DE PERE – Living on opposite sides of the Fox River and attending different high schools, Julia Renier and Miah Shefchik are rivals on the softball field — and on the basketball court — but good friends off.

Despite being Fox River Classic Conference (FRCC) foes, the two juniors have a tight bond...but there is a logical explanation for that — they’re first cousins.

Renier attends De Pere High School, while Shefchik attends West De Pere — a mere 2.5 miles away and a quick drive across the river.
When the Redbirds traveled to play the Phantoms on April 28 at Westwood Elementary School, West De Pere came away with a 10-5 victory.

At least on that day, Shefchik got the better of her first cousin, going 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBI.

She also picked up the win on the mound for the Phantoms in her six innings of work.

“She got me that day, but I think overall, it’s been pretty even,” Renier laughed. “I think it’s fun to face her. Of course, I want to get a hit every time I’m up to bat, no matter who is pitching, but I don’t really feel any extra motivation or even think about it too much when I’m batting against Miah.”

Shefchik, who also plays in the outfield, said she feels similar to her first cousin.

“I actually really like pitching to people I know,” she said. “Maybe there’s a little extra motivation when Julia comes into the batter’s box, but I wouldn’t say it’s much different from when I face others I know.”

The two will face off again on May 19 at De Pere, and with both teams being in the same WIAA Division 1 sectional, there is a chance they will meet again in the postseason.

All in the family

Julia’s mother, Jill, and Miah’s father, Jeff, are siblings who grew up in Luxemburg.

Julia said her father, John, is also from Luxemburg, while Miah said her mom, Lisa, grew up in Appleton.

In an interesting twist, the girls’ mothers both played Division I college softball at the UW-Green Bay in the late 1990s and early 2000s, with a few years of overlap playing together.

With their mothers playing college softball, the girls said they’ve had a big influence on their playing careers.

“After her playing days at Green Bay, I remember always watching my mom play in a modified-pitch softball league,” Shefchik said.
Renier said her mother’s softball influence dates to when she and Shefchik played in a De Pere youth league together.

“My mom coached, and Lisa helped coach, too,” she said. “[The] De Pere Girls Softball [Association] combines kids from both De Pere and West De Pere.”

Because players in the DPGSA live throughout De Pere, the first cousins said they’d estimate they personally know about half of the girls on the opposing high school team.

“We grew up playing with a lot of these girls, so it’s always amped up a little bit when we play De Pere,” Shefchik said. “But after the game, I always enjoy going over to their side and seeing my friends.”

“We always get excited to play West De Pere,” she said. “With us both being juniors, we’ll still have one more year on varsity playing softball and basketball against one another.”

For now, area fans can watch the first cousins play on May 19 in the FRCC rematch and hope the two will square off again in the postseason.