Scouting Mid-Suburban East softball teams

Mid-Suburban East

Buffalo Grove

Coach: Laura Stock (18th season)

Last year: 18-18, 5-11

Graduated players: Jill Klopke, Meg Miller, Lexi Bueno

Returning players: Maria Dax (Jr., P), Andrea DiPrima (Jr., 1B, OF, P), KC Dunne (Jr., SS, C, OF), Ali Levato (So., 2B), Becca Winter (So., OF, 1B), Sara Penelle (So., SS, 3B, OF), Emily Begnel (Jr., P, 1B), Danni Shapiro (So., C)

Newcomers: Erin Barton (So., 3B, SS) Kami Hutchings (So, OF), Jessie Lazzara (So., OF, U), Danielle Brown (Jr., OF, DP)

Scouting report: Buffalo Grove has been a very young team the last two years, so Stock is hoping the experience of the core of her roster pays off. Although she has no seniors, Stock expects six juniors to lead the way. Three sophomores also have varsity experience. Offensively, DiPrima (school record 65 hits and .542 batting average) and Dunne (. 470. 62 hits) had tremendous all-area sophomore campaigns. Dunne has already made a verbal commitment to Western Illinois. "The key will be consistent offensive contributions and improvement in the rest of the lineup" said Stock, a former Prospect pitching standout who was then a standout outfielder for Wisconsin-Parkside. " Defensively, several players have the versatility of playing multiple positions, and all three junior pitchers will provide consistency." Dax had a 1.30 ERA and 96 record last spring. Begnel's ERA stood at 0.60.

Elk Grove

Coach: Ken Grams (30th season)

Last year: 32-4, 15-1

Graduated Seniors: Kim Gulik, Stephanie Dolce, Kristy Ottoson, Krystina Leazer, Amanda Mertes, Brittany Tranchita, Caitlin Garrison, Nikki Goranson

Returning players: Jessica Balzano (Jr. 2B), Olivia Roback (Sr. SS), Stephanie Maday (Sr. P), Megan Keegan (So. C-OF), Dani Goranson (So. P-3B)

Newcomers: Amanda Gattone (Sr. 1B-OF), Caitlyn Kronforst (Sr. OF), Kristen Cetkovic (Jr., OF), Devan Parkison (So. C-OF), Rebecca Walz (So. 1B-3B), Krista Soesbe (So. IF), Elisa Payne (Fr. OF), Andrea Starr (So., OF)

Scouting report: Other than shortstop, which has been handled by all-area performer Roback (. 300, 20 RBI, 3 home runs last spring) for the past three years, the Grenadiers will have a new player in every position as coach Ken Grams begins his 30th campaign with 678 career wins. "It's a different look from a year ago," Grams said. "But we're looking good defensively. I think we will defend well and certainly pitch well." Maday (17-3, 0.12 ERA) and Goranson (11-1, 0.45, 138 strikeouts) are returning all-area hurlers. Maday also batted .383 with 3 homers and she won her 60th career game, putting her among the top five in school history. Balzano (. 405, 30 runs, 27 RBI, 49 hits) returns for her third varsity season after belting a single-season school-record 8 homers last spring. "We don't have as much speed as a year ago so we'll approach things a little different in that regard," said Grams, whose Grenadiers have won nine of the last 10 MSL East championships. "Obviously, the goal for the girls is always to win the conference."

Hersey

Coach: Molly Freeman (3rd season)

Last year: 7-21, 5-11

Graduated players: Aleene Morgenthaler, Caralyn Trom, Juile Klawitter, Sarah Laughlin.

Returning players: Kim Ferraro (Jr., SS), Aubrey Fulton (Sr, P, OF), Kristy Johnson (Sr., P), Sarah Jurczak (Sr. OF, C), Alyssa Kieffer (Sr., 1B), Taylor Reeves (Sr., 2B-C), Julia Rudesill (Sr., OF), Stacey Schmiederer (Sr. 3B), Kari Tunney (Sr., OF), Haley Henriksen (So., OF-3B)

Newcomers: Valerie Burke (So., 2B), Danielle Becker (Jr., C)

Scouting report: In her third season directing the Huskies program, Freeman returns eight seniors, including many starters. Becker, a junior catcher, is the only starter who was not on the varsity a year ago. "We're really excited," said Freeman, the former Fremd High School Athlete of the Year who played softball at UIC. "We're looking to have better offense and with the experience of eight seniors, you would think the defense would be pretty good because of the confidence from last season." Johnson was an all-area selection last spring. "She has really worked hard to get her strength back from a bout with mononucleosis over the winter," Freeman said. "She is really focused and she's a student of the game. She really has a good knowledge of what she needs to do." Fulton also has varsity experience on the mound. "Aubrey is doing great, too. She understands what pitches work for her. Both Aubrey and Kristy know that an adjustment will have to be made with the move to 43 feet. They'll get more tired quicker than in the past, especially early in the season. They know if they come in as a reliever, they have to be throwing strikes." Freeman expects a lot of good things from newcomer Henriksen, a talented sophomore. In the Huskies' final two games of the Spring Fling (9-7 win over Maine West and 4-3 loss to Deerfield), every starter had at least 1 hit in each game. "That's really a testament of the potential these girls have when they can string together hits like that," Freeman said. "It's exciting. We feel that there is no one who can't step up at a crucial time and get a hit for us."

