St. Charles North wants to go home for sectional
The coaches have voted, the pairings are in and St. Charles North knows exactly what it will take for its softball team to get to state.
The North Stars earned the No. 2 seed in the Class 4A St. Charles North sectional, trailing only 26-2 Elk Grove.
If St. Charles North can win two games at the Willowbrook regional, including a potential final against Wheaton North or St. Charles East, the North Stars will try to win the sectional on their home field. Last season the North Stars reached the sectional championship game at Lake Park before losing to Bartlett.
The seeds show better than anything what a spring it's been at St. Charles North. As a No. 2 seed, the North Stars are far ahead of any other area Class 4A team, with St. Charles East next at No. 10.
But at No. 2, the softball team actually has the worst seed among the St. Charles North spring sports. Both the baseball team and softball team are No. 1 seeds in their respective sports. The three teams - 22-2, 23-4 and 14-1-1 - enter the week a combined 59-7-1.
Slugging away: Geneva heads into its game at Batavia on Tuesday after an offensive onslaught Saturday when the Vikings scored 19 runs in two games.
Stacey Cladis led the charge with 2 home runs, 5 hits and 6 RBI in 2 wins over Maine West. Geneva slammed 6 home runs as a team, with Melissa Barber (2), Elana Wright and Kelly McCaffrey also hitting homers.
Adjustment made: With an undefeated record and an ERA at 1.06, St. Charles North ace Amanda Ciran certainly seems to be doing fine with the mound moved back to 43 feet this season.
"A lot more defense, defense is key," Ciran said. "No pitchers around here are striking everyone out. You get the extra three feet reaction time. It's big difference, it's a lot different game."
Ciran said she had some time to prepare for the switch in fall ball on her 18-U travel team and has noticed one pitch the change has helped.
"My drop ball seems to work better," Ciran said.
All-star game: The Seventh Annual Dave Fehlman Memorial Senior All-Star Game will be played at 6 p.m. on Monday, June 14, at Judson University in Elgin. The game is sponsored by the Northern Illinois Lightning, Fox Valley Sports Academy, Judson and Scheffler Electric and is supported by the Daily Herald. Organizers are seeking additional sponsors. Coaches have been sent nomination forms from 20 high schools in and around the Fox Valley area. April Stary of St. Charles North will coach the South squad and Tammy Olson of Cary-Grove the North. For further information, or to become a sponsor, call (847) 812-1522 or e-mail John Radtke at jradtke@dailyherald.com.