Fox softball notes: Several teams bunched up in tight DuKane race
The St. Charles North softball team has put itself in the thick of a tough DuKane Conference race.
Wins against Glenbard North (5-2) and Lake Park (6-4) put the North Stars at 11-3 overall and 4-2 in DuKane action. Mack Patterson is hitting .484 with a 1.245 OPS to go with 9 RBI and 12 runs scored, while Abby Zawadzki has 3 homers and 16 RBI, while Paige Murray is 8-3 with a 1.88 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 70 2/3 innings. Maddie Hernandez is hitting .442 (1.236 OPS) with 2 homers, 9 RBI, 15 runs scored and 8 walks. “Maddie has been consistent, as well as being an effective leader,” coach Tom Poulin said. “We are a very young team and our captains have done a great job so far.”
Aurora Central Catholic update: The Chargers started the week 17-4 and 9-1 in Girls Catholic White Division play, headlined by the trio of juniors Sophia Delgado (.471 batting average, 32 hits, 20 RBI) and Kate Gambro (.441, 30 hits, 26 RBI, 29 runs, 6-0 pitching, 2.04 ERA) and sophomore Corina Miller (8-2 pitching, 68 strikeouts, 61 innings, 2.75 ERA). Senior Amelia Lohrey hit .600 last week with 9 hits, 2 homers and 6 RBI in 4 games, while Delgado hit .563 with 9 hits during that same run.
Cary-Grove update: Aubrey Lonergan (.551 batting average, .623 slugging, .575 on-base, 18 steals), Maddie Crick (.545 batting, 1.000 slugging, .591 on-base, 4 homers, 29 RBI), Becca Weaver (.406 batting, .609 slugging, .449 on-base) and Addy Green (93 strikeouts pitching) lead the way for Cary-Grove (8-11, 5-6 Fox Valley). Crick recently hit for the cycle against Burlington Central and added a second home run on top of that. “Maddie has been seeing the ball very well and getting her job done as a hitter,” coach Cara Neff said. “Aubrey has been a phenomenal leadoff hitter with quality at-bats to start every game. Her speed and slapping skills are incredible and her numbers show that. Addy has been remarkable in the circle. She has been a reliable force who performs well under pressure.”
Crystal Lake South update: Riley Travis and Stephanie Lesniewski have been key producers on offense for South (1-19, 0-13 FVC). Travis is hitting .477 with 3 homers, 11 RBI and an .841 slugging percentage, while Lesniewski is hitting .404 with 7 homers (1 grand slam), 22 RBI and a .957 slugging percentage.
“Riley and Stephanie have been consistent in hitting and providing runs for us,” coach Sara Markelonis said. “I am very proud of both of them and how much they have grown since last season. They get the job done when it comes to moving runners around.”
Despite the win-loss record, Markelonis has been thrilled with how her team has conducted itself. “I am very proud of everyone on the team this year,” she said. “We have had to adapt this season by providing a positive work environment and showing adversity along the way. We do this each day and I am so proud of my team and the coaching staff for this season.”
Dundee-Crown update: The Chargers recorded a recent win against Fox Valley Conference toughie Prairie Ridge. Alyssa Gale is hitting .452 with 33 hits for the Chargers (11-11, 6-5 FVC), while Jordyn Jeffs has hit 4 home runs. McKayla Anderson has 10 wins, 180 strikeouts in 115 innings and a 2.52 ERA. “Alyssa Gale, Annabelle Pederson and Jordyn Jeffs are doing great right now,” coach Matthew Goetz said. “All three are reliable at the plate and are making the changes needs throughout the game to get better in the later innings. Annabelle has taken a leadership role and is leading by example.”
Elgin update: Grace Tetrev (.405 batting average) and Brayden Tetrev (.353) have been sparks at the plate for the Maroons (3-13, 2-8 Upstate Eight). Madison King is 6 strikeouts away from 200 for her career. Monica Martinez is hitting .308 and has produced key hits in key junctures of ballgames, coach Monica Stockman said. Alejandra Terraza is playing third base “like a third base baseball player should, making some key plays and snagging some hard-hit groundballs,” Stockman said.
