DuPage County All-Area softball team
Naomi Alonzo, Montini
A four-year varsity player, the senior has been a huge part of the program's great success the past two years. She has not only put up great power numbers offensively, hitting .423 with 37 RBI and 22 runs scored but had a 7-1 record with a 2.15 ERA this year as a pitcher. "Naomi is a quiet leader who has been a great team player. She has been a steady anchor at first base and has been a force in the middle of our lineup. She has always done whatever the team needed her to do," Broncos coach Mike Bukovsky said. Alonzo will play next season at Carthage College.
Rissa Bajusz, Metea Valley
The freshman pitched in 25 of 30 games for the DuPage Valley Conference champion and went 17-6. She set the school record for strikeouts in a single season with 129, had a 2.92 ERA and earned all-DVC honors. "Rissa has great composure on the mound. She grew up very quickly and got stronger with each game she threw. She has the ability to balance being goofy in the dugout while being all business on the field," Mustangs coach Kris Kalivas said.
Sydney Bajusz, Metea Valley
The senior Mustangs leader sparked the team's attack from the leadoff spot and also keyed the defense with stellar play in center field. Her 43 runs scored are among the best in the county in 2017, and after helping the team win the DuPage Valley Conference, she was the DVC Player of the Year. In 30 games she recorded 44 hits, 17 doubles, 9 HR, 36 RBI and hit .415 average. "Sydney is a coachable hard-worker who leads by example," coach Kris Kalivas said. Bajusz will play at Cleveland State.
Kaitlyn Bresingham, WW South
Only a sophomore, the infielder has a knack for coming up with big hits at the right time and helped keep the third-place Tigers in the DuPage Valley Conference hunt all spring. She batted .357 with a .401 on-base percentage and drove home 21 runs while recording 8 doubles. "Kaitlyn has a quiet confidence and she's probably our hardest worker on the team. She's always looking to improve and has a focus that rubs off onto her teammates," said WW South coach Jeff Pawlak.
Carlee Clark, St. Francis
Only a sophomore, she's developed into one of the top all-around players in the county, playing a major role in the Spartans' single-season-record 33 victories. Her 50 runs scored led the area and the pitcher/first baseman set the school record with 14 home runs to go along with 45 RBI, 12 doubles and a .385 average. In the circle the all-GCAC performer went 14-1 with 90 strikeouts in 83 innings. "Carlee was not a team captain as she was just a sophomore, but she led by example with her hard work," St. Francis coach Ralph Remus said.
Bri Clifton, Montini
The junior pitcher hit .491 with 34 RBI, and she was 19-7 with a 1.99 ERA and 162 strikeouts in 163 innings. "Bri has worked hard and matured into a complete pitcher," Montini coach Mike Bukovsky said. "She loves to compete in every aspect of her game and takes great pride in putting her team in position to win. She always seems to rise to the occasion in big games." Clifton has committed to play at Nicholls State University.
Nikki Cuchran, Montini
One of the top hitters in the state, the Broncos' junior third baseman hit 11 home runs and a county-best 65th RBI. The DePaul University commit hit .619 with 20 doubles, 47 runs, 1 triple and 60 hits. "Nikki works extremely hard year-round on her game. Quick hands, great strength and tremendous plate discipline are the keys to her success," said Broncos coach Mike Bukovsky. "Teams often pitch around her, and she is a total team player, willing to take a walk instead of chasing pitches out of the zone."
Madison Ebeling, Wheaton Academy
A defensive whiz in the field, the junior shortstop was named MVP for the Metro Suburban Conference Blue Division after an impressive all-around spring for the Warriors. Committed to Loyola University, Ebeling led the conference champion in RBI, doubles, triples and home runs. "Maddie is a rock-solid, five-tool player. As skilled a player as I have coached in my 19 years and 1,200 games," said Wheaton Academy coach Scott Mennie said of his three-time all-conference shortstop.
Kyra Kroll, York
The three-year starter for the Dukes earned all-West Suburban Conference honors this season. The junior center fielder is committed to Western Illinois. "The last three years Kyra has made an incredible contribution to the team," said Munn, who guided York to an 18-14 record this season. "She has grown into a wonderful student-athlete and continues to grow and learn." Kroll batted a mighty .520 with 45 RBI, 7 home runs and 37 runs scored for the regional finalists.
Abby Meeks, Neuqua Valley
A first-year varsity player and only a sophomore, the infielder used a hot bat to take over the No. 3 spot in the Wildcats' order and never gave it up, batting .472 for the DuPage Valley Conference runners-up with 16 doubles, 4 HR, 28 RBI and 33 runs while earning all-conference honors. "Abby has excellent range and speed, which helped her turn plays at second base, especially being left-handed," Neuqua Valley coach Christina Frontera said. "Her consistent, powerful bat speed has made her an impact player for us."
Abbey Place, Naperville Central
The senior unanimous all-DuPage Valley Conference selection will be missed behind the plate and in the Redhawks' dugout. "Abbey led our team in plate appearances, batting average, on-base percentage, runs scored, doubles and slugging percentage - but most importantly, she was the No. 1 leader on our team," coach Andy Nussbaum said of his outstanding defensive catcher.
