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Trio of Norskies honored in Badger-Large softball voting

The 2026 high school softball season was another step in the right direction for DeForest, which improved its win total from just eight games in 2025 to 11 this spring.

Sun Prairie Star

The 2026 high school softball season was another step in the right direction for DeForest, which improved its win total from just eight games in 2025 to 11 this spring.

DeForest finished its 2026 campaign with an 11-15 overall record, including a 5-9 sixth-place mark in the Badger-Large Conference.

The Norskies picked up a postseason victory, defeating inter-league foe Oregon 3-2 in eight innings in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) Division 1 regional semifinals. DeForest’s season concluded one game shy of a sectional berth, falling to top-seeded Sun Prairie East 3-0 in the regional finals.

In recent news, however, three senior Norskies were voted onto the 2026 Badger-Large All-Conference team. Check out the list of honorees below.

Raegan Smith: First Team All-Conference

DeForest’s Raegan Smith received First Team All-Conference honors this season.

Raegan Smith has been the heart and soul of the Norskies’ softball roster over the years.

According to statistics provided by DeForest co-head coach Lori Grundahl, Smith leaves DeForest with the third-highest career batting average in program history at .404, thanks to 131 career hits and a program-high 108 runs scored and 65 career stolen bases.

This season, Smith delivered 30 hits, notably including four home runs and six doubles. Throughout her four-year career at DeForest, she reached the 30 or more hit mark three times.

Reagan Oughton: Second Team All-Conference

DeForest’s Reagan Oughton was named Second Team All-Conference this season.

Reagan Oughton provided a significant impact pitching inside the circle this season, headlined by a no-hitter during DeForest’s season-opening win against Sauk Prairie and a two-hit shutout during the Norskies’ win over Onalaska in late April.

But Oughton wasn’t just a pitcher. This season, she delivered 28 hits, seven of which were doubles. She leaves DeForest with a career batting average of .312 with 63 total hits.

E’Mony Hardiman: Honorable Mention All-Conference

DeForest’s E’Mony Hardiman was named to the Honorable Mention All-Conference team this season.

E’Mony Hardiman gave DeForest significant pop at the three or four hole. This season, Hardiman drilled 25 hits with a team-high 24 RBIs. Throughout her three-year career with the Norskies, Hardiman batted .320 with 73 hits, 19 of them being extra-base hits.

Full Badger-Large Softball All-Conference list

FIRST TEAM

Emma Julka Beaver Dam 12 Unanimous

Kendall Fakes Beaver Dam 11

Raegan Smith DeForest 12

Molly Baker Milton 12

Brooklyn VandenBranden Monona Grove 12

Addie Duerst Monona Grove 9

Annika Monte Oregon 10

Cali Craig Watertown 12 Unanimous

Allison Howlett Watertown 12

Ashlyn Petrick Waunakee 10 Unanimous

Gracelyn Wilcox Waunakee 10

Jade Keene Waunakee 11

PITCHER OF THE YEAR: CALI CRAIG, WATERTOWN

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: CALI CRAIG, WATERTOWN

COACH OF THE YEAR: TYLER DAVIS, WAUNAKEE

SECOND TEAM

Zeva Valley Baraboo 11

Taytum Poker Baraboo 10

Mady Bryant Beaver Dam 12

Reagan Oughton DeForest 12

Trinity Harris Milton 12

Jenna Benash Milton 12

Kenzie Marquardt Milton 12

Kaleia Knothe Monona Grove 11

Ashley Cook Oregon 10

Ava Novotny Watertown 12

Audra Ubersox Waunakee 10

Madelyn Hughes Waunakee 10

HONORABLE MENTION

Baraboo: Emma Pichler

Beaver Dam: Lailah Linzenmeyer, Gillian Schave

DeForest: Emony Hardiman

Milton: Morgan Bastian, Madison Fuhrman

Monona Grove: Kyra Killebrew, Addison Veith

Oregon: Brielle Kwiecinski

Watertown: Aubrey Fendt, Maddie Novotny

Waunakee: Taylor Schmidt, Avary Abercrombie

Sources and attribution

www.hngnews.com

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