Lakeshore Elite softball: Mishicot's Kiran Sanford 'unbelievable', led state in no-hitters

MISHICOT — Kiran Sanford was nearly unhittable this season in the circle for the Mishicot softball team.

Sanford, the 2024 Lakeshore Elite softball player of the year, led the state with seven no-hitters or perfect games.

Lakeshore Elite is an all-area team comprised of schools from Manitowoc and Sheboygan counties.

She even tossed an 18-strikeout no-hitter in the sectional finals, so it wasn’t like she was merely doing this against lesser competition.

“I’m very proud of myself, I exceeded my expectations a bit,” Sanford said. “I never expected to throw any no-hitters so to have seven was pretty crazy.”

Mishicot coach Dawn Shimek knew Sanford had talent, but nobody saw this coming.

“Going into this season I knew she was a talented pitcher but what she showed us was unbelievable,” Shimek said.

Not even Sanford envisioned a season where she would throw 112 innings, have a 0.31 earned run average and strike out 220 batters.

She was named unanimous first-team all-Big East North Division and second-team all-Division 3 by the Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association.

“I would not have believed you,” Sanford said.

Sanford wasn’t even Mishicot’s starting pitcher entering the season, that role belonged to senior Cora Stodola who helped lead the team to state in 2023.

Stodola wasn’t doing a bad job by any means according to Shimek, but there was just something about Sanford that was undeniable.

“As the season progressed they weren’t hitting Kiran,” Shimek said. “She was getting faster, gaining more confidence.”

Sanford says the confidence in herself is what grew the most.

“I have more confidence now,” Sanford said. “My mental game was way stronger. But I was putting in the work.”

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What sets the hurler apart according to Shimek is how easily she accepts instruction.

“One thing about Kiran is she is extremely coachable,” Shimek said. “She’s humble, kind and has a terrific work ethic. Plus she has a team-first attitude.”

With that mindset, Sanford never felt pressure while she was mowing the opposition down one batter at a time.

“I never really feel the pressure,” Sanford said. “I was excited to go out there and play. I’ll step up my work to hit the next level.”

And while Mishicot’s undefeated season came to a premature end in the WIAA Division 3 state semifinals, Sanford’s return makes Mishicot contenders solely based off the power left arm of the junior.

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Shimek thinks Sanford, who already throws in the low 60s, could gain a few more miles per hour with further dedication in the weight room.

“Moving forward and looking at 2025, we’re going to be competitive with Kiran in the circle,” Shimek said. “Our expectations are to get back to state.”

The conversations have already begun among next year’s seniors says Sanford.

“I’m excited,” Sanford said. “We’re already talking about how to lead the team this next year. We have good incoming freshmen. I’m excited to see what happens, we have a good shot next year.

Contact Tom Dombeck at 920-686-2965 or tdombeck@htrnews.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @Tom_Dombeck.

LAKESHORE ELITE SOFTBALL TEAM 2024

Pitcher: Kiran Sanford, jr., Mishicot (POY); Megan Hochkammer, so., Valders; Jayla Harter, sr., Random Lake. Infielder: Mara Babak, sr., Sheboygan North; Madalyn Abler, jr., Random Lake; Katelyn Callahan, sr., Mishicot; Cora Stodola, sr., Mishicot. Outfielder: Jacey Sesing, sr., New Holstein; Ava Conrad, jr., Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah; Trista Noll, sr., Random Lake. Catcher: Kasey Brouchoud, jr., Mishicot. Utility/DH: Bri Donner, so., Plymouth. Honorable mention: Jadyn Jetzer, jr., Sheboygan North; Emma Wagner, sr., Sheboygan North; Anna Klein, so., Two Rivers; Liz Neils, so., Kiel; Kiana Luebke, sr., Two Rivers; Megan Lamers, fr., Roncalli; MyKinzie Welnetz, jr., Two Rivers; Madison Bergel, so., Valders; Arianna Hernandez, jr., Valders; Autumn Born, sr., New Holstein; Anna Olson, so., Valders; Natalie Lensmire, fr., Plymouth; Aubrey Fischer, so., Plymouth; Katy Fischer, so., Plymouth; Natalie Ziebell, sr., New Holstein; Makayla Dallas, jr., Valders; Haylie Kohlman, sr., New Holstein; Jenna Wall, sr., Roncalli; Josie Horn, sr., Cedar Grove-Belgium; Alivia Stefanich, so., Random Lake; Courtney Kaiser, fr., Sheboygan Lutheran; Kara Thimmig, sr., Sheboygan Lutheran; Katelyn Morris, sr., Cedar Grove-Belgium; Delaney Maranell, fr., Howards Grove; Crystal Dulmes, sr., Oostburg; Danika Eberhardt, fr., Random Lake; Laila Sanders, so., Random Lake; Lily Klein, fr., Random Lake; Kaelin Adair, jr., Mishicot; Karsyn Krause, jr., Mishicot; Abby Tegen, sr., Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah; Alyssa Lukich, so., Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah; Cora Nelson, sr., Mishicot; Mercedes Grimm, so., Reedsville; Mallory Novy, sr., Reedsville; Kayla Bubolz, jr., Reedsville.

This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Mishicot's Kiran Sanford headlines Lakeshore Elite softball team