The Fox Valley Lutheran softball team has reached incredible heights over the past few seasons, including a WIAA Division 2 state championship last month.
Ace pitcher Madison Babcock is a big reason why. The junior finished 26-3 with an ERA of 0.55 with 267 strikeouts in 140⅓ innings pitched this season. She allowed just 11 earned runs. She helped her own cause offensively, hitting .513 with an on-base percentage of .604 and a .987 slugging percentage. She hit six home runs, had 14 doubles and 42 RBIs.
FVL secured its first-ever WIAA state championship with a 9-1 victory over Pewaukee in the D2 title game June 13. The Foxes outscored their playoff opponents 66-9 through the state run, including a 17-1 advantage at the state tournament.
Babcock’s overall excellence made her the pick for Post-Crescent softball player of the year.
As good as Babcock was in the regular season, she upped her game in the postseason. The University of Minnesota commit got wins in the state semifinals and in the title game victory over Pewaukee and was named first-team Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association all-state and was the Division 2 state player of the year.
“Madison is a great softball player, but more than that she is a great person. Nobody on the team works harder than her,” FVL coach Gunner Pfrang said. “She is the ultimate team leader – positive, encouraging and cares about her teammates.”
Babcock was at the forefront of a special team that should have a lasting impact on the Foxes program for years to come.
“What this group of girls has done the past two years has launched the FVL softball program to the next level,” Pfrang said. “We went from a couple of youth teams to seven this summer. It is so much fun to see the younger girls enjoying the game of softball, and to see how much they love the varsity players. I’m really proud of this team.”
Babcock talked to the Post-Crescent about her season and the Foxes’ state-title victory.
Reflecting on being a state champion
“I think it took awhile. It definitely did. A few weeks after, we were all together and got back into it with softball camps so we got to see each other again. We were like, ‘Wow, we really did this.’ Just being together and celebrating with each other. It was just so much fun, it finally hitting us. It was the best feeling ever. Like, wow, we actually did this and all the hard work that we put in all season, it paid off. We did exactly what we wanted to accomplish.”
On how she got started in softball
“I started playing T-ball at 4. And then I did Little League and started pitching when I was 8 because we didn’t have any pitchers on the team. And the coach was like, ‘Does anyone want to try pitching?’ And I was like, ‘Sure, I’ll try it.’ Obviously, I wasn’t very good to start, but I stuck with it and started taking lessons and then I ended up really liking it and having some success. And kept on doing that and started playing travel at 9 and started playing for local travel teams. At 11, I started playing for Wisconsin Lightning, which is out of Salem, Wisconsin. It’s a little more competitive. I still play with this team and travel all over the country competing in tournaments.”
On her mentality in the circle and at the plate
“I’d say I always have a mindset that go attack them and that they’re not going to touch me. Also, like knowing that to trust my defense and just work to get ahead in the count and then trust in whatever I’m throwing and trust everything and all the hard work that I put in all season. Just attack, get ahead and they’re not going to touch me.
“[For hitting], I’d say it’s almost the same thing. When I go up there that I’m going to crush this pitcher. Thinking she’s not going to throw anything by me and just to get my pitch, attack the ball and drive it. I try to keep it more simple because when you’re thinking it doesn’t go too well. Keep it simple, go and attack.”
On being the hunted next year as a defending champion
“I think coach Gunner talks about having a little swagger to it. We’ll definitely try to have that, but then be confident and know that we have most players coming back – all but one starter. So be confident and know that we’ve done it and we can do it again and know that there’s going to be a little pressure. But taking it as a privilege to be confident and playing the way we know that we can.”
A closer look: Madison Babcock
Age: 16.
Positions: Pitcher/shortstop/utility.
Family: Parents, Tim and Melissa; dog, Mica.
Favorite school subject: Math.
Favorite food: Mac and cheese.
Favorite movie: “Descendants.”
Favorite musical artist: Morgan Wallen.
Favorite TV show/streaming: “All American.”
Favorite vacation spot: Hawaii.
Favorite book: “The Summer of Broken Rules.”
Favorite snack: Fruit.
Favorite athlete: Teagan Kavan.
Notable: First-team Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association all-state at pitcher and the Division 2 player of the year. Key cog in helping FVL win the Division 2 state championship. Unanimous first-team all-Bay Conference and the league’s player of the year. Finished 26-3 in the circle with an ERA of 0.55. Had 267 strikeouts in 140⅓ innings pitched and allowed just 11 earned runs. Batted .513 with six home runs, 14 doubles and 42 RBIs. Had a .604 on-base percentage, .987 slugging percentage and an OPS of 1.591. Verbally committed to play at the University of Minnesota.
What her coach says
“She sets the tone for our team in the circle. She is a fierce competitor. Her energy and body language is always positive and confident. However, she is never cocky. She respects her opponents and plays the game right. She had a dominant year, not only in the circle but at the plate as well. Players like Madison come through a program once in a lifetime.” – Gunner Pfrang
Post-Crescent all-area softball team
FIRST TEAM
Pitchers
Madison Babcock, jr., Fox Valley Lutheran: Player of the year.
Grace Danoski, sr., Hortonville: First-team WFSCA all-state in D1. First-team all-FVA at pitcher and the league’s player of the year. Batted .487 with a slugging percentage of .838. Had seven home runs and 35 RBIs. Was 16-3 in the circle with 105 strikeouts in 106 innings pitched and an ERA of 1.72.
