Rejuvenated Wave host Chicagoland Classic
After a tumultuous 2007 season that saw St. Edward's softball program field only a varsity team and go through coaching changes after practices had begun, it would appear the Green Wave are back on track.
St. Edward, which hosts the Daily Herald/Chicagoland Classic at the Elgin Sports Complex Saturday, is off to a 6-4 start to the season after Wednesday's 5-4 Suburban Catholic Conference win over Driscoll. The Wave is not only having success at the varsity level, but is also fielding a JV and freshman team this season. New head coach Mike Rolando and assistants Eloy Diaz, Scot Brockner and Jaci Corn gave generated enthusiasm and interest in the program again, and the success on the field is following suit.
"Obviously they ran into some turmoil last year but this year we got some preparation in before the season started and generated some excitement," said Rolando, also the school's football coach whose daughter freshman Veronica plays for the Wave's JV team.
"These girls play hard. I was lucky to step into a situation with seven seniors and not a lot of first-year coaches get to do that. It's a great group of athletes."
Offensively, the Wave has been led all season by senior shortstop Kelly Knott, who is hitting .367 with 9 stolen bases. Sophomore catcher Kristina Brockner leads the team with 8 RBI and freshman second baseman Lia Diaz is hitting .278.
Freshman Sarah Field and senior Erin McGraw have both been solid in the circle and the team's defense has been outstanding.
"Our defense is one of the best in the conference if not the best," Rolando said. "Our pitchers are good and hopefully the bats will heat up again. We scored some runs in the first few games but we've been struggling a little in the last few."
Saturday's Chicagoland Classic, which was won last year by Burlington Central's JV team, has a full field of eight varsity teams again this year. Downstate Farmington (5-3) returns and will take on Aurora Central Catholic in the first round, while Genoa-Kingston and top pitcher Lindsay Decker will meet Lake Forest Academy. In the bottom of the bracket, St. Edward meets IMSA and Illiana Christian plays Wheaton Academy. Each team gets three games and the action starts at 9 a.m.
Illiana Christian is again one of the top teams in the tournament, The Vikings are led by junior pitcher Jocelyn Oppenhuis, who was 4-2 with a 1.94 ERA and 70 strikeouts to start the week. Senior third baseman Allie Cable was hitting .529 to start the week and sophomore catcher Dana Poortenga was at .455.
"Teams want to play good competition," said Rolando. "I don't know about all the teams but I know Genoa and Illiana are good teams and I think we're a good team.
There is no gate fee to Saturday's tournament.
Road trip: Bartlett (11-1) hits the road this weekend for the Wendy's Classic in Ashland, Ohio. The Hawks will play two games today and two Saturday. They open against Avon, Ind., and then take on Thomas Worthington of Ohio today. Saturday's opponents are Elyria of Ohio and North Canton Hoover of Ohio.
Against Avon, Bartlett will likely see an all-state battery in junior pitcher Jenny Esparaza and junior catcher Holly Rogers. Esparaza was a first-team Class 4A all-stater last year and was named the Indianapolis Star Metro Player of the Year. She had 407 strikeouts, second best in Indiana history, and a 0.30 ERA last season. Rogers was a third-team all-state selection.
The Hawks could see another top-notch pitcher in their Saturday game against Elyria. Senior Megan Bashek has committed to Cleveland State and was a first-team all-stater as a junior. And, against North Canton Bartlett could see yet another decorated pitcher in senior Jessica Simpson, who was named the Ohio Gatorade Softball Player of the Year in 2007. She has committed to Miami (Ohio).
"They're all good," deadpanned Bartlett coach Jim Wolfsmith.
Bartlett's not too shabby again either, sitting on an 11-game winning streak as it heads east. And after having nonconference games against Palatine, Glenbard North and Naperville North -- all top teams -- cancelled due to weather, Wolfsmith is relishing the opportunity to play four good teams this weekend.
"Being able to go to Ohio and get this kind of competition for an entire weekend is a great situation for us," Wolfsmith said.
The Hawks have been on a major roll lately, scoring runs in droves. Going into Wednesday's game against St. Charles East, which the Hawks won 14-1, junior catcher Elizabeth Kay was leading the offensive barrage with a sizzling .614 batting average, including 5 home runs and 23 RBI. Senior pitcher Lauren Wydra was hitting .406 and third baseman Megan Morales was at .371, with Callie Dennison and Concetta Lampugnano close behind at .364. Bartlett is hitting .361 as a team.
Wydra has been her steady self in the circle after losing the season opener to Glenbard South. Through Tuesday, she was 7-1 with a 0.92 ERA and 82 strikeouts.
Bartlett will be joined in Ohio by the Daily Herald's No. 1 ranked team, Lake Park, as well as Oak Park-River Forest, another one of the top teams in the state.
More complex action: Judson University will host the NCCAA Regional tournament at the Elgin Sports Complex today and Saturday. The four-team round robin tournament begins at 11 a.m. today with Greenville playing Bethel, the college home of former Bartlett start and 2006 all-area co-captain Corinne Dennison. Judson will play Greenville at 1 p.m. today and Olivet Nazarene at 5 p.m. then come back Saturday to face Bethel at noon. The winner of the tournament gets an automatic bid to the NCCAA National Tournament, which Judson competed in last year as an at-large team.
The Eagles were 18-15 going into Thursday's CCAC doubleheader at St. Francis in Joliet.
Stats please: The Daily Herald will begin publishing area statistics in Sports Extra next week. Coaches, please fax your stats no later than the end of the day Monday to (847) 608-0987 or e-mail to prepsports@dailyherald.com.