Softball: Fox Valley All-Area team

By John Lemon

jlemon@dailyherald.com

Kristina Ahlers Burlington Central

This repeat All-Area selection who will be playing college softball at Winona State hit .488 with 7 doubles, 5 triples, 7 home runs, 38 runs and 24 RBI. That followed a junior season with a .570 average, 9 doubles, 4 triples, 12 home runs and 43 RBI. "Kristina has been a key player for our program the last four years," Burlington Central coach Erica Snyder said. "She ignited our offense and was a threat at the plate in both small ball and power. She turned singles and walks into doubles because of her speed on the bases. She explodes off the bag with so much power it's hard to stop her. She will be missed."

Hannah Beatus West Aurora

The only 3-time All-Area selection, Beatus leaves West Aurora for Grand Valley State as one of the program's all-time best. Won 18 games with 199 strikeouts as a sophomore, 14 games with 208 strikeouts as a junior, and this season 15 and 215 with a 1.46 ERA and .783 WHIP on her way to winning Upstate Eight Conference Valley Pitcher of the Year. Also one of the team's best hitters with a .333 average, 4 home runs, 22 RBI and 19 runs. "The vocal leader of West Aurora softball; a four-year varsity player who continually improved her game and thrived under pressure," West Aurora coach Randy Hayslett said. "Hannah threw harder with greater movement each year as she was always looking to improve. Hannah has been another coach, and she leads by example - as evident by her dedication in the weight room. She has been the heart and soul of our program over the past two years. She goes down with Stephanie Becker and Taylor Petersen as the best of all West Aurora pitchers."

Krystal Cortes Rosary

This junior shortstop made one of the best comebacks in the area, returning in style from an ACL injury by hitting .455 for the 20-9 Royals. Slugged a 2-run home run in her final at-bat of the season, a loss to Kaneland in the Class 3A regional championship game. Finished with 7 home runs, 9 doubles and 37 RBI - all team-highs. Also led Rosary with an .818 slugging percentage and 1.302 OPS. "She is a phenomenal athlete with a heart that beats for softball," Rosary coach Megan Tracy said. "She has a terrific work ethic and plays the game the way it is supposed to be played. Her ability to quickly get to the ball with her ball-to-glove transfer is outstanding. She has brought our team to the next level and we are better because of Cortes."

Rebecca Daley Streamwood

An honorable mention All-Area pick last year, Daley stepped up her game at the plate and in the field as a senior. First-year coach Will Shogren credited Daley's play in center field with saving many runs. "What the statistics will not show is the range Daley has," Shogren said. "She has made some truly incredible catches this year. She has made plays ranging from deep center field, to in the gap, plays in left and right field, as well as a few in the infield (as a center fielder). To accompany that her arm has frozen many runners and made even more stop halfway after trying to tag." Daley hit .458 with 5 doubles, 4 home runs, 20 RBI and 21 runs. "The girl had a great season," Shogren said. "She's awesome on the bases. She's a sure glove in the field. Not a huge power hitter but a tough out to make and dangerous on the bases. She will almost always score on a base hit from second and constantly makes it to third from first on base hits."

Delaney Devor St. Charles East

A senior who made honorable mention All-Area as a junior, Devor took over the No. 1 spot in the circle and pitched the Saints to a 30-win season and a regional championship. Also thrived as the No. 2 hitter in an explosive offense. Batted .376 with 50 hits, 11 doubles, 6 home runs, 47 runs and 28 RBI. In the circle won 20 games with a 2.47 ERA and 102 strikeouts. "She's one of those where emotionally where she's always upbeat," St. Charles East coach Jarod Gutesha said. "She rallies the team and it doesn't matter if we are way up or way down. She's got that mentality which is great. She's a huge part for us. She hits her spots, she can throw different pitches. She's not overpowering but she's quick enough."

