Lexi Reetz '19 is the only pitcher in Ripon College softball history to record at least 100 strikeouts in four different seasons. One of just three players in program history to be named to the All-Conference team all four years, Reetz finished her career with 476 strikeouts, which ranks second in school history, just 22 shy of the school record, and is fifth in the history of the Midwest Conference.
In addition to her strikeout prowess, Reetz holds the school record for career shutouts with 15, which is fourth in the MWC record books, while ranking fifth in program history for career victories (34) and sixth in Earned Run Average (2.57). The team's ace and workhorse from the moment she stepped on campus, Reetz tossed 61 complete games, which is the second-most in school history and ranks ninth in the MWC. Her 515 innings pitched rank second and seventh in school and conference history, respectively.
"Lexi is the type of pitcher every coach wants on their team, but it doesn't happen very often," Ripon Head Softball Coach Steve Wammer said. "Every time she was in the circle, you know you had a chance to win no matter who the opponent was."
Reetz lowered her ERA each season she was with the Red Hawks. After a freshman campaign that saw her record just two wins and a 4.34 ERA, while striking out 101 batters, Reetz stepped her game up as a sophomore under new coach Brooke Kalman. That season saw Reetz win 10 games, while posting an ERA of 2.11 and career-highs of 20 complete games and 142 strikeouts, which ranks second in program history for a single season.
"Coach Kalman brought out the best in her players and she didn't settle for anything less," Reetz said. "It pushed me as a player to always do what I could to help the team and I felt like other teams didn't look past us because of the standard she set."
One highlight of that 2017 season came in the fourth game when Reetz tossed her first career perfect game, striking out 10 batters in a 12-0 win against the University of Minnesota-Morris. She also struck out a career-high 12 batters five times, including twice during her sophomore season.
"There's no former athlete I talk about more than Lexi Reetz. She was a fantastic, gritty, pitcher who never settled and always kept us in games," Kalman said. "Her perfect game that season was a very special moment for Ripon's softball program and I'm so glad she was able to accomplish that."
The following season, Reetz was playing for her third different head coach in three years as Coach Wammer was hired to lead the program prior to her junior year. Reetz responded with her third consecutive All-Conference nod, which marked her first-ever First Team selection. She finished the 2018 season with a 13-9 record, 2.08 ERA, and 115 strikeouts, while recording five shutouts, as Ripon lost the tiebreaker for the fourth and final spot in the MWC Tournament.
As a senior, Reetz earned a fourth consecutive All-Conference selection, while getting off to a white-hot start to the season, which ended with her recording nine wins, 118 strikeouts, a 1.99 ERA, and seven shutouts, which ranked 16th in all of Division-III that year.
"The beginning of her senior season was unbelievable, as she only gave up three runs and recorded four shutouts in our team's first six games," Wammer said. "Lexi was a fierce competitor on the field, which is what most people saw, but she also was a great teammate both on and off the field."
Her pitching dominance often overshadowed what she accomplished as a hitter, recording a .274 batting average in 299 career at-bats. She finished her Red Hawk career with four career triples, which is tied for 10th in program history, while also recording 18 doubles, 31 Runs Batted In, and 42 runs scored.
"We won a lot of one-run games when Lexi was on the mound and many times she was the one who helped us score the go-ahead run," Kalman said. "I simply can't say enough about Lexi. I was so lucky to have coached her."
A Psychology major from Oshkosh, Wis., Reetz was also a four-time Academic All-Conference selection, while earning 2017 National Fastpich Coaches Association (NFCA) Scholar Athlete honors. She is forever grateful to her former coaches and Ripon College, which set the groundwork for her life after softball.
"My experience at Ripon means a lot to me. It allowed me to continue playing the sport I love and brought me lifelong friends," Reetz said. "Playing softball for the Red Hawks taught me so much about working with different people in a group setting, which I've already found to be beneficial at various work environments since graduating. I will always cherish my four years at Ripon, especially the days spent on Tracy Field."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CLICK HERE to view and read all of Ripon's archived '100 For 100' profiles, which will have each profile added to it once it is posted online.