Charlotte Radtke, so., Appleton North: Second-team all-WFSCA in D1 and helped lead the Lightning to the D1 state semifinals. First-team all-FVA at pitcher. Was 9-4 in the circle with an ERA of 1.59 with 110 strikeouts in 88 innings pitched. Led North with a .505 batting average with 24 RBIs.
Catcher
Drew Brown, fr., Appleton North: First-team all-FVA. Batted .474 with a home run, 14 doubles and 35 RBIs along with a .681 slugging percentage to help the Lightning reach the Division 1 state semifinals.
Infielders
Amaya Brooks, sr., Brillion: Unanimous first-team all-Eastern Wisconsin Conference and was also the league’s player of the year.
Sophie Hermus, sr., Kimberly: First-team all-WFSCA in D1. Unanimous first-team all-FVA. Batted .580 with nine home runs, 13 doubles and 29 RBIs with a slugging percentage of 1.102 and an on-base percentage of .654.
Libby Jahnke, jr., Neenah: WFSCA all-state in Division 1. First-team all-FVA.
Alyssa Wald, sr., Appleton North: First-team all-FVA. Batted .429 with three home runs and 17 RBIs. Helped lead the Lightning to the Division 1 state semifinals.
Addesin Smith, jr., Seymour: First-team all-Bay Conference. WFSCA honorable-mention all-state in D2/3.
Outfielders
Natalie Bromm, sr., Fox Valley Lutheran: Unanimous first-team all-Bay at outfielder. Batted .415 with four home runs, 33 RBIs and 10 doubles.
Paige Bodenheimer, sr., Kaukauna: WFSCA all-state honorable mention in Division 1. First-team all-FVA.
Lilly Boyle, jr., Kaukauna: WFSCA all-state honorable mention in Division 1. First-team all-FVA.
Samantha D’Addario, sr., Hortonville: Second-team all-FVA. Batted .444 with three home runs, 21 RBIs and a .730 slugging percentage.
Utility
Claire Pfrang, jr., Fox Valley Lutheran: WFSCA all-state in D2/3. Unanimous first-team all-Bay at utility. Batted .495 with four triples, 49 runs scored, 15 stolen bases and 20 RBIs. Had an on-base percentage of .559, .632 slugging percentage and an OPS of 1.190.
Second team
Adelyn Belongea, so., Kaukauna; Madison Deering, sr., Kaukauna; Grace Fecteau, sr., Appleton East; Addyson Feldkamp, so., Brillion; Kyah Gass, jr., Hortonville; Eileen Gassner, jr., Hortonville; Kylie Mathe, sr., Neenah; Paige Leavitt, so., Fox Valley Lutheran; Kendra Rettler, so., Seymour; Ali Raddatz, sr., Appleton West; Tenley Wolfrath, fr., Fox Valley Lutheran; Kennedy Van De Hey, sr., Hortonville.
Honorable mention
Bryn Amundson, jr., Wrightstown; Hailey Bechard, sr., Waupaca; Brenna Beilfuss, jr., Shiocton; Layla Beyer, fr., Wrightstown; Lily Cichy, sr., Waupaca; Natalie Coffey, so., Neenah; Alexis Corn, jr., Seymour; Brianna Dahlke, so., Fox Valley Lutheran; Lydia Dahlman, so., Appleton East; Madelyn DeCleene, jr., Wrightstown; Alaina Dohr, jr., Hilbert; Bella Ellestad, sr., Kimberly; Taylor Federwitz, sr., Kaukauna; Daviany Felix, sr., Menasha; Olivia Fischer, jr., Fox Valley Lutheran; Evelyn Frega, fr., Appleton North; Addison Grenzer, sr., Hilbert; Grace Krueger, sr., Brillion; Kara Hedrich, sr., Brillion; Aryah Krahn, so., Seymour; Jada Luben, jr., Seymour; Chesney Magolski, jr., New London; Teagan Massey-Plamann, sr., Menasha; Jessa McArtney, so., Freedom; Aubrey Mitchell, fr., Winneconne; Grace Mitchell, jr., Winneconne; Kourtney Moeller, sr., Freedom; Breanna Neubert, fr., St. Mary Catholic; Abby Ourada, sr., Xavier; Bella Pfrang, so., Little Chute; Molly Ruebl, sr., Wrightstown; Audra Schaffer, sr., Winneconne; Maddie Schnurer, jr., Hilbert; Paige Schreck, jr., Kimberly; Ivy Schroeder, jr., Hortonville; Lyla Schueler, so., Seymour; Jovie Smith, so., Freedom; Bella Sonnenberg, sr., Menasha; Brooke Sowinski, jr., Freedom; Kalia Stammer, jr., Xavier; Evalyn Stanelle, so., Hortonville; Morgan Staszak, so., Xavier; Haylee Stobb, sr., Menasha; Abby Tate, sr., Clintonville; Claire Therkildsen, so., Appleton North; Paxtyn Trinkner, so., St. Mary Catholic; Valerie Baranczyk, so., Appleton North; Samantha Weiss, sr., St. Mary Catholic; Elaine Winkelman, jr., New London.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Babcock was ‘ultimate team leader’ for state champion FVL softball
Reporting by Ricardo Arguello, Appleton Post-Crescent / Appleton Post-Crescent
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Ricardo Arguello, Appleton Post-Crescent | USA TODAY Network