Toni Galas Batavia

Headed to the University of Evansville, this repeat All-Area selection enjoyed another big season as the Bulldogs' leadoff hitter and center fielder. Galas batted .551, got on base at a .590 clip, stole 30 bases (while only being caught once) and scored 37 runs. Added 6 doubles, 5 triples and drove in 21 runs. Four-year starter. "Toni was the spark plug for our offense at the top of our order and the captain of the outfield," Batavia coach Lupe Castellanos said. "She came to compete every game. It will be hard to replace a player like Toni. She is the complete package you look for in a player and she can make an impact on the defensive side as well as offensively. Every year she got better."

Tiffany Giese Huntley

No pitcher won more games than Giese, who finished 27-6. Struck out 186 batters in 214 innings with a 2.97 ERA. Also a key bat in Huntley's lineup with a team-high .462 average, 5 hits, 53 runs, area-best 39 steals and a .566 on-base percentage. "Tiffany has been the spark plug at the top of our order," Huntley coach Mark Petryniec said. "She is one of our top hitters and led our team in walks and stolen bases. Our motto is on, over and in and Tiffany did a great job this season of getting on and over and letting our middle of the order get her in. Tiffany has been our workhorse on the mound and passing our program high in wins for a season. Tiffany has been a huge part of our successful season with her hitting, pitching and defense."

Elyse Hickey Bartlett

A repeat All-Area selection, this Evansville recruit injured her leg early in the season on the Hawks' Tennessee trip. It forced her to miss several games including Geneva and St. Charles North and play at less than 100 percent for much of the season, but she still finished strong going 3-for-4 in her final game, a regional loss to Elk Grove. Ended up hitting .400 with 8 doubles, 4 home runs, 21 RBI and 25 runs while sharing the Upstate Eight Conference Valley Player of the Year. Played 3-and-a-half varsity seasons hitting .556 as a junior. "It's always hard when you are not quite yourself," Bartlett coach Jim Wolfsmith said. "I don't know if she really felt normal all season long in terms of her leg. But to do what she did in the field and at-bat while adding 20 minutes a day to work out her leg to get ready for a game, that's amazing she was able to put up the numbers she was able to do. I credit her for that. She never complained about it, and when she wasn't playing she was supporting her teammates."

Grace Hunger West Aurora

The player who shared Upstate Eight Conference Valley Player of the Year honors with Elyse Hickey was this senior shortstop for the Blackhawks. Hunger hit .355 with 5 home runs, 33 RBI and 35 runs as the No. 3 hitter in the Blackhawks lineup. Played standout defense for a West Aurora team that set a program record with 31 wins while becoming the only area team to capture conference, regional and sectional championships. "Grace's sure hands and great arm at shortstop has been a key for our infield defense over the past two years," West Aurora coach Randy Hayslett said. "She led us in home runs, RBI and runs scored this year. A team captain, tireless worker, and one of the best baserunners West has ever had."

Autumn Kasal Huntley

This junior made the move from outfield to shortstop and helped solidify the defense for the Fox Valley Conference and regional champion Red Raiders. Kasal batted .419 with a .667 slugging percentage, totaling 18 doubles, 3 home runs and 37 RBI while scoring 30 runs and stealing 11 bases. "Autumn did a terrific job for our team hitting over .400 and leading our team in doubles," Huntley coach Mark Petryniec said. "Autumn took over at shortstop this season for us and did a tremendous job solidifying our strong up the middle defense. She has been a very clutch player for us and one of our leading hitters with runners in scoring position. We look forward to having Autumn around for another season."

Katie Keller Geneva

Committed to Northern Illinois, this junior catcher and repeat All-Area selection won the Upstate Eight Conference River Player of the Year. She batted .576, breaking her own school record she set last year. Keller also set school records for home runs (12), runs scored (62), on-base percentage (. 710) and slugging percentage (1.152) for an area-best 1.862 OPS. Keller led Geneva in doubles (17) and walks (24). In four games against St. Charles East and St. Charles North, Keller got on base 14 of 16 times. "Katie piled up hits and scored runs against our toughest opponents and her efforts at the top of our batting order set the tone for us each game and helped lead us to the best season in school history," Geneva coach Greg Dierks said. "She did a great job behind the plate including picking off 11 runners. I know the team shared my excitement knowing that she was heading to the plate every time the batting order turned over because she ignited our offense so often."

