Softball: Scouting Fox Valley
Aurora Central Catholic
Coach: Mark Pasqualini
Last year’s record: 18-11, 7-5 Metro Suburban Blue
Top returning players: Amelia Lohrey, sr., OF; Natalie Sanchez, sr., 2B; Sophia Delgado, jr., C-SS; Ashley Moore, jr., 1B; Kate Gambro, jr., P-Utility; Morgan Vaghy, soph., IF; Cornia Miller, soph., P-IF; Jessica Pleckham, jr., OF; Charlotte Brummel, jr., P-1B
Key newcomers: Abby Gambro, fresh., OF
Worth noting: The Chargers had no seniors in 23, hence they return the entire team. Delgado, a second-team all-state pick, hit .491 with 42 hits. Moore, a third-team all-stater, hit .446. Lohrey, headed to Emory-Riddle in Arizona, hit .386 with 3 homers and 27 RBI and is a four-year starter. Sanchez will continue her career at Wisconsin Lutheran. Kate Gambro, also third-team all-state, hit .414 with 4 homers and scored 42 runs. She went 7-5 in the circle. Vaghy, the fourth all-stater back for ACC, hit .462 with 36 hits and 2 homers. Miller went 7-3 with 70 strikeouts in 60 innings pitched. Pleckham hit .435 and Brummel belted 3 homers and struck out 46 in 41 innings of work. “We’re still a young team with two seniors,” Pasqualini said. “They work hard to score runs and are aggressive on the bases.” This is ACC’s first season in the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference. “It will be yet another challenge for our team,” Pasqualini said. “We hope to prepare the team to make a deep conference run and potentially a run in the state playoffs.” In ACC’s season-opening 21-1 win over Plano, six different players hit a homer and Kate Gambro and Brummel combined to throw a no-hitter.
Bartlett
Coach: Jim Wolfsmith
Last year’s record: 23-8, 15-3 Upstate Eight runner-up
Top returning players: Olivia Ligouri, sr.; Lauren Ligouri, sr.; Grace Wilkens, sr.; Julia Wilkens, sr.; Ellie Klein; Christina Stankus, jr.; P; Emma Engels, jr.
Key newcomers: Suzie Piastowski, soph., C-1B; Callyn New, fresh., 3B-C; Addison Moore, fresh., 3B-C; Hannah Phillips, fresh., P-3B
Worth noting: While the Hawks did lose all-stater Addie Koth (19 homers, 82 RBI), they do return plenty, including two sets of senior twins. Olivia Ligouri hit .500 with 11 doubles, 16 homers, 62 RBI and 17 stolen bases. Lauren Ligouri hit .477 with 51 runs scored and 21 steals. Grace Wilkens hit .564 with 60 runs scored and 12 steals. Julia Wilkens hit .421 with 29 runs scored and 16 steals. Klein hit .356 with 20 runs scored and 31 RBI. Stankus hit .412 with 37 runs scored, 4 triples, 5 homers, 35 RBI and 17 steals as a sophomore. She also went 17-7 in the circle with 138 strikeouts in 137 innings. Engels hit .402. “We are hoping to be a very exciting team again this year with improved defense and pitching,” Wolfsmith said. “Returning 8 starters and adding some quality young talent will keep us fresh.”
Batavia
Coach: Torry Pryor
Last season’s record: 5-29 overall, 1-13 DuKane Conference, lost to Yorkville in regional semifinal.
Top returning players: Emily Reagan, sr., P/IF; Gwen Shouse, jr., SS; Grace Sartain, jr., 3B/2B; Bella Zagotta, sr., 2B/3B; Eleni Vatianou, sr., IF; Adriana Platt, sr., OF; Reagan Payne, sr., 1B; Jordan VanderLuitgaren, sr., OF; Lilly Willuweit, sr., C/IF/OF.
Top new players: Amira Mendoza, so., OF/C; Mackenzie Krauch, so., OF/P; Teagan Sullivan, so., OF/C.
