ECC has lofty goals with Scott in circle

What most junior college softball coaches long for - a bona fide standout pitcher - Anne Vogt has at Elgin Community College this season.

Mackenzie Scott, who won 64 games in her varsity career and pitched Burlington Central to third place in the Class 3A state tournament last year, has landed at ECC and showed Spartans' opponents what she's capable of when she struck out 21 batters in ECC's opener against South Suburban.

ECC has opened the season 2-2 with Scott beating South Suburban and Rock Valley before losing to Rock Valley in the second game of a doubleheader that Vogt called, "really cold and definitely not our best softball."

"I really don't think anybody's going to touch her and she's pretty much proved that so far," said Vogt of the fireballing Scott, who helped the Lemont Rockers win the ASA 18U Major national championship in 2008. "Mac is phenomenal and she's doing anything she can do to help us. We just have to hold up our end on offense."

Vogt, now in her eighth season back and 10th overall as ECC's coach, returns two all-conference players, including Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference MVP Barb Posinger of Streamwood. The sophomore shortstop was also all-Region for the ISCC champion Spartans last year.

Also back is all-conference outfielder Sophie Sterricker of Larkin.

"We're a hitting team," said Vogt, whose team was 16-16 overall and 9-3 in the ISCC last year. "We have big hitters up and down the lineup and we really don't have a weak spot right now. It's fun."

The remainder of the Spartans' roster is made up of freshman. That list of players includes Jessie LoRusso (2B, Streamwood, medical redshirt last year), Diana Besser (P, SouthElgin), Layla Ismajlaj (3B, S. Elgin), Riki Ernst (1B, Jacobs), Nina Barrutia (C, St. Charles North), Shelly Crerar (Utility, St. Charles North), Jordan Hogue (Utility, Huntley), and Brittany Heine (OF, Larkin).

The thin roster means the Spartans will have to stay healthy, but it doesn't overly concern Vogt, whose 2006 team went 29-6 and won the ISCC title with 10 players.

"Having 10 players is a concern," said Vogt, who was hoping an 11th player would be joining the team next week. "But we won 29 games and the conference with 10 players in 2006. We just have to keep everybody healthy and in shape."

Vogt pulls no punches about what she thinks her team is capable of this season.

"The conference championship is at the top of our list," said Vogt, the former Larkin, ECC and Judson standout who is the director of softball operations at Fox Valley Sports Academy. "It's very attainable. Last year it came out of nowhere but this year we all know it's an absolute must."

And beyond that?

"We really think a trip to nationals is attainable for us this year," said Vogt.