EDITOR'S NOTE: The Swnews4u.com Athlete of the Week is a web-only feature that will publish each Thursday or Friday throughout the calendar year.

By Jason Nihles, The Platteville Journal, Fennimore Times, Boscobel Dial

Gretta Grassel, Sr., P/OF, Boscobel softball
The Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association announced its 2024 postseason honors last week following the conclusion of this year’s WIAA State Tournament.

Boscobel senior Gretta Grassel was named Small Schools (Division 4–5) First Team All-State for the fourth straight year. Fellow Bosocbel senior Erin Knowles was named Small Schools honorable mention All-State.

Grassel, a Division 1 Mississippi State recruit who pitched and played centerfield, posted a 12–5 mark with an 0.98 ERA, 224 strikeouts and just 13 walks in 107 innings pitched. 

She threw three no-hitters this year, including an 18-strikeout perfect game against Darlington April 8 and another a six-inning, 14-strikeout perfect game against Riverdale April 22. 

Grassel also threw a combined five-inning no-hitter with Knowles in a season-opening win at De Soto March 21, and actually threw a no-hitter in a 2–1 loss at Wauzeka–Steuben April 5. 

Grassel batted a team-high .463 (25-for-54) with nine doubles, two triples, nine home runs, 25 RBI, 30 runs scored and six stolen bases this year. She also led the Bulldogs with 19 walks, including six intentional walks, a .597 on-base percentage, a 1.185 slugging percentage and a 1.782 OPS.

Grassel finished her spectacular prep softball career with a career with eight no-hitters, including three perfect games, an overall record 54–14 with three saves, to go along with a 0.76 ERA, a 0.57 WHIP, 1,007 strikeouts and just 91 walks in 462 innings pitched. The 1,007 strikeouts is fourth most in state history.

Eight other area players received All-State honors. Cuba City junior pitcher Payton Gile and Fennimore senior catcher Jenna James joined Grassel on the 18-player Small Schools All-State first team.

Highland senior Bronwyn Halverson, the 2024 Six Rivers West Player of the Year, and Mineral Point sophomore Maddy Kabat were named Medium School Second Team All-State, while Belmont sophomore Addison McNett, Fennimore sophomore pitcher Kayahna Furrer, Highland senior catcher Lilly Michek and Cuba City sophomore Addy Schauff joined Knowles on the 18-player Small Schools All-State honorable mention list. 

Prairie du Chien senior Scout Hall, this year’s SWC Player of the Year, received Medium Schools All-State honorable mention.

GRASSEL, KNOWLES COMPETE AT WFSCA ALL-STAR GAMES
WISCONSIN DELLS — A number of area softball start played two finals games last Tuesday at the annual Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association Senior All-Star Games played at Woodside Sports Complex in Wisconsin Dells.

Boscobel graduates Gretta Grassel (P/CF) and Erin Knowles (C/P) played for the Small Schools Division 4/5 Blue team, which was coached by Random Lake’s Michael LaFever.

The D4/5 Blue All-Stars lost the first game to Division 4/5 Red 5–1, but bounced back to win their second game agaisnt the D4/5 White All-Stars 5–3.

Players were nominated by their coaches and selected for their softball accomplishments throughout their high school careers. Those selected to play in the All-Star games, also raise money for the event, portions of which are donated to Special Olympics.

More than 210 girls competed in last week’s All-Star Games across all five Divisions. There were six Division 1 teams, six Division 2/3 teams and six Division 4/5 teams. 

A players meeting and team practices were held last Monday morning, followed by a pizza party and Duck tours in the afternoon. The annual WFSCA All-Star banquet was held Monday night at the Chula Vista Resort. Five rounds of games were held Tuesday, beginning at 9 a.m., with each team playing twice.

GRASSEL PICKED TO PLAY FOR TEAM WISCONSIN
At the conclusion of the WFSCA All-Star Games, Grassel was asked to play for Team Wisconsin in next week’s Wisconsin vs. Minnesota Border Battle All-Star Series. 

Team Wisconsin consists of the top 12 recently graduated softball players from around the state. The Border Battle All-Star series will be held Tuesday at Sun Prairie West with games at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Admission is free.

Team Wisconsin and Team Minnesota will be treated to a Milwaukee Brewers game Monday night and will be introduced on the field prior to the Brewers’ game against the Texas Rangers.

Grassel finished her career at the plate with a .524 batting average (132-for-252), 27 doubles, nine triples, 24 home runs, 93 RBI, 114 runs, 64 stolen bases, and 39 walks (including 19 intentional walks) in 89 career games. She finished her career with a .599 on-base percentage, a .984 slugging percentage and a 1.583 OPS.

Grassel led the Bulldogs to a 91–18 overall record (including 49–7 in the SWAL) over her four-year career, as well as  three SWAL titles (2021, 2022, 2023) and a trip to the Division 4 sectional finals and a 21–1 overall record two years ago as a sophomore.

Grassel set new school records for home runs in a season (9), home runs in a career (24), single-season slugging percentage (1.185), fewest walks/innings pitched at 13 in 107, as well as no-hitters pitched in a season (4) and a career (8).