Loaded Falcons acknowledged as Team of Year

central girls

By Jason Arndt

Staff Writer

When a softball team was as decorated as Westosha Central High School’s last year, there is no doubt the Falcons are the squad of the year.

The Falcons captured not only the WIAA Division 1 state tournament, but also a Southern Lakes Conference title, along with multiple individual accomplishments.

Westosha Central co-head coach Tom Lampe attributed the team’s success to unselfish play of a loaded lineup that included first-team all-state Kayla Konwent, who also collected Conference Player of the Year honors.

“This was a group that had a common goal and they put everything else on the back burner to achieve it,” Lampe said. “There were no egos and every player on the team had a role in bringing it home.”

The Falcons, who finished 28-4 (13-1 SLC), pounded out 316 hits for a .329 team batting average.

Konwent, a junior catcher last year, batted a robust .630 with a 21 home runs and 46 RBIs. She also drew 27 walks and struck out just twice all season.

“She is the best player we’ve ever coached, and she is everything she is advertised to be,” Lampe said. “I think it’s safe to say that she is most feared hitter in Wisconsin high school softball.”

The catcher, who expects to play at the University of Wisconsin, was intentionally walked in the 3-0 state championship win against Watertown.

Previously, she was the Falcons’ third baseman until the arrival of junior Chy Onstad from Burlington High School.

Onstad collected a team-leading 12 doubles, had 38 RBIs and hit .429 her junior season.

The third baseman, who was first-team all-SLC as a Demon, provided Konwent with needed protection in the lineup.

“Chy was Kayla’s protection and she filled that role completely. Her state tournament was off the charts,” said Lampe, noting her clutch hits. “I think she had several game winning hits, including two of the three state games.”

With Onstad’s defense at third base, it also provided then-sophomore Alyssa Hrncar more support when she took the mound.

Hrncar, who was first-team all-state, racked up 231 strikeouts through 183 innings, nine shutouts and a 25-3 record.

Her nine shutouts and a meager 0.80 ERA were tops in the SLC.

“I would not have been the pitcher I was without the team I had behind me,” Hrncar said. “They were fighters and they always pushed me to go beyond my limits.”

Lampe noted the sophomore exhibited remarkable composure in the state tournament, despite suffering a knee injury in the 4-1 quarterfinal win against Chippewa Falls.

“Alyssa took the step forward we were hoping she would make,” Lampe said. “She broke several school records along the way and pitched with poise throughout the state tournament.”

Hrncar’s accolades were not limited to the mound, however, she was also the Falcons’ leadoff hitter, where she batted .381 with a team-leading 39 runs scored.

“Our offense knew how to get things done, with great efficiency, from top to bottom, but it would not have been like that without our current seniors Chy and Kayla,” Hrncar said.

Additionally, shortstop Kira Mickelson drove in 37 RBIs, batted .383 with 18 extra base hits that included seven home runs.

“Between (Kira) and Chy, it was difficult to pitch around Kayla, which was the plan,” Lampe said. “Kira is a very powerful hitter, and on any other team, she would have been the batter opposing pitchers would work around.”

Aside from Konwent’s plan to attend the University of Wisconsin, Onstad will be at UW-Green Bay while Mickelson has committed to play at Northern Illinois University.

All three seniors are on scholarship.


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