BONDUEL SOFTBALL SPOTLIGHT IS SPONSORED BY BONUDEL STATE BANK AND NICHOLS PAPER
The Bonduel softball team enters the new season with plenty of momentum after a strong 2025 campaign that saw the Bears go 19-9 overall and finish near the top of the Central Wisconsin–East standings. Bonduel’s success was fueled by a balanced attack, hitting .324 as a team while driving in 140 runs and pairing that with a dominant 1.90 ERA in the circle.
Leading the returners is standout pitcher and infielder Emery Thompson, who was one of the conference’s top all-around players last season, hitting .442 while also picking up 10 wins in the circle. Thompson headlines a core that also includes Jayla Reinke, who led the team with 25 RBIs, along with Marlie Hartmann and Julianna Jacobs, both key contributors in the lineup. While Bonduel does lose production from graduated seniors, the remaining group still brings a strong mix of experience and proven offense.
Offensively, Bonduel showed last season it can score in bunches, finishing second in the conference with 114 runs while maintaining one of the best run differentials in the league. That ability to consistently put pressure on opposing defenses should again be a strength, especially with several returning hitters who already produced at a high level.
In the circle, the Bears will once again lean heavily on Thompson, whose ability to control games gives Bonduel a chance to compete with anyone on the schedule. With a team ERA under 2.00 last year, pitching remains a clear strength heading into the new season.
After falling in sectional play to Manawa to end last year, Bonduel enters this season with unfinished business. With a strong returning core and proven success in conference play, the Bears look poised to once again be a contender in the Central Wisconsin–East and make another push toward the postseason.
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