Lightning celebrates 10th year
The Northern Illinois Lightning, Illinois Alleycats and Elgin Heat women's fastpitch softball teams will kick off the 2009 summer season on Sunday with a round robin tournament on Field 4 at the Elgin Sports Complex that also includes the Aurora Raiders.
Games begin at 9 a.m. and the complete schedule can be found at www.eteamz.com/northernillinoislightning.
The Lightning is celebrating its 10th season on the women's fastpitch circuit and has a predominantly new team after a core group of players who had been together for 3-4 years retired after graduating from college.
Three returning full-time players - all from Elgin - anchor the Lightning this season.
Jaci Corn (Elgin/ECC/Judson) returns to play first base for the Lightning for the sixth straight year, while catcher/SS/1B Courtney LaFerle (Larkin/Valparaiso) returns for her fifth season and outfielder Karisa Hansen (Larkin/Aurora) is back for her fourth season with the team.
"Those three are our leaders," said Lightning manager John Radtke. "They have the experience at this level and they know the high level of competition we play."
Newcomers to the Lightning this season include a pair of Division I pitchers in Alex Lagesse (Beecher/Valparaiso) and Lauren Ott (Mundelein/Butler), who will each be position players as well. Lagesse pitched the Lemont Rockers to the ASA 18U national championship last summer. Lindsay Nauman (Byron/Elmhurst) will also pitch and play the outfield for the Lightning, as will Michelle Sabatini (Nazareth/Loras).
"Lagesse and Ott have some quality Division I experience behind them," said Radtke, who is assisted for the fourth straight year by Ron Hansen. "We're excited to have them with us this summer. In addition to their pitching talents they're both good hitters and good fielders. Nauman and Sabitini have a lot of versatility and that will make us better."
The infield will be manned by Nikki Schlagel (Glenbard East/Benedictine), Deanna Angelini (Resurrection/Loras), Megan Pozezinski (St. Edward/UW-Platteville) and Kylie Albright (Joliet West/Aurora). In addition to LaFerle, Ott, Schlagel and Albright will also catch.
The outfield will be anchored by Hansen as well as Shannon Starr (Lake Park/Aurora) and Chassidy Mangers (Kaneland/Augustana).
Elissa Wisniewski (Stevenson/Winona State), the winningest pitcher in Lightning history, will play part-time as well as coach the Lightning's 18U Black team, and Sarah McCleary (Larkin/Iowa Wesleyan) could see action later in the summer after recovering from a shoulder injury.
"It's a good group with a lot of talent," Radtke said. "Our goal, as always, is to allow these girls an opportunity to play in the summer and keep their skills sharp for their college careers, as well as provide a place for college graduates to continue to play fastpitch. We'll have a lot of fun this summer as we always do and I believe we'll be as competitive as ever."
The Lightning will also host two tournaments at the Elgin Sports Complex again. The Lightning Summer Bash, with 48 teams in three age divisions (16U, 18U and 18 & over) is June 19-21, and the John Radtke Memorial Fastpitch Classic, a 24-team women's event with teams from four Midwest states, is July 11-12.
The Lightning is 242-156 in its existence, including third place finishes at the USSSA World Series in 2006 and 2007.
Illinois Alleycats: The 2009 edition of the Illinois Alleycats is ready to build on an already successful history.
Manager Tom Potter believes that this year may prove to be a challenging year with having 8 new rookies, the most of any of his 8 years as manager, but feels this team is deeper than many of his other teams and as talented.
"I expect great things from this year's squad," Potter said. "The Alleycat tradition will be well represented by this highly talented group."
The pitching staff looks to serve as one of the team's strengths. The veteran pitchers Allie Benthusen (Larkin/Carthage) and Jackie Gill (Heyworth/Augustana). They will be joined in the circle by Kelsey Epping (Tri Valley/Carthage), Heather Gradishar (Marian Central/Kankakee) and Lindsey Decker (Genoa/Aurora).
Returning infield standouts include SS Chrissy Rosin (Niles West/Augustana), 3b/SS Katie Williams (Lane Tech/Valparaiso) and 1B Sara Brandal (Streamwood/ECC). The Alleycats have also added 1B/OF Jacqueline Tassone (Downers Grove South/Carthage) to the roster.
The catching staff will be manned by returning veteran Marissa Osness (Woodstock/MCC), who will also see time at third base, and rookie Shannon Stipek (Richmond-Burton/Kankakee). Stipek is a versatile player and will also see action as an infielder and outfielder. Veteran catcher Natalie Smith returns for her eighth year as the third catcher.
The outfield returns Melissa Nelson (Aurora West/Augustana) and Kim Lofton (WW South/NIU).
Rookies who will see plenty of action in both the outfield and infield are Kristina Zobrist (Zion-Benton/Lake County College), Kim Breakey (Lincoln-way East/NIU) and Stephanie Rudolfi (Buffalo Grove/Ball State), who missed her 2009 freshman year due to injury. Shannon Powers (Lake Park/Illinois) played with the 2008 Alleycats but due to education commitments will see limited action.