DuPage County softball teams: Naperville Central takes control of DuPage Valley race; Glenbard East climbs UEC standings

Since the end of March, Naperville Central has been one of the hottest softball teams in DuPage County.

Veteran coach Andy Nussbaum’s group was 10-3 during a 13-game run coming out of spring break. The Redhawks sat at 12-6 overall and were leading the DuPage Valley Conference at 7-0 to start the week. DeKalb had 1 DVC loss and Waubonsie Valley and Neuqua Valley each had 3 league losses to start the week.

“We hope to continue to play well and get better,” Nussbaum said.

Cali Lenz was leading the team in hitting with a .407 batting average, while Avery Miller had 4 homers and 16 RBI and Lacie Williams had a team-high 24 RBI. Bella Eaves was second on the team with a .359 batting average to start the week.

Nussbaum added Natalie Lau has been “superb at shortstop,” he said. “She has been outstanding defensively and as an infield leader.”

Nussbaum noted Fiona Brown has displayed a great throwing arm in right fielder and has thrown out a runner at third base and at the plate this season.

Fenton update: The Bison (11-9, 2-3 Upstate Eight East) were in the midst of a 4-game winning streak to start the week with recent victories over Elmwood Park (walk-off 7-6), Elgin (15-0), Eisenhower (9-3) and Lake Forest (10-8 in extras).

“We are looking to play as well as we can in as many games as possible to be prepared for the postseason,” Bison coach Dave Mello said.

Isabella Delgado leads the team in batting average (.455), OPS (1.182), RBI (22), wins (5), saves (3) and strikeouts (92). Kaily Bernaro is tops in on-base percentage at .557, while Emma Siekierski is leading in sacrifices with 13. Jezely Arellano Jaquez and Sophia Hollis both have 8 steals.

In the win against Lake Forest, Mello noted sophomore catcher Ryleigh Mitchell threw out 2 runners stealing, including one in the eighth inning. Mitchell has thrown out 9 runners this season.

Delgado had 2 wins and a save last week, while Hollis has 28 hits and scored 35 runs in Fenton’s first 20 games. Mello noted Hollis has a chance to break school records in both categories with a strong finish.

Glenbard East update: The Rams recently won the Stampede Classic tournament and sat at 13-2 overall and 6-1 in Upstate Eight Conference East Division action to start the week.

Ally Amrhein was leading the team offensively with a .442 batting average, while Lilly Carver had a team-high 7 homers.

Coach Dawn Chantos also has been thrilled with the efforts of Claire Bolda in the circle and Althea Fitzgerald in center field.

Bolda was 10-2 with a 1.93 ERA and 123 strikeouts in 65 1/3 innings against only 24 walks. Bolda has 36 strikeouts looking this season.

“Claire is pitching great,” Chantos said.

Fitzgerald was second on the team in batting average at .410 and had a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in center. “In the 2-hole, Althea is a smart situational hitter for us who has a very versatile bat,” Chantos said.

Glenbard South update: The Raiders started the week 9-5 overall and 3-2 in Upstate Eight East action.

Coach Julie Fonda praised the play of senior Lucy Mohorovic at second base. Through South’s first 14 games, Mohorovic had 54 total chances and made only 2 errors (.963 fielding). “Lucy is our rock in the infield,” Fonda said.

Offensively, Evangeline Dupuis was hitting .556 to start the week with 14 RBI, 19 runs and sported a .756 slugging percentage. Khloe Bauman was hitting .526 with 21 RBI and a .684 slugging percentage. Delaney Nelson was at .451 with 19 runs.

IC Catholic Prep update: The Knights, along with St. Francis, St. Ignatius and De La Salle, were fighting for the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference White Division title. ICCP started the week 15-3 and 6-1 in GCAC White action.

Sofia Bucaro leads the Knights in hitting, Lexi Russ and Kelly Cahill are tops in homers and RBI, while Ari Zito leads in stolen bases. Coach Frank Reaber added Maddy Dinino “is pitching great,” he said.

Reaber also likes the team’s play on defense, applauded the Knights for a big comeback win against St. Francis and noted a lot of players have clutch hits, including Leilany Mendez, Sophia Deoudes, Ema McMillen and Lexi Hoffman.

Lake Park update: The Lancers started the week 14-6 overall and 5-2 in DuKane Conference play. The Lancers beat St. Charles North 11-10 in a DuKane barnburner. Kaylee Fritzler had 2 hits (including a key late-game double), 2 runs scored and an RBI. Maya Melendez had 3 hits, 2 RBI and 2 runs scored, while Gianna Doyle had 3 hits and an RBI. Caleigh Cusack had the game-winning hit against North. The Lancers lost a nonconference doubleheader to Class 3A highly regarded Antioch (7-5, 4-3).

