Panthers looking for new boppers

Michelle Batts may have graduated Glenbard North, but the perennial softball power has continued hitting balls over the fence.

The Panthers pounded 8 home runs in their first six games.

Sophomore shortstop Jenny Nelson belted a team-high 3 homers, junior second baseman Jenny Blasius and senior right fielder Elisabeth Walter smacked 2 apiece and junior catcher Bri DiGioia hit 1.

"I think this isn't just at the beginning of the season," Nelson said. "I think we're going to be this way throughout the whole season. I think we have big bats and I think everybody's capable of getting hits and home runs even when you don't expect them to."

New Glenbard North coach Josh Sanew has told his players it's time for them to step up now that Batts has taken her powerful bat to Northwestern. He's preached to his players the importance of working the count in their favor and taking a rip.

"I want them letting it loose on 2-0 and 3-1," Sanew said.

Smiling again: Glenbard West pitcher Cassie Goggin enjoyed a personal victory before her first start was even complete.

That's because the sophomore's appearance marked the first time she pitched in a game since being hit in the mouth by a batted ball last summer while pitching for the Glen Ellyn Phillies.

Goggin suffered a broken upper jaw and eight teeth pushed in. She returned to the circle on April 4 at Wheaton North wearing a facemask.

"I felt a little bit of everything," Goggin said. "I had a lot of emotions."

Among them were the butterflies.

"I was a little nervous," she said. "After the first couple innings I felt a lot better and more confident."

Goggin's smile after the game told the story. She pitched the Hilltoppers to a 4-3 triumph in eight innings.

"It felt good to be back," she said.

A cannon at short: Driscoll coach Nick Christopher had no problems moving senior Maggie Writt from behind the plate to shortstop this season.

"Maggie's probably not the fastest player, but her sense for being able to move on the ball before it's even hit picks up that extra step or two that a faster shortstop would have," Christopher said.

"And Maggie's arm is like a cannon. She's been a catcher all this time and she still has the same arm. That arm picks up for maybe a step as well as her sense for being able to move on the ball before it's even hit."

In the team's first 10 games, the Loras recruit batted .464 with team-highs of 6 doubles, 2 triples, 1 home run, 9 RBI, a .595 on-base percentage and a .929 slugging percentage.

The big picture: Lake Park coach Cray Allen was glad to see his young team win its first three games while it learned on the job, but he wasn't ready to do cartwheels after the Lancers beat 2007 Elite Eight qualifier Resurrection 3-1 Monday in Roselle.

"You don't win any state championships in March and April," Allen said. "We've got lots of work to do. Hopefully, the young girls come around and help us. This is going to be one of our biggest coaching job because we've got so many young girls."

The Lancers have five sophomores on the roster.

"Our sophomores are going to be good," Allen said. "They just need to pick it up a little. They'll get better as the season goes on."

Three sophomores were in the starting lineup against Resurrection -- third baseman Carly Willert, second baseman Samantha Becker, and right fielder Chelsea Gieseke.

Willert is a returning starter. Allen likes what he's seen from newcomers Becker and Gieseke.

"The Becker girl definitely is an offensive player," he said. "She can hit the ball pretty well. Even her bad hits are still hits. She's one of those girls who just finds spots."

Gieseke, along with Willert, played on Lake Park's girls basketball team.

"She's got the varsity experience," Allen said. "I think that's going to definitely help us."