Star pitcher Berritt Herr, Ashwaubenon softball chase program history during special season

The Ashwaubenon softball program ranks second in state history with 16 trips to the WIAA state tournament.

It is one of only six teams to win three straight state titles since the tournament started in 1976 and one of 10 with four or more championships overall.

With those types of accomplishments, it can be difficult to do anything that hasn’t been done.

Until now.

The Jaguars are closing in on setting a program record for most wins in a season after their 2-0 victory at Bay Port on Thursday.

They stood at 21-1 entering a weekend doubleheader against Manitowoc, just three wins shy of matching the 25 victories that both the undefeated 1992 and 1994 teams accomplished on the way to winning Division 1 state titles.

Ashwaubenon has four games remaining in the regular season and at least one in tournament play.

While setting a record would be nice, perhaps even more important is that the Jaguars are in line to capture their first Fox River Classic Conference championship since 2019 and end Green Bay Preble’s streak of three straight titles.

They lead the Hornets by two games in the loss column with three league contests remaining after beating Preble 2-1 on April 9 and by the same score in the rematch April 30.

With such a young team — there are only two seniors on the roster — could this type of performance have been expected even with an impressive 2025 class led by star pitcher and University of Wisconsin recruit Berritt Herr?

“I think I would just have to say that I am very proud of this team,” Herr said. “We have been playing together since we were 5, and it's really just a bunch of best friends playing together. We are having so much fun, and we have a lot of hunger.

“These girls and coaches are some of the most unselfish people I know, and we are playing for each other and our school. We really wanted to make this year special, especially for our two seniors. They have really put so much time into this program and they are some of our biggest role models.”

Ashwaubenon overcomes injuries

The Jaguars’ depth has been tested since the first day of practice, with a trio of juniors either missing the entire season or almost all of it.

Addy Phipps tore an anterior cruciate ligament in a knee during basketball season. Ava Mehlberg tore her labrum in volleyball. Anna Hermann played three games during Ashwaubenon’s trip to Florida in March but sustained a shoulder injury soon after and recently underwent season-ending surgery on her labrum.

“They are there every day, and they are contributing in every game they can,” said longtime Ashwaubenon coach Shannon Van Laanen, whose team is ranked No. 6 in the state in D1. “Unfortunately, it’s just not on the field. But still helping with our success, for sure.”

The Jaguars haven’t missed a beat despite the injuries. They extended their winning streak to 20 with the win over Bay Port and have not lost to a team from Wisconsin this season.

Their only defeat came to a Perrysburg (Ohio) squad in the second game of the season at a tournament in Florida. The Yellow Jackets returned their entire starting lineup from a 25-win team a year ago and feature several college prospects highlighted by Florida State recruit Hayley Griggs.

Ashwaubenon has allowed one run or zero 14 times during its winning streak entering the weekend while scoring five or more runs 13 times, including 10 or more nine times.

The Jaguars aren’t just winning blowouts. They have found a way to win several close games in a competitive FRCC.

Along with the pair of one-run wins over Preble, they beat Pulaski 1-0 on April 15, Green Bay Notre Dame 3-2 on April 20, and De Pere 1-0 on Wednesday.

It’s what you’d expect from a group of veteran players rather than ones whose best prep days probably haven’t even come yet.

“It shows some mental toughness, it shows outstanding leadership by the girls,” Van Laanen said. “We talk a lot about trusting the process and really not focusing on the results. The results take care of themselves if you do the little things right all the time.

“I think they have really bought into that. I know we have bought into that and finding different ways to win. If you look at a lot of those one-run games, it’s been somebody different that has stepped up each and every time. That is something we maybe have not always had in the past, is so much depth all the way down the lineup.”

Herr has gotten even better in the circle since a strong sophomore season in which she went 17-5 with a 1.11 ERA while striking out 225 in 132 innings.

The right-hander improved to 13-0 after the win against Bay Port. She entered the weekend with a 0.49 ERA while striking out 145 in 85 innings.

Ashwaubenon has kept her fresh by giving innings to both junior Jocelyn Wirth (3-1, 2.10 ERA) and sophomore Grace Aichele (3-0, 2.17 ERA).

Then there is the offense. An offense so deep that Wirth leads the team in RBI as the No. 7 hitter, including a walk-off hit against De Pere.

The Jaguars have eight players with a minimum of 40 plate appearances hitting .333 or better while Kahlee James, Elly Kirst and Herr all have three or more home runs. Ashwaubenon has a team batting average of .353 and a .903 OPS.

“We work hard, and our coaches have very high expectations for us, which I think drives us,” Herr said. “We have so much trust and confidence in each other and the coaches, and we continue to trust the process.”

GIRLS SOCCER: Green Bay Preble is exceeding expectations under first-year coach Justin Callan

Difficult road to state

Van Laanen and his group are too focused on the present to peek too far ahead to the future.

But every team in Ashwaubenon’s sectional understands how big of a task it will be to reach state in Madison with powerhouse Kaukauna again standing in the way.

The Ghosts have won each of the last three D1 state titles.

It's not just Kaukauna. Every team likely must win a game that will be more difficult than any on the big stage. The regionals and sectionals are loaded with all the best teams in the FRCC and Fox Valley Association.

“That says a lot for our area,” Van Laanen said. “Our conference is so deep, from Preble to Pulaski to De Pere this year, Bay Port, Ashwaubenon. Notre Dame is getting better. Those are five legitimate aces when you talk about those five teams in the conference. Any of those five girls in past years would have been first-team all-conference, hands down.

“Then you get to the tournament and, man, you have got Hortonville, you’ve got Kimberly, you’ve got Kaukauna, going right down the list. West De Pere. There is so much talent in the region, it’s ridiculous. … I think conference really helps us prepare for our regional. That regional, you’ve played one, if not two, of the best teams already by the time you get to Madison.”

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Ashwaubenon softball closing in on record for most wins in a season