Paige Ligocki St. Charles East

Only a sophomore, this natural catcher who played at first base as a freshman, continued to show her versatility and athleticism by moving to shortstop this year. "We said we need you at short this year," St. Charles East coach Jarod Gutesha said. "She started early on learning the position. There were some flaws and some timing, but she's got it now. You talk about peaking at the right time, defensively she did." Ligocki has been peaking all year at the plate, slugging 13 home runs with 48 RBI for the regional champions. Batted .339 with a .397 on-base, .701 slugging and 1.098 OPS.

Payton Lundberg West Aurora

Only a sophomore and already committed to DePaul, Lundberg could overpower batters as evidenced by her 187 strikeouts in 92 innings. Had an 11-4 record with a 1.46 ERA and 0.834 WHIP. At the plate she batted .344 with 23 RBI and 10 doubles for the conference, regional and sectional champion Blackhawks. "Continued to dominate opposing hitters, throwing three more no-hitters this year," West Aurora coach Randy Hayslett said. "Payton has enabled West Aurora to form one of the best 1-2 pitching combinations in the state. It's nearly impossible for hitters to consistently put the ball in play against her. She worked on hitting and now hits in the middle of our order. She will take over the reigns and become the clear-cut ace of our program next year."

Allie Moberg St. Charles North

Repeat All-Area selection who will play college softball at Emory College, this senior first baseman batted .394 with 11 doubles, 6 home runs with 45 RBI. Had a .427 on-base percentage, .687 slugging and 1.114 OPS. Homered against Conant in the sectional semifinals while helping her team win a sectional championship. Also earned Daily Herald academic All-Area honors. "Allie has always been a very good hitter with power to all fields and a very dependable fielder at first, but what I am most proud of is how she has developed into a captain and team leader on a daily basis," St. Charles North coach Tom Poulin said. "It is not always easy to be in that role, but she has taken on those responsibilities and made us all very proud. She is exactly the type of student-athlete that all coaches want to have represent their programs and school communities."

Amber Pagan Bartlett

This junior already committed to IUPUI capped her season with a home run against Elk Grove in the regional final. She hit .490 with 15 doubles, 3 home runs, 30 runs and 26 RBI. Also went 9-1 as a pitcher with a 1.93 ERA. Three-year varsity starter and all-conference selection. "She really caught fire the last month of May," Bartlett coach Jim Wolfsmith said. "She found her rhythm as a hitter. It was pretty to watch. She hit a lot of line drive gap shots. She hit in big moments. Pitches for us, great shortstop. She's the whole package."

Kaitlyn Plocinski Geneva

The ball sounded different coming off the bat of Geneva's senior first baseman, who hit safely in 29 of 34 games during a 31-3 season - the best in school history. She went 58 for 108 at the plate for a .537 average with 13 doubles, 2 triples and 7 home runs. She broke the school record with 59 RBI and leaves her four-year varsity career as the school's all-time leader in average (. 425) and walks (65). "Kaitlyn had an amazing season at the plate," Geneva coach Greg Dierks said. "Kaitlyn batted third for us all season and produced for us game in and game out. She is definitely one of the most dynamic hitters we have ever had."

Sydney Ruggles Dundee-Crown

Few pitchers can bring it like the Chargers' junior, an honorable mention All-Area choice last year. Ruggles won 21 games with a 1.96 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 264 strikeouts in 199 innings. Shut out Hampshire 1-0 in the regional semifinals and then held Barrington to 2 runs in the regional championship. Also was one of the better hitters on Dundee-Crown with a .343 average, 7 doubles and 21 RBI. "Every year she gets stronger physically," Chargers coach Tracy Beatty said. "Mentally she's been strong since her freshman year. If you watch her on the mound she doesn't get rattled. She is so focused on that mound. We know every time her cleats hit the dirt she is going to be ready to compete."

