Softball: Scouting Cook County
As it begins its 55th season, Barrington will be looking to add success stories to the second winningest softball program in state history.
The Fillies have produced 1,191 victories, second best according to the IHSA record books behind Casey-Westfield (1,215).
They are coming off back-to-back Mid-Suburban League championships and a 20th consecutive regional title and fourth-place finish in the 2020 Class 4A state finals.
Barrington will be led by Division I recruits in pitcher Allie Goodwin (Princeton), catcher Emma Kavanagh (Arizona) and first baseman Ainsley Muno (Northwestern).
Top returning hitters are Muno (. 483), Kavanagh (. 514), Goodwin (. 516), Nikki Vojack (. 336), Lizzie Galovich (. 375), Lexi Thomas (. 395) and Mimi Cline (. 304).
Playing on its newly-remodeled Fields of Dreams - artificial surface has been installed along with a video board above the left field fence - the Fillies have a power-packed schedule. It includes defending state champion St. Charles North, state runner-up Marist, Lincoln-Way Central, Huntley, St. Charles East, Antioch, Marengo and York.
"We have unfinished business to pursue," said Fillies coach Perry Peterson, the third winningest coach in the sport (908-202 in 32 seasons, one at St. Viator and 31 at Barrington) behind Elk Grove's Ken Grams (1,006-404) and retired St. Joseph-Ogden coach Randy Wolken (1,044 wins).
Speaking of Grams, the league's other hall of famer, he has seven starters back from Mid-Suburban East contender Elk Grove (18-10, 9-7) which finished by showing very good progress.
"We had a good month of May after an uneven start," said Grams, whose club lost to state champion St. Charles North 4-3 in the regional final. "As a result, we're very hopeful and look forward to continuing that progress this season."
Four-year varsity outfielder Sabina Lehnert has committed to Lafayette College in the D-I Patriot League while Megan Malartsik (catcher-OF), also a four-year player, is a Western Michigan recruit in the D-I Mid-American Conference.
Other seniors are Amanda Koszewski (2B, 3B), Ashleigh Schwartz (IF, OF) and Libby Wirtz (OF).
One of the top contenders for Elk Grove will be Hersey as coach Molly Freeman welcomes back all-conference players Livia Christopher (Boston University), Sabrina Di Vito (Marian College), Amanda Frankenberger and Brooke Scharlau. Amelia Meyer has committed to Wisconsin-Parkside and Samantha Sok to Dubuque.
"We have a talented group that has grown up playing softball together," Freeman said. "This team has great chemistry. They truly enjoy playing together, and are so excited to show all that they can do. It will be an exciting season for our team, and we cannot wait to see what this season holds."
Another top challenger in the East is Buffalo Grove which will be directed by Martha Kelly, The former Driscoll standout is coaching her third varsity team this school season, after leading the girls cross country team in the fall and girls basketball team this past winter.
Kelly welcomes back MSL East Player of the Year, pitcher Kate Ryan, from a team that went 25-5, winning the MSL East and a second straight regional crown.
Also back are all-conference Hannah Hull and Jenna Kosnoff, along with Juliann Jakosalem, Alyssa Fontanetta and junior Kayla O'Malley.
"I'm looking forward to coaching on the softball diamond and have inherited a very talented group of players," said Kelly, who has been an assistant softball coach at Prospect, Libertyville, Carmel, and Immaculate Conception. "A strong senior class will help lead the way with pitching, offense and defense. No easy game in the MSL so should be a competitive season."
Another team competing for the MSL East crown is Prospect, coming off a 12-12-1 and 7-9 campaign under coach Krystina Leazer (73-64-1).
The Knights feature plenty of varsity experience with 10 seniors.
"We will be leaning on their leadership and cohesiveness as a group to kick off their senior season," Mackowiack said.
Riley Depa, Ashley Simon and Emily Scolaro return to the circle with Rachael Sasanuma and Megan McPherson behind the plate.
"We should be competitive in every game we play this year," Mackowiack said.
Leading the offense and infield will be seniors Carley Jagiello, Erin Pinter and Molly Gilhooly.
"We will also look to Georgianna Crudele, Angela Nicolau and Sara Hasan to be threats in the offense and score some big runs so we can take the pressure off our pitchers," Mackowiack said.
New to the team are junior outfielders Gina Falls and Kate Kulak.
