the Ghosts will be together.
"I was on the field last week playing Ashwaubenon and it's really starting to sink in," she said. "I'm not trying to think about that yet. Hopefully I have three more games left, so we're going to get after it."