Delaney Rummell Hampshire

After tearing her ACL and missing her freshman year, Rummell came back with a monster sophomore season. The Whip-Purs' catcher and leadoff hitter batted .620 with a .674 on-base percentage, 1.182 slugging percentage and 1.856 OPS. Finished with 75 hits, 20 doubles, 9 triples and 10 home runs. Scored 67 runs and drove in 35. "Incredible. Unbelievable," Hampshire coach Kelly Wasilewski said. "I don't think I've ever seen as a player or as a coach someone have a season like this. To have someone with the confidence up at bat that you can pretty much count on her getting on or getting a run in, it's awesome. She's just going to keep getting better. She was good coming in but there was definitely improvement. Offensively, defensively she's someone you can count on anywhere. She gets the job done. She's got a rocket for an arm. She's got an incredible bat."

Rylee Stout St. Charles East

Four-year starter and repeat All-Area selection headed to Winona State, Stout blasted her way to the top of St. Charles East's all-time home run list. Shattered Saints marks with 20 home runs and 72 RBI after hitting 9 home runs with 51 RBI as a junior. Batted .460 with a .519 on-base percentage, .993 slugging percentage and 1.512 OPS. "From the best pitching we've seen to the midlevel pitching, she's hit," St. Charles East coach Jarod Gutesha said. "Sometimes you have kids with nice stats and it's not in the big games and clutch situations. She's had clutch hit after clutch hit this season. She's a leader behind the plate."

Emily Sulikowski Crystal Lake South

This sophomore who made honorable mention All-Area last year broke several school records. Her .578 batting average broke a mark that had stood since 1981, and her .630 on-base percentage surpassed a record that was set in 1999. Her 59 hits erased a record set in 1985, and her 41 RBI tied the school mark. Only struck out five times in 119 plate appearances while hitting 6 home runs. "Emily Sulikowski is the least-assuming player I have ever coached," Gators coach Scott Busam said. "She had a career season as a sophomore, broke or tied multiple school records, and it seems she doesn't want anything to do with it. She loves softball, and she plays because she has fun. She loves practice, she loves competition, she loves her teammates, and that's it. She's a kind, soft-spoken young woman; she is coachable, fun-loving, and exciting."

McKayla Timmons South Elgin

This freshman slugger rewrote the school record book. Her 14 home runs set a South Elgin record, and they came against quality programs like West Aurora and Conant. Timmons' blast against Conant was part of a 3-for-3 day in her final game of a special debut season that saw her hit .479 with 9 doubles, 31 runs, 41 RBI, a .979 slugging percentage and 1.529 OPS. "McKayla has been great for us all season," South Elgin coach Brad Reynard said. "As a freshman what can I say, she's been a real blessing for our program."

Emily Viebrock Geneva

When Ali Dierks was sidelined with a strained tendon in her pitching hand early this season, it could have been a crushing blow to the Geneva softball team. Instead, this freshman pitcher stepped in and won big game after big game. She beat both St. Charles East and St. Charles North twice, part of an 18-1 record with a 2.17 ERA and 94 strikeouts in 119 innings. Unanimously voted Upstate Eight River Pitcher of the Year. "Emily entered the season as our backup pitcher, but when the opportunity to become the main pitcher presented itself, she grabbed ahold of it and didn't let go," Geneva coach Greg Dierks said. "When the season ended she had the best winning percentage of any pitcher we have had. The key to her success was her calm approach to the game and hitting her spots and that gave her the ability to induce weak contact. She had an amazing season by any measure and her humble approach to it all was very impressive."

Morgan Weber Kaneland

One of the most versatile athletes on the All-Area team and the only one who also made the All-Area girls basketball squad, Weber capped her 4 years as the Knights' starting shortstop by leading Kaneland to conference and regional championships. Headed to Lewis University and an honorable mention All-Area selection last season, Weber batted .453 with 9 home runs, 31 RBI, 38 runs, a .531 on-base percentage and 1.333 OPS. "Morgan is just consistent," Knights coach Mike Kuefler said. "Very rarely do you want to put a power hitter up in the leadoff area, but she's so tough at the top of the order. For any pitcher to walk up and see Morgan Weber as the leadoff hitter? Normally you want to see those types of hitters in the 3, 4, 5 area but we've had a tough time taking her out of that leadoff position. At shortstop, she's been our mainstay for 4 years. We haven't ever had to question that spot. That will be tough to replace. When she reaches back and uncorks that ball it comes across the field in a hurry. Lewis is getting a good ballplayer."

