Dorsey brings family approach to Buffalo Grove softball program

Considering her family background, Starr Dorsey couldn't miss on a coaching career.

"I was raised in a family full of coaches," said Dorsey, who is the new Buffalo Grove softball coach this spring. "Growing up, my grandfather and uncle coached youth and travel ball teams. My mom was my travel ball coach and my dad was a high school football coach. I've lived my entire life surrounded by coaches, so it definitely feels like second nature."

Dorsey starred (no pun intended) at Auburn High School in Alabama, batting .350 and leading her team in doubles (9), triples (3), walks (28) and RBI (22) during her senior season.

She also lettered four seasons in basketball and three in volleyball.

Dorsey went on to play D-I softball for the Auburn Tigers.

"When I was playing at Auburn I was absolutely thinking about coaching softball," she said. "It is the game I loved and grew up playing my entire life. So it was always hard to imagine going into a field of work where I wouldn't be able to be around the game."

She has been the BG assistant coach the last three seasons (a part of two Mid-Suburban East titles under former coach Jamie Paul), starting when she was hired as a special-education teacher at Hersey.

Before that, she was the assistant coach at Hoffman Estates for four years.

"I have always wanted to be a varsity coach," Dorsey said. "As soon as I got into the education field, I began to coach at the high school level. I have been very lucky to have great coaches throughout my career who impacted my life and so many other lives in a positive way.

"I just feel like now, it's my duty to try my best to do the same thing.

Dorsey stresses hard work, communication, and willingness to learn.

"I harp on our kids to come out every day, work as hard as they can, and focus on doing all of the little things (fundamentals) correct," she said. "When we come out and do the little things correct, they become automatic which allows us to really begin teaching the depths of the game."

BG kicked off the Starr era with a 3-1 victory at Cary-Grove last week.

"I am very excited for this opportunity," Dorsey said.

Women's softball

Three former Mid-Suburban League players had a hand in Wisconsin-Whitewater's 3-1 win over No. 14-ranked and previously undefeated Heidelberg (Ohio), and in a 7-0 shutout over Kalamazoo (Mich.).

Against Heidelberg (9-1), freshman center fielder Caitlin Catino (Buffalo Grove) had a double and a RBI single while freshman pitcher Julia Camardo (Buffalo Grove) tossed the first 4 innings for her first career win, throwing 4 strikeouts to freshman catcher Nikki Mikosz (Wheeling).

Mikosz had a 3-run double to left field which gave the Warhawks a 4-run lead.

• In an 8-0 shutout over Lincoln, Missouri-St. Louis junior Ryan Logan (Palatine) crossed the plate in the first inning for a 2-0 lead.

Back to back singles by Sara Kern (Wheeling) and Logan gave the No. 7 ranked Tritons (24-1) a 4-0 lead.

In Game 2, Logan's sacrifice fly made it 2-0 en route to a 5-0 shutout. Kern had 2 hits in the game.

Women's track

Illinois Wesleyan senior Angela Herrmann (Conant) was part of the 4 x 400 team that took fifth place in the NCAA Division III Indoor championships at Grinnell College in Iowa.

Herrmann is a four-time NCAA all-american and finished 14th nationally in the 60-meter dash.

The Titans (36 points) placed second among 76 teams in the meet.

Rugby

The Arlington Stallions Rugby club traveled to Louisville for preseason games against Kentucky powerhouses Trinity and St. Xavier high schools.

Consistently strong forward play allowed the Stallions to return with a win and a narrow loss.

James Joyce's (Hersey HS) three tries led the Stallions to a 26-5 win against Trinity.

On the next day, tries by Spencer Krueger (Hersey), Mike Wulfram (Rolling Meadows) and Jon Toriumi (Buffalo Grove) were not enough to hold off Kentucky defending state champion St. Xavier, which scored a late try to secure a 22-20 victory.

"Considering these were our first games in several months, we showed a remarkable level of fitness and were able to dictate the pattern of play to our liking," said Stallions coach Paul Bergman. "These were strong opponents and, despite the loss, it was a happy bus ride home."

In addition to games, the Stallions were provided with a campus visit to the University of Louisville, where they met admissions, financial aid and rugby club administrators.

For more information about the Stallions, visit www.arlingtonstallionsrugby.com

Wrestling

Elmhurst College's Blake Santi (Harper College) finished fifth in the nation at 149 pounds to finish as an All-American.

Women's tennis

Augustana junior Lauren Goggin (Buffalo Grove) is 18-8 in singles this season while Aileen MacDonald (Mundelein) checks in at 16-5 and junior Dana Goggin (Buffalo Grove) 16-5.

Dana Goggin and MacDonald are 21-4 in doubles while Lauren Goggin and Mollie Magee are 16-5.

• Please email Sports Notes items to jleusch@dailyherald.com.