Worth noting: Millikin commit Reagan, Shouse, Sartain and Zagotta are returning starters. Shouse, an all-conference pick last season, hit .378 as a sophomore. Sartain hit .326.
“We have some amazing returning players who are ready to compete this season,” Pryor said. “With our consistent pitching, solid defense and senior leadership, we have the opportunity to perform well this season.”
Burlington Central
Coach: Bill Morrow (first season)
Last season’s record: 9-22, 5-13 FVC (10th)
Top returners: Kayla Covey, sr., IF; Francesca Winkelhake, sr., IF; Emily Rafferty, sr., P; Danielle Durckel, sr., OF; Makayla Larson, sr., OF; Anna Sanders, sr., SS-3B
Key newcomers: Addisyn Petersen, jr., P; Olivia Sutton, jr., C; Allie Botkin, jr., P-OF; Antonina Garcia, jr., 1B; Kelsey Covey, fr., IF; Emmerson Falk, fr., P; Isabelle Reed, fr., P; Kendall Glonek, so., C-IF; Ava Brzezicki, so., C-UTIL; Mei Shirokawa, fr., SS-C
Worth noting: Morrow, who is president of travel team Wasco Diamonds, takes over a Rockets’ program looking to turn things around after a 10th-place finish in the FVC. Morrow previously served as a volunteer assistant for Central from 2010 to 2013. Both of Morrow’s daughters played for the Rockets. … Central last won a regional title eight years ago. … Sanders is committed to Minnesota-Duluth. She was the team’s top hitter with a .494 batting average. Larson was second at .361. Both were All-FVC selections.
Cary-Grove
Coach: Cara Neff (first season)
Last season’s record: 13-20, 8-10 FVC (tied for fourth)
Top returners: Maddie Crick, sr., C; Becca Weaver, sr., P; Kaley Koltz, sr., OF; Aubrey Lonergan, jr., OF-SS
Key newcomers: Annika Dykstra, fr., OF-P
Worth noting: Neff, a 2011 Wauconda graduate, takes over for Tammy Olson, who finished with more than 500 wins. … The Trojans ended their season with a 9-5 loss to Wauconda in a Class 3A regional final. … C-G returns 13 varsity players. Weaver (2.92 ERA, .447 BA) is committed to Providence College and Crick will play at Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Koltz is one of the area’s speediest players. Weaver, Crick and Koltz were named All-FVC. … “With such a strong foundation in place, we are eager to build upon last year’s achievements and reach new milestones,” Neff said. “We look forward to showcasing the skills and dedication of our players to our community.”
Crystal Lake South
Coach: Sara Markelonis (second season)
Last season’s record: 12-18, 6-12 FVC (eighth)
Top returners: Dana Skorich, sr., C-3B-P; Stephanie Lesniewski, sr., SS-3B; Mia Cervantes, sr., CF
Key newcomers: Ella Nawracaj, so., P-UTIL; Alli Lieflander, fr., 3B; Lyla Haase, fr., P-INF; Makena Cleary, fr., OF
Worth noting: The Gators finished 6-12 in the FVC for the second year in a row. The team lost its top pitcher (Kennedy Grippo) to graduation. … Skorich, who is committed to Loras, provided a lot of power and run production as the Gators’ top hitter. She hit .447 with eight homers, eight doubles and an area-best 45 RBIs. Skorich was an All-FVC selection. … “Overjoyed to start another season with the Gators,” Markelonis said. “We have put in a lot of work during our offseason and I am excited to see how this year goes. My expectation is that we work hard and fight through each pitch as if it were our last.”