Geneva update: Senior catcher Hailey Hornick and junior shortstop Kaitlyn Sprague have been leading the way for Geneva (4-12 overall). “Hailey has been a key component in keeping us in games and getting outs when needed,” coach Annie Plackett said. “Kaitlyn has been a great addition to our infield as a leadoff, she has helped set the tone for every game.”
Hampshire update: The Whip-Purs scored a recent win over Fox Valley Conference leader Prairie Ridge and brought an 11-8 overall mark into the week (5-5 FVC). Bria Riebel leads Hampshire in all offensive stats, hitting .591 with 5 home runs.
Harvest Christian update: The Lions won 6 of 7 recent games and stood at 7-9 overall and 1-2 in Northeastern action. Harvest is averaging close to 12 runs per game, while junior pitcher Alyssa Burke is 4-1 with 41 strikeouts in 35 innings. Freshman Makayla Richards is hitting .565 with 22 RBI with a 1.486 OPS. Sister Mackenzie Richards is hitting .556 with 19 RBI and 12 steals. Senior Chace Welsh has 17 RBI and a 1.224 OPS. Kenzie Weidman had 8 hits in a recent 15 at-bat stretch (hitting .426 on the season) and leads the team with 28 runs scored. Freshman Alyana Booras went 5-for-10 recently, while senior Maddie LInta had a recent 5-for-9 run. The 7 wins is a new program record, coach Greg Richards noted.
Kaneland update: Recent Interstate Eight wins against Sycamore and LaSalle-Peru put the Knights at 8-8-1 overall and 4-2 in the league. Kaneland lost to L-P 3-2 the first time, but won the rematch 9-4. Brynn Woods is hitting .350 with a .435 on-base percentage and has fanned 91 of 235 batters faced in 56 innings of work. “Brynn has been battling back from an injury and has returned with a vengeance,” coach Madison Mikos said. Mikos also lauded the work of senior first baseman Sammy Dunne and shortstop Angelina Campise, who has 2 homers and 5 extra-base hits.
Larkin update: The Royals defeated Glenbard South (4-2), Fenton (3-0) and Glenbard East (10-4) to move to 7-3 in Upstate Eight play (10-9 overall). Sophomore Yesi Escobar is hitting a team-best .407, while freshman Ali Herrick is at .388 and junior Kenya Ventura is hitting .379. Senior Oliva Salazar (5-5 record) and sophomore Mackenzie Wemken (5-4), “have both been solid on the mound, helping us to key wins with solid pitching performances,” Larkin coach Anne Vogt said.
South Elgin update: The Storm won 12 of 13 games recently to push to 15-7 overall and 10-0 in Upstate Eight play to start the week before losing to Bartlett. Key contributors include Anna Kiel (.446 batting average, 6 doubles, 3 homers, 28 RBI), Adriana Jimenez (.450 batting, 5 doubles, 12 RBI, 8-4 pitching, 85 strikeouts in 67 innings, 2.38 ERA), Adreana Hauser (.482 batting, 2 triples, 11 RBI), Mia Speidel (.436 batting, 9 doubles, 21 RBI), Amber Gnutek (.485 batting, 6 doubles, 2 homers, 17 RBI) and Madison Hunt (.442 batting, 7 doubles, 2 homers, 28 runs scored, 16 walks). Kiel has excelled both in the circle and at the plate of late, coach Brad Reynard noted. Speidel and Hunt hit 1-2 in the lineup. “Mia and Madison have been killing it lately,” the coach said.
West Aurora update: Mia Malczyk (.371 hitting) and Keira Hayton (.373) each homered against Plainfield East in a 10-0 win. Hayton went 4-for-4 in the game and help fill out a “solid 1-5 at the top of the order,” coach Randy Hayslett said. Junior shortstop Sara Tarr is hitting .563 with 5 homers and 22 RBI to go with 34 runs scored and 16 steals. Senior first baseman Ionicca Rivera is hitting .518 with 2 homers, 18 RBI and 19 runs scored, while senior pitcher-outfielder Katelyn Serafin is hitting .446 with 4 homers, 20 RBI and 16 runs scored for the Blackhawks (10-10, 5-3 Southwest Prairie West).