Lisle update: Senior Erin Bradley (UW-Plateville) was hitting .333 with 1 homer, 7 RBI and 5 doubles to start the week, while senior sister Megan Bradley (Benedictine) was hitting .286 with 2 doubles, 3 triples and 8 RBI for the Lions (4-9, 0-8 Illinois Central Eight).

Erin Bradley had only 2 errors in the field. “Erin has done really well at first base,” Lisle coach Jennifer Zimmerman said.

Metea Valley update: Offensive highlights for the Mustangs include freshman Lilly Aguilar hitting .407 with 4 doubles, 3 homers and 20 RBI go with 15 runs scored, and sophomore Aleyna French hitting .333 with 4 doubles, 11 RBI and 12 runs scored. Freshman pitcher Hailey Wisch has 93 strikeouts in 72 1/3 innings for Metea (4-14, 0-8 DuPage Valley).

Naperville North update: Sara Rossi started the week hitting .368, while Reese Pedersen had 13 RBI and Gabi Chmiel had 78 strikeouts in the circle in 59 innings for the Huskies (4-15, 2-6 DuPage Valley).

Coach Nick Lago, who noted his team has gotten a lot better since the beginning of the year, also tipped his hat to freshman outfielder Aubrey Marino.

“Aubrey has been filling in for us in center field and has made a ton of diving catches,” he said. “She has been a human highlight reel.”

Neuqua Valley update: Junior Nalia Clifford hit the 100-career hit barrier in her third varsity season for the Wildcats, who started the week 7-8 overall and 4-3 in DuPage Valley Conference play.

“Nalia Clifford is a huge leader on the field and fills a big spot for us at shortstop,” Neuqua coach Samantha Rochowicz said. “She continues to be a strong leader and captain for other girls on the team. You can see her during games and practices always helping other players.”

In addition to Clifford hitting .500, Ashley Pape was leading the team with a .540 batting average, and Jean Peske was at .419 for the Wildcats, who started the week winners of 5 in a row.

Also of major aid for the Wildcats has been Sydney Benedict, Rochowicz noted. “Sydney has also been a big component to our team,” she said. “She has stepped up and pitched many of our games, which is no small job. She continues to persevere, remain positive and pitch some amazing games. She has stated multiple times that she feels confident on the mound because she has a solid defense behind her.”

The Wildcats were tied for second in the DVC to start the week. “Our conference is competitive this season with many dedicated and talented athletes and coaches,” Rochowicz said. “We’ve hit a few bumps in the road, but we are continuing to work hard, persevere and make adjustments to move forward.”

Waubonsie Valley update: After going 3-1 last week the Warriors sat at 10-7 and were tied for second in the DuPage Valley Conference at 3-3.

Coach Val Wood noted pitcher Marissa Leaf faced 40 total batters against Wheaton North and Metea Valley last week and had a 0.64 ERA with 14 strikeouts against only 2 walks and allowed a combined 4 hits. “Marissa is stepping up into her pitching role and is able to give us quality innings in the circle,” Wood added.

Alyssa Tukker is hitting .486 with 4 doubles, 4 triples, 2 homers and 15 steals, while Molly Quinn has fanned 117 in the circle and has a 2.20 ERA.

Westmont update: Sophomore Gwyneth Jindra was hitting a robust .703 to start the week with a 1.378 slugging percentage to go with 26 hits, 5 home runs, 27 RBI and 5 runs scored. Senior Reagan Kelly is hitting .366 with 15 hits and 15 RBI, and sophomore Cate Jackson is batting .343 with 9 RBI, 13 runs and 10 steals. Jindra, who plays pitcher, shortstop and outfield, has a .978 fielding percentage, has turned 4 double plays and has fanned 71 in the circle for the Sentinels (7-8, 2-0 Chicago Prep Conference).

York update: The Dukes (10-8, 4-1 West Suburban Conference Silver Division) had hit 26 homers through their first 18 games with senior shortstop Lilly Burda leading the team with seven through late last week. Senior outfielder Emily McNichols and junior outfielders Sara Steinecker and Myka Matykiewicz each had 5 homers.

Burda has the most career home runs (21) in program history, as far as York coach Lisa Faticola can trace back in available record books. Burda, a 4-year starting varsity shortstop, has a career. 417 batting average. She was also leading the team in RBI with 28.

Matykiewicz was leading the team in batting average (.471) and had a .500 on-base percentage, while sophomore pitcher Brooklyn McMillen and junior catcher Milo Folsom also have excelled. Folsom leads off in York’s batting order and had a .480 on-base percentage, and McMillen picked up York’s first 3 conference wins in the circle.