Dundee-Crown
Coach: Matthew Goetz (second season)
Last season’s record: 18-15, 11-7 FVC (third)
Top returners: McKayla Anderson, sr., P; Jordyn Jeffs, so., 1B
Worth noting: The Chargers finished third in the FVC after tying for sixth in 2022. Anderson, who will play next year at Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, set the school record with 267 strikeouts, achieving the mark in the last game of the season. The All-FVC pick compiled 15 wins, a 2.37 ERA and 1.09 WHIP while also hitting .409 with 26 RBIs and 26 runs scored. … Jeffs emerged as one of the team’s biggest run producers and Goetz thinks she can challenge for school home run records by the end of her high school career. … “I think our biggest strength is the heart, teamwork and drive to perform,” Goetz said. “Our team lost two big captains, one of which was our highest batting average player, so our hitting really needs to step it up this year.”
Elgin
Coach: Monica Stockman
Last year’s record: 4-24, 4-14 Upstate Eight
Top returning players: Madison King, sr., P’ Monica Martinez, sr., C-Utility
Key newcomers: Alejandra Terrazas, fresh., 3B-OF; Xiamara Lawrence, fresh., P-1B
Worth noting: The Maroons return 6 starters with King earning all-conference and academic all-conference honors a year ago, as well as being named the Elgin MVP. Martinez also was academic all-conference and earned a 2023 sportsmanship award. “Our strengths are working together as a team, working hard and having fun,” Stockman said. “We are usually at the bottom of the conference, but we are working on changing that. Each year, I feel like we get better. We put an effort into working hard, having fun and learning life skills while learning to play softball.”
Geneva
Coach: Ann Plackett.
Last year’s record: 7-25, 1-13 DuKane Conference.
Top returning players: Ally Ward, sr., OF; Katilyn Sprague, jr., SS/OF; Kat Cerwin, jr., 3B; Nora Faulkner, sr., P; Sloane Fisher, jr., 2B/OF; Megan O’Connor, so., C; Elise Strohm, sr., P; Hailey Hornick, sr., 1B, C; Reagan Krohe, sr., 1B/3B.
Worth noting: Six seniors return for the Vikings this season, three of whom are committed to play in college. Faulkner is headed to Benedictine, Strohm to Grinnell and Hornick to Clarke College.
“Stronger outlook this year for hitting; maturation and discipline in the batter’s box,” Plackett said. “Experience on the field should yield positive results and hoping for a stronger performance overall, in both conference and non-conference games.”
Hampshire
Coach: Jeremy Bauer (third season)
Last season’s record: 14-16, 5-13 FVC (ninth)
Top returners: Bria Riebel, jr., SS; Mia Robinson, so., 1B
Key newcomer: Ali Sondergaard, jr., C-UTIL
Worth noting: The Whip-Purs defeated Hononegah in the Class 4A Hampshire Regional final to win their first regional championship since 2016. Hampshire fell to Huntley 11-1 in the sectional semifinals. … Riebel, who is committed to South Dakota State, was among the area’s best offensive players and earned All-FVC honors. She hit .469 with nine home runs and 35 RBIs. … Robinson hit .446 with 27 RBIs and played primarily at first base, but also played in the outfield. She was an All-FVC choice by coaches as a freshman. … “After an exciting finish to our season last year, we’re excited get back on the field,” Bauer said. “We only graduated two seniors, so we should have a more experienced group on the field.”
Harvest Christian Academy
Coach: Greg Richards
Last year’s record: 2-11, 1-2 Northeastern
Top returning players: Chace Welsh, sr., C; Riley Kate Butler, sr., Utility; Maddie Linta, sr., 1B; McKenna Nestrick, sr., OF-C; Alyssa Burke, jr., P-IF; Kenzie Weidman, jr, IF; Ella Schoenberg, sr.
Key newcomers: Mackenzie Richads, jr., P-IF; Alyana Booras, fresh., OF; Makayla Richards, fresh., IF-OF
Outlook: Richards takes over a Lions program that had no graduations from a year ago. “We have some good players, but lack pitching depth,” Richards noted. “While we lack in pitching experience and depth, the newcomers will add strong hitting and dependable defense to a solid returning group. We look to compete in the Northeastern Conference this year. We could surprise some teams in conference as we look toward a bright future.”