Tony Wolanski begins his 20th season at Rolling Meadows welcoming back key returners Ashlyn Ferguson (So. SS/C), Sam McQueen (Sr. P/SS), Mia Pilipauskas (Jr. P/SS), Sophia Cobos (Jr. 3B/1B) and Kelly McQueen (So. C/INF).
Wolanski says the Mustangs (7-22 last season) will have to be better in the field and at the plate. "If we can improve in the field from last year, it will make it easier for our pitchers to have success," he said. "Last season at the plate we were not a confident team. If we can take a positive approach with batting, we will be much better this year."
Mike Caringella begins his 16th season in charge at Wheeling and welcomes back six players: seniors Amanda Ban and Tereesa Petzold, junior Kaitlyn Fielding, and sophomores Katie Moser, Taylor Ashe and Ava Shrake.
Ban and Moser will anchor the infield while Fielding takes over in center field. Petzold will be on the pitcher's mound.
Freshmen Mia Smith, Sophia Constani and Viansa Pelinia all started on the Wheeling girls basketball team. Alana Costello is another freshman and all are expected to start along with two sophomores.
In the Mid-Suburban West, Josh Teschner (108-45) begins his seventh year at Fremd after a 23-8 season.
Key returners players are three-year starter Chiara D'Antonio (Sr), Eva Dernis (Sr), Ryanne Goodwin (Sr.), Anna Poss, Sydney Sheedy (Sr.), Lauren Graham (Jr.), all-conference Avery Sadorf (So.) and Taylor Piento (So.).
"Our amazing group of seniors have led a recommitment to athletic training and softball skill development," Teschner said. "Starting in the summer with weights and skill development, this incredibly committed group of athletes have focused on getting faster, stronger and more dynamic as athletes. It has been incredible to see."
Teschner expects pitchers Graham (Lafayette College) and Hailey Lucas (So.) to keep the Vikings in games.
"This team will win games by flashing the leather and controlling opposing offenses with their talented pitching staff," Teschner added.
Schaumburg coach Ellen Abreu welcomes back four varsity players with Rachel Ebert (Sr, OF), Brianna Linnemann (Sr, P/IF), Sydni Ellis (Sr, 1B/3B) and Madison Dolecki (Jr, IF). Newcomers are Allyson Caldwell (Jr, P/UT), Victoria Villegas (So, OF), Alexa Evans (So. P/1B), Ella Oakley (So. C/UT), Kennedy Apple (So) P/1B, Madison Mueller (So. UT), Aubrey Kosek (So., IF), Jordan Murtaugh (So., UT), Madison Linnemann (Fr., P/UT) and Taylor Dolecki (Fr. OF).
"We have some returners and some younger players, but we are all passionate about one thing and that is softball," said Abreu, a former Fremd standout softball pitcher and hitter. "We are excited to get the season underway and see what this team can do."
Conant coach Allie Bauch begins her fifth season, returning all-conference sophomore outfielder Ava Falcone from last year's 7-12-1 and 6-10 squad. Twelve varsity players return and Bauch looks forward to seeing all the hard work put in during the off-season on display in the competitive MSL.
Seniors Mikayla Nowicki, Riya Patel, Elena Ruffolo and pitcher Natalie Spaitis will lead the team. Ashleigh Simmons, Liv Mickelson and Jaina Halman are juniors who have been varsity starters since their freshman year.
"Natalie (Spaitis) will lead us on the mound and I look forward to her contributions in the pitching circle as well her hitting at the plate," said Bauch, the former Conant and Illinois softball great. "All four seniors have been on varsity their entire career at Conant and their leadership and guidance will be instrumental to our success this year. If we can play consistently at the level we are capable of, I believe we can compete against anyone."
Former Buffalo Grove and Illinois great Lindsey Hamma, who has directed the Hoffman Estates program since 2006, looks forward to utilizing her three-pitcher staff of sophomore Bella Velazquez, sophomore Kendall Burdick and junior Joss Hernandez to keep opposing hitters off balance at the plate.
Returning players include Azalea Holmes (Sr. UT), Maddie Dyer (Jr. SS), Riley Foszcz (Jr. UT), Amber Kelly (Jr. C-IF), Alexa Jocic (So. C-UT), Ella Steel (So. OF-UT) and Velazquez.
"Practices have been competitive which makes everyone better," Hamma said. "The girls have been competing hard, staying positive, and holding each other accountable, which is exactly what we ask for on a daily basis."
Catching duties will be shared by Alexa Jocic (. 407 average last year) and Amber Kelly.
