Scouting Lake County softball teams
FOX VALLEY
GRAYSLAKE CENTRAL
Coach: Abbey Tadelman (second year)
Last season: 7-26
Key players graduated: C Mary Karol
Returners: Sr. 1B/3B Abbie Goetsch, Sr. SS Tory Dohm, Sr. OF/C Kelly Silver, Sr. P/OF Monika Wedick
Newcomers: Jr. 2B Shannon Sarillo, So. 3B/OF Emily Daley, Jr. 2B/OF Marytza Barrios, Fr. 2B/OF Tayler Janda, So. C Rachel Perkowitz, So. OF/1B/P Cassidy Obis, Fr. P/OF Claire Brennan, Jr. OF/SS Dones Kara, So. 3B/OF Becky Drogos
Outlook: The Rams would like to avoid a repeat of last season, when they started 0-8 and never recovered, but they've been outscored 11-1 in their first two games this year in losses to Fremd and Carmel. While the Rams are young, senior corner infielder Abbie Goetsch is a legitimate hitter who was an all-area selection last year. The pitching duties the first two games have been shared by veteran Monika Wedick and freshman Claire Brennan. Coach Abbey Tadelman's roster includes freshmen Brennan and Tayler Janda, and sophomores Emily Daley, Rachel Perkowitz, Cassidy Obis and Becky Drogos. The only seniors are Goetsch, Wedick, Tory Dohm and Kelly Silver.
GRAYSLAKE NORTH
Coach: Molly Jones (first year)
Last season: 10-18
Key players graduated: OF Hillary Kuhl, OF Amanda Leon
Returners: Sr. P/1B Carly Borders, Jr. P/OF Samantha Myers, Sr. SS Samantha Fletcher, Jr. 2B Jacquelyn Damore, Sr. C Cassie Johnson, Jr. OF/1B Mindy Runge
Newcomers: Fr. 3B/1B/P Kristina Gandy, Fr. C Brooke Tracy, So. SS/2B Raquel Ness, So. OF Brianna Leon, So. C/1B/3B Jessica Livengood, Jr. OF Ashley Abel, Sr. 3B/OF Kristen Junius, Sr. OF Emma Regnier
Outlook: Former Deerfield third baseman Molly Jones (Class of 2003) moves up from volunteer assistant coach to head coach, replacing Stacy Selle, who stepped down. The Knights graduated a pair of .300 hitters in Amanda Leon and Hillary Kuhl, and saw another one, talented Jamie Breitweiser, transfer. But they return some good hitters, including a college-bound player. Carly Borders, who last year struck out 142 batters in 110 innings (both team bests), signed with the University of Findlay in Ohio. The returning all-conference choice is a three-year varsity player. Sophomore Samantha Myers is also back to pitch and suffered the loss Thursday against Zion-Benton, despite throwing a 3-hitter and not allowing an earned run in a 3-0 decision. Freshman corner infielder Kristina Gandy made a nice debut, going 2-for-3 with a double. The Knights' veteran hitters include Borders (. 313 BA, 23 RBI, 12 extra-base hits in 2008) and Samantha Fletcher (. 370 BA, 20 RBI, 7 doubles). The Knights feature three sophomores and two freshmen, but Jones expects her team to be competitive. "I'm looking for us to finish at least in the top half of the (division)," she said.
EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC
CARMEL CATHOLIC
Coach: Jason Raymond (seventh year)
Last season: 16-18
Key players graduated: C Kelly Gerli, SS Kelly Cook, 2B Caitlin Hendricks, 3B Katie Cornell, OF Michelle Winegard, P/DP Courtney Ryan
Returners: Sr. C Shea Crowley, Sr. 2B Claire Anastos, Jr. P Rachel Tack, Jr. 3B Meg Grady, Jr. OF Jocelyn Gravel
Newcomers: Fr. 1B Sally Snarski, Fr. OF Kelley Dodge, Fr. OF Madaline Felipez, So. IF/OF Chelsea Skiby, Jr. SS Eden Warnke, Jr. OF Jaclyn Bitto, Jr. OF Stephanie Bruenning
Outlook: Wait till May. It's not that the Corsairs' play the first couple of months of the last two seasons has been poor, but their postseasons have been quite memorable. They won their first-ever regional championship two years ago, then repeated the feat last season before falling to Barrington in the sectional final. Gone are several key players, including two-time all-ESCC catcher Kelly Gerli, but among the returnees are junior pitcher Rachel Tack and senior slugger Shea Crowley. Tack's tendency is to ratchet it up a notch in the state tournament, as she's gone 7-2 in the postseason the last two years. In her two varsity seasons, Tack has 32 wins and 278 strikeouts. "She has great control and is a very intelligent pitcher," coach Jason Raymond said. "She has a variety of out pitches to choose from depending on the situation and hitter." Crowley, who moves from first base to catcher, showed she's a hitter last season, belting 2 homers in the sectional-final loss to Barrington. Like Crowley, senior Claire Anastos moves to her natural position, Raymond said. Anastos will patrol second base after playing left field last year. Junior Meg Grady, who's a promising slugger, who moves to third base. "We are looking to put together a strong defense to back up Rachel Tack and are excited about the offensive potential of this group of players," Raymond said. "Our expectation is to continually improve as a team throughout the season." The Corsairs have done just that the last two years.