Huntley
Coach: Mark Petryniec (20th season)
Last season’s record: 27-8, 17-1 FVC (first)
Top returners: Meghan Ryan, sr.; Christina Smith, sr.; Elly Winter, sr.; Alyssa Bonner, jr.; Isabella Boskey, jr.; Ava McFadden, jr.; Madison Rozanski, jr.; Sadie Svendsen, jr.; Aubrina Adamik, so.; Grace Benson, so.; Lyla Ginczycki, so.; Makayla Rasmussen, so.
Key newcomers: Gretchen Huber, jr.; Taryn Rainey, jr.; Keely Fewell, so.; Lana Hobday, fr.
Worth noting: The Red Raiders won their eighth straight regional title and ended the season with a 7-2 loss to Barrington in the Class 4A Hononegah sectional final. Huntley has won 20 games in 10 straight seasons and has won the FVC in three straight years. … Despite returning 13 varsity players, Huntley will look a lot different after some significant losses to graduation, including outfielders Katie Mitchell (58 runs, 58 steals) and Clara Hudgens (.431 BA, area-best eight triples) and pitcher Juliana Maude (16-6, 2.15 ERA, 143 Ks). … Ryan, an All-FVC pick, is the team’s top returner on offense with a .420 batting average, nine doubles and 26 RBIs. Smith, who is committed to Washington University, hit .396 with 24 runs scored. Svendsen, another All-FVC pick last season, hit .388 with 29 RBIs and 31 runs. Adamik tallied 16 steals. Rasmussen was second on the team with 59 1/3 innings, posting a 3.30 ERA as a freshman.
Jacobs
Coach: Jessica Turner (second season)
Last season’s record: 11-25, 8-10 FVC (tied for fourth)
Top returners: Clare Piazza, sr., OF; Jianna Tanada, jr., OF
Key newcomers: Talia Di Silvio, fr., IF
Worth noting: The Golden Eagles lost two of their top hitters in Cici Di Silvio (.453 BA, seven homers) and Arya Patel (.403 BA) and graduated seven seniors overall… Turner is looking forward to a new core of leaders emerging, including Piazza and Tanada. Piazza was an All-FVC choice. … “We graduated seven seniors, so we have a really young group that is looking to make a name for themselves,” Turner said. “The buy-in from this team is the biggest strength. They trust each other and their coaching staff. They always show up every day ready to work hard.”
Kaneland
Last year: 17-17, lost to Sycamore in a Class 3A Belvidere North Sectional semifinal
Top returning players: Brynn Woods, so., P
Top new players: None provided
Worth noting: The Knights won a regional for the eighth year in a row last year to finish the year at .500. A lot of key players graduated from that team, but Woods was a standout last year as a freshman and figures to be a key component this year.
Larkin
Coach: Anne Vogt
Last year’s record: 15-13
Top returning players: Camila Alonzo, sr., 3B; Nani Ortega, sr., C; Brynn Kerber, sr., OF; Olivia Salazar, sr., P-Utility; Julissa Aguinaga, jr., SS; Kaitlyn Nuebert, jr., OF; Mya Bermudez, jr., OF; Kenya Ventura, jr., IF; Yesi Escobar, soph., 2B-OF
Key newcomers: Mackenzie Wemken, P-IF; Leslie Ruiz, Utility; Ali Herrick, fresh., 1B-OF
Worth noting: The Royals have a ton back, including four seniors who will continue the sport at the college level in Alonzo (Elgin Community College), Ortega (Triton), Kerber (Milwaukee School of Engineering) and Salazar (ECC). Salazar was all-conference, all-area and third-team all-state after hitting .339. Alonzo hit .391 last year, while Kerber was an all-UEC and honorable-mention all-area pick after hitting .299. Escobar hit .400, while Aguinaga hit .317 and Bermudez was at .307. Vogt has a total of 9 returners. “We will give conference teams a run every day,” she said. “We have 9 returners who gave South Elgin, Glenbard South and Bartlett some tough competition last season and we are looking to continue that in 2024. We have a tough regional, so we work hard all year for the postseason where anything can happen. Staying healthy and improving individually as a team with each game during the regular season will be the key to our success.”
