By Mike Ramczyk
Sports Editor
Last year, huge strides were made.
The Burlington softball team, young as it was, advanced to the program’s first-ever sectional and boasted a 13-10 overall record.
The Demons picked up victories over perennial Southern Lakes Conference powers Union Grove and Wilmot.
Then, in the postseason, Burlington beat Waterford and Lake Geneva Badger before falling, 8-0, to the eventual state runner-up, Westosha Central, yet another conference foe.
With Westosha ranked No. 4 in the state in D1, Union Grove No. 7, Delavan-Darien still undefeated and No. 4 in D2 and traditional strong clubs in Waterford and Wilmot, cracking the top four of the SLC won’t be easy for this year’s Demons.
But with five returning starters including the team’s top pitcher, Danielle Koenen, and top hitter, Tay Lewis, the stage is set for a run at a conference crown.
“We always expect to finish at the top of our conference,” said head coach Gary Caliva, now in his fourth year.
Finishing at the top will be a tall task, as the early conference road has already been bumpy and treacherous.
Burlington opened its season April 7 with a tough-luck, 2-1 defeat in nine innings at Delavan-Darien.
Then, on Tuesday, the host Demons squandered a chance to make an early statement.
The hometown girls fell to Union Grove, 8-1.
Burlington is 2-2 to start the season, though, with two impressive nonconference victories over Kenosha Tremper, 3-0, and Racine Case, 12-3.
The common theme in the early going has been pitching and defense. But the Demon bats must pick up if Burlington wants to enter the SLC’s elite.
“Our pitching and defense have been very good,” Caliva said. “We need to find a few more hits from the bottom of our order, and we have to do a better job of scoring runs.”
Key returning letterwinners for the Demons include Koenen, Lewis and seniors Lauren Hockman and Randee Jackson.
Also, sophomore Kira Allen is back in the mix after contributing last season.
Caliva said key newcomers to the team this season will be junior Selina Lee, sophomore Nicole Lipecki and freshman Jaina Westphal.
Joining Koenen on the hill will be Jackson and Lee.
So far, the Demons’ first four batters are Westphal, Koenen, Lewis and Jackson, and the rest is a “work in progress,” according to Caliva.
Though Caliva says the SLC is one of the strongest conferences in the state, he said his team goals are to win conference, win regionals, win sectionals and go to state.
Technically, the Demons were two wins away from state last season, but fell to the Falcons, who Caliva said is again the team to beat in the SLC.
While pitching and defense continue to be strengths, Caliva said the team’s biggest weaknesses are hitting and scoring runs.
The road doesn’t get any easier, as the Demons travel to Wilmot Thursday.
Schedule
(HOME GAMES IN CAPS)
April – 20: ELKHORN. 22: at Lake Geneva Badger. 23: WATERFORD. 25: Racine County Invite at Tichigan Fields. 28: DELAVAN-DARIEN. 30: at Westosha Central. May – 4: BELOIT MEMORIAL. 5: at Union Grove. 7: WILMOT. 12: at Elkhorn. 14: LAKE GENEVA BADGER. 15: KENOSHA BRADFORD. 16: Doubleheader at Fort Atkinson. 19: at Waterford.
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