Softball notes: Glenbard North’s Medina, South Elgin’s Kiel among those off to hot starts

The 2024 Daily Herald DuPage County All-Area captain is up to her old tricks.

Glenbard North senior Tru Medina, headed to Northwestern, hit a game-ending, 2-run homer in the last of the eighth in a win against Benet. Medina already has 4 homers in North’s first 4 games, one in each game. Medina is hitting .615 with 11 RBI. Junior pitcher Avery Miller is 3-0 with and 26 strikeouts in 19 innings for the 4-0 Panthers.

Addison Trail update: In her last 2 games, pitcher Marisa Lloveras went 2-0 with 20 strikeouts in 14 innings (2 earned runs), while Nina Matthews had a streak of hitting 3 homers in a 3-game stretch, including 2 against Glenbard West. AT was 3-3 through its first 6 games.

Cary-Grove update: Addy Green struck out six, walked none and gave up no earned runs in a win against Lakes. Megan Koski and Aubrey Lonergan each had 2 hits.

Elgin update: Grace Tetrev robbed a West Chicago player of a home run, while the Maroons started the season against the Wildcats with a 1-2-3 first inning on defense, coach Monica Stockman highlighted.

Fenton update: Freshman Isabella Delagdo threw a complete game, allowing only 3 hits and 1 earned run while striking out seven in a 3-2 loss to Elk Grove. Izzy Delgado has also been notable, hitting .714 with a homer in 3 games for Fenton (1-2, 1-1 UEC). Freshman Ryleigh Mitchell is hitting .400 and was lauded for her work behind the plate by coach Dave Mello, who also tipped his cap to longtime Elk Grove coach Ken Grams for breaking the IHSA all-time softball wins record in the game against Fenton.

"What a great experience it was for our team to be there when Ken picked up the record-setting win," he said. "We played an outstanding game, but came up 1 run short. Ken was my teacher at Elk Grove and has been my mentor when it comes to coaching."

Glenbard East update: The Rams (3-1, 2-0 UEC) have been powered by strong performances from sophomores Claire Bolda (14 innings, 25 strikeouts, 4 hits, 0.00 ERA), Ally Amrhein (.500 batting average), along with Lilly Carver (.462, 7 runs) and Althea Fitzgerald (.455, 3 triples, 6 RBI, 4 runs) in the early going.

Glenbard South update: Evangeline Dupuis is hitting .462 for the Raiders (1-3, 1-1), while pitcher Brooke Lange has 24 strikeouts in 21 innings and a 2.33 ERA.

Glenbard West update: Pitcher Olivia Salerno has fanned 28 in 18 innings while posting a 1.17 ERA for the Hilltoppers (2-1), who also have been boosted by the play of versatile Alexa Trybus (.500, 2 doubles,) and second baseman Ainslie Bobroff (2 homers).

Harvest Christian update: Harvest had 13 hits, including 8 extra-base hits, in an 18-4 win over Walther Christian. Makayla Richards is hitting .529, freshman Haley Miller is hitting .429, while senior Mackenzie Richards is at .357 with 7 runs scored. Pitcher Alyssa Burke has 16 strikeouts.

Huntley update: The Red Raiders lost to state-ranked Andrew and Wheaton North by a combined 2 runs and beat state-ranked Bradley Bourbonnais 7-5. Lyla Ginczycki is hitting .535 with 2 doubles and a triple, while Sadie Svendsen is hitting .444.

Lake Park update: Gianna Furlano pitched a complete game and hit a homer in a win against Naperville Central. Ari O’Connell homered in each of the Lancers’ first 2 games and is hitting .429, while Ava Arenz is hitting .600. Gianna Doyle, Alex Kiefer and O’Connell each have 4 RBI, while Gaetano Calo has 5 runs scored.

Larkin update: Pitcher Mackenzie Wemken has 21 strikeouts (11 looking) in 18 innings of work, while Mya Bermudez (.429 hitting), Kaitlyn Neubert (.308, 1 homer) and Ali Herrick (.818 slugging, 2 homers) have been key at the plate for the Royals (1-3, 0-2 UEC).

Lisle update: Erin Bradley has been an RBI machine with 12 in her first 13 plate appearances for the Lions (3-0). Lake Forest commit Maddie Cole is hitting .727 from the leadoff spot with 1 homer. Megan Bradley also is hitting .727 with 3 triples and has struck out 18 in 7 innings. Lisle hit .516 as a team in its first 3 games.