Prospect

Coach: Brenda Martin (4th season)

Last year: 7-24, 5-11

Graduated players: Lisa Dominick, Kartie Dillon, Meagn Geraghty

Returning players: Sam Mangrum (Jr., P, 1B-OF), Nikki Surico (Jr., IF), Amanda Mlikan (Sr., OF), Kaila Walter (Sr., OF), Hanna Lythberg (So., P-U), Nichole Naranjo (Jr., C-U), Mary Styzek (Jr., OF, U), Allison Malewig (Sr., 1B, U)

Newcomers: Cassie Poulos (Fr., C-IF), Michelle Molini (Fr., 3B), Sarah Scaccia (So., IF), Jen Forssander (Sr., OF, U)

Scouting report: Martin calls her fourth team at Prospect "a fun and competitive group to coach." The former all-area Schaumburg catcher has a young team but it is eager to compete in the MSL East. "The girls have been working very hard during the off-season to redeem themselves for this season," said Martin, who guided the Knights to 19 wins two seasons ago. "I believe they have truly learned what it means to be a varsity player since they were so young last spring. Martin says the Knights leadership and motivation has improved drastically. "The players will be set in their defensive positions which should really help with being solid and consistent," she said. "Offensively, we are really excited about the potential of this group." Mangrum and Lythberg return to the mound for Martin. Mlikan, Surico and Mangrum will serve as tri-captains. "We are looking for some great leadership from them and others," Martin said. "Building skills and confidence from each game will determine what the future holds for this young group. But we are very optimistic and have a lot of goals in store."

Rolling Meadows

Coach: Tony Wolanski (6th season)

Last year: 17-17, 10-6

Graduated players: Leah Liston, Maddy Urban, Libby Marsh, Danielle Mago, Tierney Larson

Returning players: Kayla Mueller (Jr., P-OF), Kelly Keyzer (Jr., C), Emily Skorin (Jr., 1B-RF), Abby Matayka (Jr., 3B), Natalie Cannizzo (So., 1B, LF), Josie Suchecki (So., P-LF), Maryclare Loughery (Sr., 2B, 1B)

Newcomers: Sam Anderson (Fr., SS-CF), Kelly Sarussi (So., OF, 2B), Ellie Morgan (So., SS-CF), Megan O'Donnell (So., 1B), Sara Brunlieb (Fr., P, OF)

Scouting report: The Mustangs return six starters from last year's team and hope to enjoy a 20-win season while competing for the MSL East title. Loughery batted .395 last spring with 24 RBI. "Loughery is one of the best players no one has heard of," Wolanski said. "She was an all-area player last year and is one of the best hitters in the MSL." Suchecki was 12-10 on the mound last spring with a 1.60 ERA. "Suchecki had a great freshman season and will be better this year," the coach added. "She gets overshadowed by some great pitchers in the MSL but she is one of the top five pitchers in the conference."

Wheeling

Coach: Mike Caringella (1st season)

Last year's record: 3-23, 1-14

Graduated players: Kristen Durbin

Returning players: Tori Menelle (Sr., P-2B), Amanda Zammatta (So., 3B), Taylor Schroeder (Jr., OF), Keslie Jurik (Sr., 2B-SS), Sejal Shah (Jr., 3B, P), Scout Scanlon (Sr., OF), Alyson Fallon (Jr., 1B), Becky Menelle (Sr., C), Samie Spinabella (Sr., SS)

Newcomers: Sara Kern (Fr., OF), Ashley Hafertepe (Fr., OF)

Scouting report: Caringella, who has been the assistant softball coach at Wheeling for the past 10 years, takes over the program this season. Caringella has been in the restaurant business since 1982. He currently runs Armand's of Arlington Heights located in downtown Arlington Heights. He will be assisted this spring by Rick McCoy and Jim Neubert. The rookie coach welcomes back five seniors who he expects to provide leadership. Catcher Becky Menelle begins her fourth year on the varsity and she will catch for her sister Tori, also a senior. "We need Tori to be healthy," Caringella said. "She missed some time last year with illness. She will be our senior pitcher." Shah is the Wildcats junior on the mound. "She picked up the slack last year and will pitch a lot this season," Caringella said. "We have two experienced pitchers." Scanlon and Jurik will bat No. 1 and 2. "Scout is going to be the key to the offense," Caringella said. "She's our leadoff slapper with a lot of speed. We'll try to move her around the bases. Kelsie can do the same thing. We're looking at those two to improve their on-base percentage so we can get them on base and have the middle of the order get them home." Fallon returns as an all-conference first baseman who hit .371 last spring and paid solid defense. Spinabella, who transferred from Libertyville as a junior, anchored the defense last season at shortstop. "That was a pleasant surprise and we'll have her there again," Caringella said. "I think the girls are ready to play. The practices have been good. They've spent a lot of time on individual skills and a lot of them played over the summer and worked hard in the off-season. I think they definitely want to win some games. They didn't like losing last season. The five seniors need to be leaders. Even if we're not playing well, they have to keep the team up, be leaders and make sure everyone is having fun. The key is pitching and defense."