DVC won’t be easy
His team’s 8-0 start is nice, but Glenbard North coach Josh Sanew knows it means nothing going forward.
Starting today, the conference grind begins.
With a talented bunch of returning upperclassmen, the DuPage Valley Conference race shapes up to be every bit as competitive as last year. West Chicago won it by going 10-4, but four other teams finished within two games and Wheaton North was only three off the pace.
“This conference is set up to be one heck of a battle,” said Sanew, whose team took second last year at 9-5 after winning the DVC in 2009. “I don’t see anybody going through with one or two losses. No slouches or slackers in this conference.”
Five of the six top teams from last year return their aces, including West Chicago (Mary Connolly), Glenbard North (Lilly Fecho), Naperville Central (Alyssa Wunderlich), Naperville North (Emily Dieckmann) and Wheaton North (Kahla Nolan and Katie Thornton). All six of the top teams from last year return the core of their lineup, a group of hitters headlined by 2010 DVC Player of the Year Sammy Marshall of Naperville North.
The top six teams in conference feature a total of 10 Division I recruits.
“Connolly’s very good, Glenbard North is scoring about 500 runs a game, and Sammy Marshall is so fast nobody can even time her,” Naperville Central coach Andy Nussbaum said. “I don’t think there’s any question that the talent in the league, and around the area, is getting better.”
Sanew’s Panthers jump right into the heat of DVC competition, traveling to West Chicago today. West Chicago and Glenbard North have traded DVC titles the last three years after the Panthers dominated the league from 2001-07.
Glenbard North did beat West Chicago twice last year, hitting Connolly hard in both meetings.
“We’re anxious to play them,” Sanew said. “It’s been a huge battle with them the last couple years. A lot of these girls play on travel teams together, and it’s one of those rivals they love to play.”
Watch out for young Warriors:Wheaton Academy coach Todd Starowitz cautions not to read too much into his team#146;s modest four-game winning streak.But the Warriors#146; future is worth watching.Wheaton Academy had five freshmen in its starting lineup last Wednesday against Walther Lutheran, and the kids can play. Starowitz called freshman shortstop Marissa Gagliano a #147;difference-maker#148; who defensively saves the Warriors 3-4 outs a game. The 5-foot-3 dynamo with pop also is hitting .467 with 2 homers, 3 doubles and 11 of the Warriors#146; 19 stolen bases. Starowitz expected big things from Gagliano. A pleasant surprise, though, has been fellow freshman Sarah McClain. A first-time softball player, she came out for open gym in February and is hitting .300. McClain has also played a solid left field.#147;I asked her where she learned how to throw,#148; Starowitz said, #147;and she said, #145;last Saturday.#146; If you would tell someone that she started playing softball two months ago for the first time, they#146;d say you#146;re lying. She could be really special.#148;Junior Bekah Heubner, all-league last year, hit 2 homers against St. Edward and has driven in a team-high 17 runs. Caitlin Koehler, exclusively a slapper last year, is dragging and hitting away and batting .440 on the season.#147;She#146;s become an issue for people,#148; Starowitz said. #147;We have a couple people at the top of the order who can run with her and Marissa.#148;Redhawks add 4A champs to schedule:This week#146;s poor weather has forced many teams to drop nonconference games to wedge in conference makeups. Naperville Central has made a big addition.The Redhawks will host defending Class 4A state champion Sandburg the last Friday of the regular season, May 20. Naperville Central#146;s last week just got a little more demanding, as the Redhawks were already scheduled to play at Stagg on May 14, host West Chicago on May 16 and play at Glenbard North on May 18.#147;That last weekend before the state tournament we have to gear up for high-level games,#148; Nussbaum said. #147;At that point when we play Sandburg the DVC will be over and this will be a good test to see what we#146;re made of.#148;