Tri-Cities softball All-Area team
Sam Arenkill, West Aurora
Arenkill could be found at several positions, including center field, first base and right field, but the Kankakee Community College-bound senior was also known as the team's No. 2 pitcher. As a batter, she led the team in hitting (.333 average) and RBI (17). The right-hander went 3-2 on the mound and made the DVC's first team. "We are going to miss her quite a bit," West Aurora coach Dave Zine said. "She played solid defense for us and had a lot of power when it came time to hitting the ball. She is one player who is going to be hard to replace next year."
More Coverage Links All-Area captain Kylie Schalz
Stephanie Becker, West Aurora
Last year's All-Area captain continued to do great things for the Blackhawks both on the mound and for the first time in her 3-year varsity career at the plate. As a pitcher, the Mississippi State-bound lefty posted an ERA of 0.72 while finishing 14-8 with 200 strikeouts and 31 walks in 152 2/3 innings. As a hitter, she batted .271 with 23 hits and 10 RBI while being named unanimous DuPage Valley all-Conference. "She had an outstanding year," West Aurora coach Dave Zine said. "She kept us in every game and is one of the top pitchers in the area. She has a bright future ahead of her."
Loren Cihlar, St. Charles North
The lone freshman on this year's All-Area team made an impact as the main leadoff hitter. The right fielder batted .388 and had an on-base percentage of .466 (which led the North Stars), scored 12 runs, had 36 hits and 8 RBI in 98 at-bats while making the Upstate Eight Conference's first team. "She came on and kept coming on for us," St. Charles North coach April Stary said. "She's a little lefty slap hitter, and I only imagine she is going to get better and better from here on out. She batted above anything I expected."
Nikki Davis, Geneva
The only left fielder on this year's All Area team was Geneva's leadoff girl for the second year, as she led the Vikings in batting average (.391), runs scored (15) and stolen bases (was a perfect 12-for-12). She was also the only player on the team to have more walks than strikeouts. She finished her junior year making the all-Western Sun Conference first team for the second consecutive year. "She was a great contact hitter who can hit the ball for power if she wanted to," Geneva coach Greg Dierks said. "She was a good girl at the top of the order who got things started."
Andi DeKing, Rosary
DeKing turned out to be the best catcher in the area. The junior was second in many things behind her pitcher, All-Area captain Kylie Schalz, in all things offensively. In 87 at-bats, she scored 12 runs, had 28 hits, 5 doubles, 4 triples and 17 RBI with a batting average of .322, slugging percentage of .506 and an on-base percentage of .366 in 29 games while making the first team in the SCC in the No. 4 spot in the lineup. "She was really effective behind the plate," Rosary coach Tara Tattersall said. "She was definitely a force at the plate and was a great leader on the field."
Lisa Korth, St. Charles North
The senior was one of the more versatile North Stars in the field, but mainly stuck to center field. She was one of 3 captains whose leadership was also a big part of the team, but so were her numbers. She scored 16 runs and batted .320 and only made 2 errors (.940 fielding percentage). "We needed a general in the outfield and she took over and did fantastic," St. Charles North coach April Stary said of this UEC unanimous first-teamer. "She never complained and always worked hard. She was solid wherever she played and wherever she was in the lineup. She was as solid as you can get."
Vickie Mathieu, Kaneland
She's No. 1 in the senior class academically. She's heading to the University of Miami (Florida) to become a doctor. She's also Kaneland's best hitter, as the senior third-year starter in right field led the team with 24 RBI, 36 hits and a .456 batting average. She also scored 21 runs, which was second on the Knights. "She had a phenomenal season," Kaneland coach Dennis Hansen said of this WSC first teamer. "In the second half of the season, she carried us. She had some big hits and improved so much from last year (from a .250 hitter to .450 this year)."
Kelsey Phalen, Batavia
This Valparaiso-bound senior third baseman makes her second appearance on the All-Area team after leading the Bulldogs in batting average (.432), slugging percentage (.622), on-base percentage (.523) with 28 hits and 9 RBI. She only struck out 7 times and is a 4-year varsity starter who made the WSC first team. "She didn't get a lot of support in the lineup, but she did great," Batavia coach Leon Pedraza said. "She was someone who was targeted by other teams from the start of the season. She has great skills and obviously is a contact hitter."
Rebecca Reinbold, St. Charles East
Reinbold, a junior, makes her second consecutive appearance on the All-Area team after leading the Saints once again. The shortstop, who was on the Upstate Eight Conference's unanimous first team, was the team leader in RBI with 25, doubles (12) and slugging percentage (.461) while batting in the No. 3 spot in her third year starting on varsity. "She's a player with a lot of potential," St. Charles East coach Eric Ray said of the hard-to-frustrate Reinbold. "She's going to have a great senior season. She's a player who has a lot of ability."
Sara Rose, Kaneland
When the athletic third-year varsity starter batted in the leadoff spot, she caught fire and ended up having a great season, batting .390 (second on team) in 82 at-bats with 23 runs scored, 32 hits, 4 home runs and 31 RBI, which led the team. Her home run total was among the best in the area. Expect more good things from this two-time All-Area and all-conference third baseman, who coach Dennis Hansen said has a ton of power in her hitting. "She was consistent," Hansen said of Rose, who also starts on the basketball team. "She had a lot of key RBI and did well in the leadoff spot."
