Wave, Rockets, Whips hope for more success

St. Edward, Burlington Central and Hampshire each come into the 2009 softball season having had postseason success in 2008, but also having graduated some key players from those teams.

Gone from the Elite Eight Green Wave are standouts such as Megan Pozezinski (UW-Platteville), Kelly Knott, Erin McGraw and Celeste Von Ahnen. Burlington graduated Daily Herald Female Athlete of the Year Erica Maisto (Upper Iowa) and all-area outfielder Brooke Porto from its 32-2 conference and regional championship team, and Hampshire gave diplomas to Paige Kent, Jessica Kraus and Katie McBride from its regional title team.

Here's a look at how the three squads stack up this season.

St. Edward: The final record was 18-12 but the magic carpet ride to a Class 2A supersectional appearance was one the Green Wave will long remember, and one coach Mike Rolando hopes the program can build on.

"Our goals are to win the Suburban Catholic Conference, advance to the Final Four and continue to build on the foundation our seniors built last year," said Rolando, in his second season. "We have six returning starters and senior and junior leaders with several years of varsity experience along with some great younger athletes to round out the roster."

Leading the list of returnees for the Wave is four-year starter Megan Smith, a team captain who will play second base. Senior infielder Steph Werner hit .340 for the season and over .500 in the postseason last year and she and senior Madeline Foehringer (P/INF, team captain) are also expected to lead the way. Junior Kristi Knott (. 388, 19 RBI) is back for her third season in center field, junior Kristina Brockner returns as the team's rock behind the plate, and sophomores Sarah Field (1.82 ERA in 75 IP) and SS Lea Diaz (. 344) give Rolando and his coaching staff a good nucleus to work with.

"There will be a lot of competition for some vacated spots due to graduation, particularly in the infield," said Rolando, who has added former Larkin and Valparaiso standout Courtney LaFerle to the coaching staff to assist freshman and sophomore coach Jaci Corn. LaFerle returns this week from a seven-month teaching stint in Japan.

Some of the new players Rolando is hoping step up include juniors Ricki Tierney (1B) and Taylor Lundquist (1B/OF), sophomores Kristina Kolodziejczyk (OF/P), Kelsey Richmond (3B) and Veronica Rolando (Of/2B), as well as freshman Maddie Kerr (IF/OF).

"With several ranked (Class) 3A/4A opponents on the schedule again this year, we should be battle-tested by the end of the regular season and poised to make a strong showing in the postseason," Rolando said.

St. Edward will again host the Chicagoland Challenge tournament at the Elgin Sports Complex on Saturday, April 18. The field this year includes Hampshire, Marengo, Aurora Central, Chicago Christian, Farmington, Genoa-Kingston, Illiana Christian and the Green Wave.

Burlington Central: Despite another conference and regional championship, the Rockets couldn't get over the sectional hump last year, falling to Freeport in the sectional semifinals. And while losing players the caliber of Maisto and Porto will leave a void, there's a plethora of talent returning as the Rockets look to defend their Big Northern East crown.

That list starts with shortstop Kayla Oranger, the all-area co-captain a year ago, who figures to graduate among the all-time IHSA career leaders in several offensive categories. Oranger, who has signed with Texas-El Paso, hit .496 last season and drove in 26 runs from the leadoff spot. She had 43 stolen bases and was caught only 3 times, and she had 64 total hits.

While Oranger sets the table for the Rockets, the lineup is strong up and down. It includes junior third baseman Ashley Scheffler, junior catcher Sam Gruner (. 280. 32 RBI), senior first baseman Brittany Priest (. 364), senior left fielder Lindsay Lange (22 RBI) and junior utility player Abby Morrow (19 RBI). Coach Scot Sutherland is also hoping for contributions from varsity returnees Katie Maleski, Jess Herrmann and Kelsey Nieds, as well as freshman newcomers Haley Albamonte and Katelyn O'Reilly, who started for the Rockets' state runner-up volleyball team this past fall.

In the circle, senior Mackenzie Scott returns after going 16-1 with a 0.78 ERA last season. She struck out 247 in 116 innings and has the ability to dominate a game, but she's also been battling a leg injury. Saturday's 3-0 loss to West Aurora was her first outing of the season. While Scott has been sidelined, junior Jet Kein has stepped up to win 3 games for the Rockets.

"We'll need Mac to be healthy but thus far Jet has risen to the challenge," Sutherland said. "We just need to plug people in at second base and in center field and get consistent play from them and the rest will take care of itself."

Hampshire: The Whip-Purs also made a postseason run into the Class 2A sectionals, and have a good core of returning players again this season as they jump to 3A.

Senior Megan Roadcap leads the list of returnees for Hampshire. An all-area player who hit .438 with 29 RBI last season, the Whips' shortstop has signed to play at Judson University next year.

Also back are seniors Jordan Moore (C, .322, 23 RBI) and Tegan Singleton (P/INF, 11 RBI, 7-4 in circle), Christie Wood (OF) and Brianna Doyle (OF), along with junior Ally Kent (P/IF, .402, 7-6, 2.36 ERA).

Coach Ken Bram is hoping for immediate contributions from freshmen Katelyn Bruscato (P/3B) and Grace Jakubowski (INF), as well as junior Mary Bruscato (OF).

"We've got a lot of holes to fill and our schedule is tougher this year," said Bram, whose team finished 18-14 last season. "We've got good pitching back with Ally and Tegan and with Katelyn up, but we don't have a lot of overall depth so we can't afford injuries. Hopefully we'll hold our own and get better as the season progresses."