Hamma expects Jocic to continue to "ignite the offense and be a leader behind the plate. And Bella (Velazquez) is a threat because she can stand in from the right side and hit for power or keep defenses on their toes by slapping from the left."
Coach Nicole Capalbo says her Palatine team (15-15, 7-9 last spring) is athletic, aggressive and ready to take the field against any opponent.
"We have a strong senior class with leadership skills who will continue to teach our younger players our program's philosophies and expectations of what it means to wear the Palatine Pirate jersey." said Capalbo, who wore the Palatine jersey herself as one of the school's all-time greatest athletes (played softball at Northwestern). "We are competitive and want to reach the goals we have set for our team this season. In every position, we have gotten stronger with all the hard work the girls put in in the off-season. I am excited about competing on the field with this team."
Key players for Capalbo (136-81 career record) are Lauren Dettloff, Nicole Marceau, Angie Delgado and Holly Steffus.
In the Central Suburban League, Maine West coach Jim Dvorak returns his entire infield from last season: Kaitlyn Marsh (So. P), Alondra Contreras (So. P), Leiah Cardona (Jr. 2B), Abigail Garcia (So. SS), McKayla Garnett (So. 1B) and Kaitlyn Marsh (So. P).
"We are really focusing on the technical side of the game," said Dvorak, who is 65-56 since taking over the program. "We are working on daily drills and skills position specific. We have really emphasized the importance of being a great teammate and worked on creating the camaraderie and chemistry. We have a mix of improved upperclassmen and talented sophomores and freshman hungry to make an impression."
Maine East coach Len Labonar is excited to see his team build on its success from last spring. The Demons were second (9-12, 7-3) in the CSL North.
Junior pitcher Jayden Coppe returns to the mound after striking out 163 batters in 80 innings last season. She also posted a .403 batting average. Senior Natasha Czajkowskihit .407 with 10 homers. Emma Asien, Bella Cabrales, and Hannah Schwimmer are also returning starters.
With the graduation of 11 seniors, "Reloaded" is the motto for coach Emmy Pasier's Maine South Hawks.
Pasier says six returners are ready to step in, including senior center fielder Kaylie Kowalski (CF), senior Samantha Bergeron (P) along with juniors Ryan Mullarkey (C), Hannah Hoffman (P, SS), Jessica Hoffman (P. 1B) and Ava Amelio (3B).
"We won't back down from any competition and our schedule proves that," said Pasier, a former standout athlete at Maine South. "Along with very strong conference competition, we have scheduled some of the top teams in the area to play this season. We have promised each other that every day we will play for each other, play hard, compete, learn, grow and have fun and be the best Hawk we can be."
In the East Suburban Catholic Conference, ninth-year St. Viator coach John Scotillo had a roster of nine freshmen last year when the Lions compiled a record of 9-19 and 3-9 in conference.
"We did not know what to expect and definitely experienced some growing pains," Scotillo said. "We started five freshmen in our regional final game and came within a run of upsetting the state's eventual (Class 3A) third-place finisher (Antioch). We are hoping to build on that strong finish."
Co-captains and seniors Brooke Cwick (DePaul commit) and Jillian Bollard will lead the way. Starting pitchers Grace Gerdes-Grabowy (So.) and Suzanne Klopp (Sr.) are back. The infield remains intact with seniors Leah Klostermann and Klopp, sophomore Alexis Horn and junior Hannah Grossman.
"We have increased our win totals the last two years," Scotillo said. "That is our goal again this season. I am excited to see the growth of last year's freshmen. I feel there is a good blend of upperclassmen leaders and exuberant younger players."
In the West Suburban Gold, veteran Leyden coach Kurt Schuett welcomes back eight returners from last year's 12-16, 6-6 team that played one of the toughest schedules in the area.
The roster includes three seniors: Triton recruit Lea Martinez (C-UT)), Dominican commit Tatyana Colon (C-OF) and Angelina Gonzalez (P-IF).
"With so many returning players, we hope to continue with our deep rebuild this season," Schuett said. "Angelina and Lea are four-year varsity players and will play key leadership roles on this year's team. Throughout their tenure, this battery has proved itself a consistent winner."
Sophomore Abigail Cortez (S-P) led the team in most offensive categories last year.
"This should be a really fun group to watch, especially because of their offensive potential and speed," Schuett said. "Plus, we have five pitchers and four catchers, which is unheard of for a team of only 12 kids."