South Elgin
Coach: Brad Reynard
Last year’s record: 24-6-1, 17-1 Upstate Eight champions
Top returning players: Mia Spiedel, sr., OF; Madison Hunt, sr., C-3B; Ava McDaniel, sr., SS; Chloe Ricard, jr., C-3B; Anna Kiel, jr., P-1B; Bri Wascher, sr., P-1B
Key newcomers: Emily Fagan, sr., P-OF; Amber Gnutek, jr, IF; Adreana Hauser, fresh., 2B; Jenna Sheehan, fresh., P-3B; Emma Bell, fresh., 1B-OF
Worth noting: The Storm has 7 returning starters back from a Class 4A regional championship team. Kiel hit .506 with 16 doubles, 5 homers and 30 RBI and went 5-3 with a 2.11 ERA to go with 67 strikeouts in 53 innings. Hunt hit .441 with 25 RBI, while Spiedel hit .418 with 6 doubles and 15 RBI. McDaniel hit .375 with 9 doubles, 2 homers and 25 RBI. Ricard hit .317 with 2 homers and 18 RBI. Wascher was 5-0 with a 2.07 ERA and hit .310 with 11 RBI. Kiel (Loyola-Chicago) and McDaniel were all-UEC picks. Spiedel will continue her career at Depauw, while Wascher is headed to Wisconsin Lutheran. “We have good senior leadership and good infield defense,” Reynard said. “We hope to compete for our sixth straight conference title.” Reynard said teams to keep an eye on in the UEC include West Chicago, Bartlett, Glenbard South, Larkin and Glenbard East.
St. Charles East
Coach: Jarod Gutesha.
Last season’s record: 17-11.
Top returning players: Grace Hautzinger, sr., P; Hayden Sujack, so., C; Sam Gaca, sr., C; Katelyn Morgan, sr.; Sam Beers, sr.; Lexi Majkszak, so.; Alysa Price, jr.; Madelyn Royer, sr.; Holly Smith, jr.; Makayla Van Dinther, so.; Addison Wolf, jr.
Top new players: Eden Corcoran, jr., UT.
Worth noting: The Saints have 11 players returning with significant varsity experience. Sujack was second team All-State as a freshman with 14 homers, a .412 average, 1.369 OPS, 40 hits and eight doubles. Rollins recruit Hautzinger, also third team All-State, is back in the circle after posting a 10-6 record with 193 strikeouts, including an 18-strikeout perfect game, and 2.43 ERA over 121 innings last year. Gaca, committed to Maryville, was also third team All-State last season. Morgan, committed to Pensacola State College, was an all-conference pick.
“We return all of our pitching (Hautzinger, Majkszak, VanDinther) and catching (Gaca, Sujack) from last year so we should be competitive throughout the conference season as well as during the postseason,” Gutesha said.
St. Charles North
Coach: Tom Poulin.
Last season’s record: 22-8, 12-2, lost in sectional championship.
Top returning players: Maddie Hernandez, sr., 2B/DP; Paige Murray, jr., P/1B; Mack Patterson, jr., OF/DH; Ginger Ritter, so., SS; Ivy Gleeson, jr., OF; Haley Nelson, sr., OF/SS; Skyla Ritter, sr., C/3B; Abby Zawadzki, so., P/1B.
Top new players: Ella Heimbuch, fr., C/SS/OF; Faith Maleski, fr., 1B/3B; Julianna Kouba, fr., 3B/OF; Addie Umlauf, jr., 2B/SS; Annamarie Lamb, jr., 3B/1B; Lauren Seyller, jr., P; Sophia Olech, sr., 1B.