Katie Polaski, Downers Grove North
An All-Area player in 2016, the Loyola-bound infielder continued to get on base, score runs and landed a fourth consecutive all-West Suburban Conference honor. "A staple at the top of the order for the last four years, she will truly be missed by her teammates and coaches. She's a multidimensional player, an exemplary student, and has been a role-model student-athlete," said Trojans coach Eric Landschoot. Polaski recorded a batting average of .527 along with a .578 on-base percentage, 1 HR, 1 triple, 7 doubles, 30 RBI and 19 runs scored.
Katherine Porter, Glenbard West
The versatile four-year varsity player picked up all-West Suburban Conference honors the last two years and all-academic honors this year. "There are very few athletes with the work ethic, determination, commitment and love of the game like Katherine," Hilltoppers coach Mary McGrane said. Porter led her team in every offensive category, hitting .506 with 16 doubles, 4 triples, 8 HR and only struck out four times. She will play at Olivet Nazarene next year.
Savannah Rodriguez, Downers Grove North
Rodriguez hit in the middle of an explosive lineup and also maintained a sub-2.00 ERA against tough competition while garnering All-Area honors a second straight spring. "Savannah had yet another all-conference year both on the mound and at the plate," coach Eric Landschoot said of the Western Illinois commit. "Savannah is smart, aggressive and will be fun to watch next year as one of the top senior softball players in the area." She batted .506 with 5 HR, 7 doubles, 30 RBI, and 19 runs. She was 14-3 in the circle with 130 strikeouts, 27 walks and a 1.96 ERA in 92 innings pitched.
Kaitlyn Scheitler, Glenbard North
After a big year at the plate as a freshman, the Panthers pitcher/first baseman kept hitting the ball hard in 2017. The unanimous all-DuPage Valley Conference selection hit .557 with 4 HR, 32 RBI and 27 runs and was 9-6 on the mound in the DVC as Glenbard North stayed in contention for the league title until the final week. She had a 2-homer game against Naperville North. "Kailtyn is one of the best hitters that I have coached or even seen," coach Josh Sanew said, noting her exceptional plate discipline and bat speed.
Sydne Shattuck, WW South
A great season in the circle earned her DuPage Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year honors, but she was also one of the Tigers' top threats with a bat in her hand. "Syd was the leader on our team, both on the field and off," coach Jeff Pawlak said. "Syd's so competitive and you know she wants it more than anyone." She batted .341 with 19 RBI and 13 doubles, while going 13-7 in the circle with 139 strikeouts, 27 walks and an ERA of 2.40. Shattuck will play at Wisconsin-LaCrosse.
Jaime Smith, Wheaton North
The senior catcher batted .411 with 8 HR, 32 RBI and 26 runs scored. "Jamie embodies the idea of 'Speak softly but carry a big stick.' She is a more quiet kid, but when she has something to say it's going to be important," Falcons coach Danielle Soraghan said. "She is also a huge wall behind the plate and has a cannon of an arm that has stopped a lot of girls from running on us. It has been a blast to watch her play." She plans to play at North Central College.
Maddie Vassar, Naperville North
The unanimous all-DuPage Valley Conference selection had a special season offensively and defensively. She hit .407 with a .505 on-base percentage, 25 runs, 20 RBI and 11 stolen bases. At the hot corner she turned in a .976 fielding percentage, a single-season team record. "She was a team leader who helped carry and teach a young team what it takes to play at the varsity level. She had one of the best senior seasons I have ever seen," coach Jerry Kedziora said. Vassar will play at Cornerstone University in Michigan next year.
Shelby Winkelman, St. Francis
The hard-throwing hurler went 19-4 this spring and has gone 33-5 over the last two years as the Spartans have piled up 60 wins. "She's a team leader so you can really count on her to give it her all every time," said Spartans coach Ralph Remus of the junior. "Shelby is one of our team captains this year and she's very hardworking, serious about the game and serious about improving." She hit .476 with 7 HR, 16 doubles, 49 RBI and 40 runs and was among the best in DuPage County in wins, strikeouts and ERA.
Veronica Zahn, Waubonsie Valley
Headed to Elmhurst College, the three-year varsity starter was an unanimous all-DuPage Valley Conference selection. Zahn broke the school record for stolen bases in a season with 30 and batted .392 with an on-base percentage of .445. "Veronica is an all-around great player and she is always working on her game and always takes the extra swings to improve," said Warriors coach Val Wood. "She led by example and the underclassmen looked to her for guidance." She led the team in hits, runs scored and stolen bases.
Honorable mention
Halle Arends, Naperville Central, so., P; Mady Carli, Glenbard South, jr., CF; Madison Collins, York, jr., C; Estelle Czech, Downers Grove North, fr., P/1B/OF; Kaitlyn Falduto, IC Catholic Prep, sr., SS; Meghan Gagliano, Wheaton Academy, sr., CF; Allie Goettsch, Benet, jr., SS; Lisa Harrington, Metea Valley, sr., C; Zoe Herdman, Neuqua Valley, jr., SS/P; Becca Imbrogno, St. Francis, jr., OF; Lilja Carden, Hinsdale Central, jr., OF; Josie Lytton, IC Catholic Prep, jr., C; Danielle Little, Glenbard South, so., P/3B; Isa Lozada, Fenton. So., SS; Randi McKay, Downers Grove South, so., OF/IF; Trinity Medina, Glenbard North, jr., CF; Anna Palicka, Lisle, sr., P/3B; Abby Rodriguez, Lake Park, so., SS; Tori Tyler, Glenbard East, jr., P; Courtney Worcester, Lake Park, sr., 3B.