Jordyn Wolfe St. Charles North

Headed to Louisville, this fleet-footed center fielder batted .427 with 47 hits, 3 triples, 38 runs and 24 RBI for the sectional champion North Stars. Had a .457 on-base percentage and stole 27 bases in 29 attempts. "Jordyn loves softball and it shows every day," St. Charles North coach Tom Poulin said. "The passion and spirit that she brings to our practices and games is infectious. She also developed into a leader and captain over the years as she learned from some impressive mentors. I will miss Jordyn very much when we put our team together next season. She has had four great years for us and will go down as one of the best we have had. I believe she is one of the few players who will be able to finish her high school years and not have any regrets when it comes to attitude and effort. She poured her heart into North Star softball and made so many very proud."

Molly Wrenn Geneva

A four-year varsity starter, Wrenn set career highs for runs (31), hits (50), doubles (9), home runs (4) and RBI (40). She hit cleanup for a Geneva team that went 31-3, won 29 straight games, went undefeated in the Upstate Eight, and won the first conference championship in school history. As good as her offense was, it is her defense that sets her apart, saving run after run with consistently strong play at third base. "Molly's senior season was the best of her four varsity seasons," Geneva coach Greg Dierks said. "After watching her play third base for four years I would say that she is the best defensive player we have ever had. Her leadership and unselfish approach to the game are second to none and we win games because she is on our team. It's that simple."

Honorable mention

Aurora Central Catholic - Dani Brown, so., P; Jessica Eallonardo, sr., C

Aurora Christian - Noelle Chaney, fr., P/1B

Bartlett - Taylor Rotondo, jr., C/1B; Janelle Ulaszek, jr., P/1B

Batavia - Rachael Lovestrand, sr., SS/P; Jaelen Lisberg, jr., OF/P/SS; Allison Bahlmann, so., C/3B

Burlington Central - Julia Barnes, jr., P; Danielle Yurgil, jr., P/1B; Gretchen Schrubbe, sr., 3B

Cary-Grove - Kelly Johnson, fr., SS/1B: Taylor Langguth, sr., P/OF/1B

Crystal Lake South - Carly Chovanec, jr., C/INF

Dundee-Crown - Claire Weeks, jr., C

Geneva - Annika Radabaugh, sr., RF; Ali Dierks, jr., 2B/P; Kate Geary, jr., SS/CF; Alyssa Kramer, so., LF

Hampshire - Sarah Bowen, so., OF; Peyton DeChant, sr., 3B; Melissa Esparza, jr., INF

Huntley - Sophia Tenuta, so., C; Rylie Porretto, sr., CF; Caitlin Brown, sr., 2B: Teagan O'Rilley, fr., INF

Jacobs - Kerri Healy, jr., U; Savannah Svedman, fr., P

Kaneland - Donatela Sommesi, fr., CF: Aly Jesionowski, sr., P/LF; Lexi Abruzzo, jr., 2B; Hannah Theobald, jr., 1B

Larkin - Haley Bohne, jr, SS

Rosary - Xandria Olsen, jr., OF

St. Charles East - Maddie Candre, jr., CF; Maddy Stout, so., LF; Sarah Kreiner, sr., U

St. Charles North - Jill Waslawski, jr., P; Natalie Walters, sr., P; Maddie Webb, sr., P/OF; Ashlyn Jozefowicz, jr., OF

St. Edward - Jessy Kramp, so., P/INF

South Elgin - Casey Brennan, so., CF; Mariah Spivey, sr., SS: Grace Anne Aldred, sr., C

Streamwood - Taylyr Crocilla, so., P

West Aurora - Kallie Rundle, sr., 1B; Sophia Delgado, so., C/2B

Westminster Christian - Drew Randazzo, jr., P

- All-Area capsules by John Lemon