Worth noting: The North Stars must replace eight graduated seniors, including Julia Larson, who left quite a legacy with the program, including the 2022 Class 4A state championship and back-to-back conference titles in 2022 and 2023. “The challenge is to fill those holes,” said Poulin, who has compiled a 267-98 record at St. Charles North. “We have confidence in our leadership and talent level throughout the program. so it is an exciting time for us.”
Leading the returners is all-conference pitcher Murray, who posted a 7-2 record and 3.41 ERA with 83 strikeouts over 71.2 innings last year, and also hit .375 at the plate. Anchoring the lineup is Hernandez, committed to Wisconsin-Stevens Point, who hit .349 last year with 30 hits, six doubles, four homers, 22 RBIs and 24 runs scored. Also back is Patterson, who hit .404 with 36 hits, eight doubles, two homers, 28 RBIs and 26 runs scored, and Ritter, who hit .317 with 26 hits, seven doubles, 13 RBIs and 21 runs scored as a freshman.
“We have confidence in our leadership and talent level throughout the program, so it is an exciting time for us,” Poulin said. “We could be young and inexperienced in some spots, but our returning players are effective leaders who know what is expected. The culture is strong. As soon as we figure out how to be great teammates, we will grow into the team we want to be. We expect to challenge for the conference championship, but understand how tough this league is. It’s never easy.”
Streamwood
Coach: Nicolle Giliana
Last year’s record: 2-20, 1-14 Upstate Eight
Top returning players: Hailey Dworak, jr., C-3B; Kailey Pawlikowski, jr., SS-OF
Key newcomers: Gianna Garcia, fresh., 3B-C
Worth noting: The Sabres return 5 starters from their 2023 team. “We are a new team with many girls from last season leaving,” Giliana said. “The girls are young and eager to learn and be part of the softball program. The girls are becoming a team and have worked on communicating on and off the field. From our standpoint, we have a tough conference. Many of those teams have girls who have played travel ball together or played together during their high school careers. Being a newer team with girls who haven’t played, we are eager to learn from our Upstate Eight teams and work hard to make it a competitive game with them.”
West Aurora
Coach: Randy Hayslett
Last year’s record: 8-20 overall, 3-11 Southwest Prairie West, lost to Wheaton Warrenville South in regional final.
Top returning players: Sara Tarr, sr., SS; Katelyn Serafin, sr., P; Mia Malczyk, sr., CF, Kenzie Fraus, sr., Ionicca Rivera, sr., 1B-3B; Vianca Juarez, sr., 3B; Keira Hayton, jr., OF; Diana Vargas, sr., 3B-2B; Brooke Roberts, sr., P-OF; Aailyah McCall, sr., OF
Key newcomers: Macie Spenny, fresh., C-Utility; Gracie Del Toro, fresh., OF-2B; Bella Marzullo, fresh., Utility; Ally Lambert, fresh., P-1B
Worth noting: Tarr (Miami of Ohio commit) hit .495 with 13 doubles, 4 triples, 17 RBI and stole 12 bases from the leadoff spot on her way to second-team all-state honors. “Phenomenal defense at shortstop,” Hayslett noted of Tarr. Serafin went 3-1 with 27 strikeouts in 18 1/3 innings in limited time last year. “Katelyn is back and looking really good so far,” Hayslett said. Serafin also hit .364 with 4 homers, 10 doubles and 17 RBI. Malczyk is headed to Aurora University and is a four-year starter and captain this season. Fraus, Rivera and Juarez are all four-year varsity players, with Juarez headed to Aurora University and Fraus and Rivera off to Waubonsee Community College. Hayton is a three-year varsity starter. “I expect us to have a very sound defense,” Hayslett said. “We return the starting infield and Mia Malczyk in center field. We’ll need to replace Alyssa Perkins’ bat in the lineup (25 career homers). We will be looking to find some offensive consistency and will need to reshuffle our lineup a bit.”
— Joshua Welge from Shaw Local contributed to this preview