Pardon my bragging... 12 and under Girls' fastpitch softball champs!

PROUD OF YOU AND YOUR TEAM, Den!
And NOW, CHAMPS, TOO!!
Congratulations!!!!
God bless!!

Posted August 15, 2006

Denis Dougherty's sports buzz: Kaukauna youth softball team continues to state its case

One state title just wasn't enough for these girls.

The Kaukauna 12-and-under traveling girls' fastpitch softball team won five of the six tournaments it entered this year, including National Softball Association and Amateur Softball Association state championships, often dominating its competition. Kaukauna, which went unbeaten in both state events, will compete in the NSA Super World Series held Friday to Sunday in Peoria, Ill.

As is nearly always the case in fastpitch softball, a dominant team is led by dominant pitching.

"We have four pitchers who are all good, and Lauren Danner and McKinzie Freimuth are exceptional," Kaukauna coach Dennis Lauer said. "At Pulaski, when we took third, we played younger kids. We do that every year for at least one tournament.

"A lot of teams we play are area all-star teams, but Kaukauna is not. Our kids go to Kaukauna schools."

Kaukauna won the Denny Lauer Classic, a tournament named in honor of Lauer for all his years working with area softball players.

"That was an honor," Lauer said. "We lost one game 1-0 and came back out of the losers' bracket to win the tournament."

Lauer's players also competed twice a week in league play for about two months. Despite the tough competition at the world event, Kaukauna enters with its usual set of objectives.

"Our first goal is to make it to the last day of the tournament," Lauer said. "The second is a trophy and the last is to win the tournament.

"It's a fun bunch of kids, the parents have been very helpful and the community has been very supportive. We've gotten donations from a variety of people."

The Buzz: Sports is a weekly feature highlighting comings, goings and happenings in the local sports community. If you have any items to be considered for The Buzz: Sports, e-mail Denis Dougherty at ddougherty@postcrescent.com or call 920-993-1000, ext. 320. Post-Crescent sports editor Brad Zimanek and assistant sports editor Dan VanderPas contributed to this report.