Softball: Elk Grove returns tons of experience

Elk Grove softball coach Ken Grams has guided the Grenadiers to 948 wins since landing the job in 1981.

Now in his 40th season, you can expect more wins from the hall of famer this spring when the state-ranked Grenadiers will chase a 20th Mid-Suburban East crown with seven returning players.

"We had a very nice season last year," said Grams, the winningest active coach in Illinois. "It's a group with a good amount of talent and experience who work well together."

The Grens return two experienced pitchers with senior Lauren Clausen and junior Olivia Masnica.

Senior catcher Katia Pendowski will be a four-year starter who performs all phases of the game at a high level.

Three of four players return to a solid and reliable infield - Masnica, junior Taylor Schulz and senior Grace Engwall.

And two excellent outfielders who have been starters since they were freshmen - juniors Morgan Leach and AJ Trausch, who have been starters since they were freshmen.

One of the top challengers for Elk Grove will be defending East champion Hersey.

All-area standouts Brianna Luciano, Makayla Tsaglis and Sarah Balitz graduated, but coach Hersey coach Molly Freeman has four returning senior starters with all-conference selection Savanah Gazda, Morgan Breden, Kyle Makuh and Ria Patel.

"We will be entering the season with a lot of experience," Freeman said. "We'll have those seniors, five juniors, two sophomores and a freshman."

The Huskies have won three East titles under Freeman.

"We're very excited to be competing for our fourth," said the former Fremd Athlete of the Year who is in her 13th season. "As a team, we believe we have a lot of strengths both up to bat and on defense. We are very excited to get our season started."

Prospect kicks off its fourth season under coach Krystina Mackowiak.

"We are a young team this season (five freshmen, two sophomores) so we will look to the early games to help us grow and play as a cohesive unit," Mackowiak said.

Pitcher Claire Doherty, who has committed to the Milwaukee School of Engineering, returns for her fourth varsity season.

"We will lean on her to keep teams off balance and our defense to back her up and make the plays," Mackowiak said. "This is a talented, hard working group with a lot of potential for success. The coaches are excited to watch this group surprise a lot of opponents."

All-conference infielder Megan Fontanetta returns for her senior season to lead coach Starr Dorsey's Buffalo Grove Bison.

The three-sport athlete (golf and basketball) will play a key role in the batting order along with Angelina Craig, who led the Bison with her .514 batting average last year as a freshman.

"We will be a very young team with five freshmen and three sophomores on the varsity," Dorsey said. "But it's a group that has a very high softball IQ. I am expecting a lot on the defensive and offensive side of things from these young athletes."

Rolling Meadows coach Tony Wolanski begins his 17th season after graduating seven seniors from a team that won 19 games.

"So this will be a rebuilding year," said Wolanski, a winner of more than 200 games who returns five varsity players and three starters.

Wolanski said Sami Benner, Sam Elenz and Kelsie Campbell are expected to lead the Mustangs.

"We have a nice mix of players who have been working hard in practice," Wolanski said. " We have a very inexperienced team this season so we are trying to learn how to play the game at the high school level. We are going to have to be patient as it is going to take some time for the kids to develop. Our goal is to improve each week."

Wheeling coach Mike Caringella has three returning starters as he begins his 11th season.

Emmie Lacaeyse, Peyton Lacaeyse and Sophia Stanke are four-year starters for the Wildcats who return eight sophomores who played on varsity as freshman last year.

Dani Moser and Nikki Niznik started in center and right. Sam Janulis and Lexi Blumka were in the infield. Julia Konrath pitched while Jojo Stepak and Mia Joyner shared catching duties.

Lexi Bernstein also returns while freshman Amanda Bann is expected to see major playing time.