Kylie Schalz, Rosary
An 8-time letter-winner in three sports senior (volleyball, basketball and softball), Schalz will leave Rosary a legend. She is the school's all-time strikeout holder (253 this season) while capping her fourth year starting on the softball team. The All-Area softball captain was the area's best pitcher and hitter. Pitching, she went 13-7 with an ERA of 1.09. Hitting, the righty batted .537 (best in area) with 4 home runs, 32 RBI, a slugging percentage of .871 and an on-base percentage of .570. She holds the all-time records for blocks in volleyball and is bound for Oakland University in Michigan to play softball.
Maggie Yagen, Kaneland
This two-time All-Area and 4-year starter and Western Sun Conference selection is still one of the best shortstops coach Dennis Hansen has seen. This Elmhurst-bound senior led the team and area in runs with 26 and batted both in the leadoff and No. 3 spots this year with teammate Sara Rose. She hit her first grand slam and ended with 21 RBI and 5 doubles. "She did her job well at shortstop," Hansen said. "She had a wide range of athletic ability and got rid of the ball quick. She was also a very consistent hitter."
Special mention
Melissa Barber, Geneva, fr., SS; Danielle Caprile, Geneva, jr., CF; Mallory Huml, Kaneland, jr., P; Audra Masters, Rosary, sr., 1B; Gabby Moe, St. Charles East, so., P; Shannah Morris, Aurora Christian, so., SS/C; Casey Regnier, ACC, jr., P/1B; Sydney Russell, St. Charles North, fr., IF; Alexa Schofield, Batavia, jr., 3B/SS; Colleen VanBogaert, Rosary, sr., OF; Devin Vaughn, West Aurora, so., SS.
Honorable mention
Courtney Blake, ACC, sr., 2B/P; Natalie Capone, St. Charles North, fr., IF; Courtney Classen, Rosary, jr., C/OF; Megan Cryder, Aurora Christian, sr., 3B; Claire Derosiers, St. Charles East, so., P/OF; Alyssa Hasenheyer, ACC, sr., C; Erica Kendrick, Kaneland, sr., 1B; Megan Kennedy, Aurora Christian, sr., CF; Jess Lubic, Kaneland, fr., OF; Katie Luetkins, Batavia, so., CF; Kelly McCaffrey, Geneva, fr., P; Lauren McNally, Rosary, so., 2B/OF; Brooke Nelson, Batavia, fr., P; Victoria Perez, St. Charles East, sr., P; Dee Phalon, Geneva, jr,, C/RF; Taylor Russell, St. Charles North, fr., IF; Ali Sherman, West Aurora, jr., 1B.
The starting rotation
Top five pitchers:
Kylie Schalz, Rosary, sr.
Stephanie Becker, jr.
Kelly McCaffrey, Geneva, fr.
Mallory Huml, Kaneland, jr.
Amanda Engel, St. Charles North, so.
Top base stealers
Natalie Capone, St. Charles North, fr., IF; Megan Cryder, Aurora Christian, sr., 3B; Nikki Davis, Geneva, jr., LF; Megan Kennedy, Aurora Christian, sr., CF; Shannah Morris, Aurora Christian, so., SS/C; Kelsey Phalen, Batavia, sr., SS; Brenda Rocha, Rosary, fr., SS/2B.
Top RBI leaders
Erica Kendrick, Kaneland, sr., 1B; Vickie Mathieu, Kaneland, sr., RF; Shannah Morris, Aurora Christian, so., SS/C; Kelsey Phalen, Batavia, sr., 3B; Rebecca Reinbold, St. Charles East, jr., SS; Sara Rose, Kaneland, jr., 3B; Taylor Russell, St. Charles North, fr., IF; Kylie Schalz, Rosary, sr., P/SS; Maggie Yagen, Kaneland, sr., SS.
Players to watch out for next year:
Kendra Bradley, ACC, so., 2B/C; Kristin Damm, St. Charles North, so., C; Jess Lubic, Kaneland, fr., OF; Lauren McNally, Rosary, so., 2B/OF; Shannah Morris, Aurora Christian, so., SS/C; Brooke Nelson, Batavia, fr., P; Dee Phalon, Geneva, jr,, C/RF; Steph Roan, St. Charles East, so., OF/IF.
Most improved players
Mary Kate Brooks, St. Charles East, so., OF; Danielle Caprile, Geneva, jr., CF; Kristin Damm, St. Charles North, so., C; Naomi Haas, Aurora Christian, so., P; Mallory Huml, Kaneland, jr., P; Katie Luetkins, Batavia, so., CF; Brenda Rocha, Rosary, fr., SS/2B; Anna Scott, ACC, sr., LF; Ali Sherman, West Aurora, jr., 1B.
Players who hit .400 and above
Megan Cryder, Aurora Christian, sr., 3B; Vickie Mathieu, Kaneland, sr., RF; Shannah Morris, Aurora Christian, so., SS/C; Kelsey Phalen, Batavia, sr., 3B; Casey Regnier, ACC, jr., P/1B; Kylie Schalz, Rosary, sr., P/SS.
Conference champion
Rosary
Top coaching jobs
Rosary's Tara Tattersall. At the start of the year, the Royals knew they had talent, including three players who have been on varsity since freshman year. They didn't disappoint, as they were the only team in the Tri-Cities Area to win a conference title. This was the first time since the 2003 season the Royals captured the Suburban Catholic Conference.
Teams to watch in 2009
St. Charles North, West Aurora, Geneva.