Naperville North update: Sarah Rossi is hitting .429 with 7 steals in 5 games, while freshman Fae Bretag is hitting .357 and playing great defense, coach Jerry Kediora noted. Reese Pedersen (2 hits), Ava Matthews (win) and Gabi Chimiel (save) starred in a win against Glenbard West. Maddie Larsen had a hit in each of North’s first 5 games.

St. Charles East update: Hayden Sujack has 10 hits in her first 18 at-bats, including 3 doubles and 3 home runs. The Saints (3-2) also have been boosted by pitcher Makayla Van Dinther, who is 2-1 with 28 strikeouts against 4 walks and a 2.58 ERA.

St. Charles North update: Paige Murray struck out 13 in a win against West Chicago, while Anna Lamb had 3 hits, a homer and 4 RBI in the win.

St. Francis update: Freshman Alyssa Freeman had a 4-hit, 7-RBI game recently, while Louisville commit Lauren Kennedy, Mackenzie Murlick, Alyssa Freeman and Tenley Glock have hit home runs for the Spartans who went 4-2 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for spring break.

South Elgin update: Pitcher Anna Kiel threw a 1-hit, 10-strikeout gem against Boone Grove, Ind., and is 3-2 with 30 strikeouts, 3 walks and a 0.00 ERA (6 runs, none earned). Jenna Sheehan (20 K, 2 walks in 15 innings) threw a no-hitter and fanned nine against George Washington (West Virginia). Kiel is hitting .625 with 7 RBI, while Chloe Ricard is hitting .471 with 3 doubles and 5 RBI.

Timothy Christian update: The Trojans (3-0, 2-0 Chicagoland Christian) have received big performances thus far from Sophia Mook (.667 batting average), Lauren Kottke (.625) and Chloe Granger (.600). Maci Woerner and Grace Hoffman were cited for strong pitching by coach Lindsay Slovey.

Waubonsie Valley update: Shortstop Aislee Morgan is hitting .750 with 2 doubles, 2 triples and 9 RBI for the Warriors (2-2). Dezirae Kelly is at .462 with 7 runs scored, while Addison Powell is at .357 with 5 RBI. Samantha Hughes, a freshman, is hitting .400, while pitcher Molly Quinn has 14 strikeouts in 14 innings.

West Aurora update: The Blackhawks (2-4, 1-1 UEC) are a perfect 17-for-17 in stolen bases thus far. Ohio State commit Sara Tarr is hitting .524 (11 hits) with 3 homers, 7 RBI and 7 steals, while Missouri-St. Louis commit Keira Hayton is hitting .421 (8 hits) with a homer.

West Chicago update: The Wildcats (3-3, 2-0 UEC) have been paced thus far by Jasmyn Trigueros (12 strikeouts in win against Plainfield East), Sophia Ptak (.529, 2 homers, 5 RBI), Tessa Banasiak (.385, 2 homers) and Ava Pietanza (.357).

Westmont update: Gwyneth Jindra (.571 batting, 2 homers, 10 RBI; 9 strikeouts pitching) and Alice O’Connor (.500 batting, .800 on-base, 6 runs) got off to hot starts for the Sentinels (1-1).

Wheaton Warrenville South update: Contributors to the 4-0 Wildcats’ hot start include freshman Lily Bobor (.600 batting, 3 doubles, 2 triples, 7 RBI) and senior Presley Weight (3-0, 19 strikeouts, 1 walk in 19 innings; .500 batting, 2 triples).

Willowbrook update: The Warriors (4-3) got off to a 2-1 start at the Grand Strand Classic in North Myrtle Beach, S.C. Senior pitcher Isabel Bates threw a 7-inning complete-game shutout (5 hits, no walks) against Shady Spring, W.V. Earlier, junior Allie Coppersmith hit 2 homers (5 RBI) and senior Sonia Ruchala, headed to Division I IU Indy, also belted a home run in a season-opening win against Eisenhower.

York update: The Dukes got off to a quick 4-1 start. Lilly Burda, a 3-year starter at short, has 8 RBI, Myka Matykiewicz is hitting .500 and pitcher Avery Kanouse has 35 strikeouts. Burda, Sara Steinecker and Maggie Demopoulos each have hit a home run.