Softball: Defending state champ St. Charles North brings experienced group back
St. Charles North's softball team proved, if nothing else, one thing last year: When it comes state tournament time, anything can happen.
The North Stars became an unlikely state champion in 2022 when they scored a run in the top of the seventh inning to beat powerful Marist 3-2 in the title game in Peoria.
So, who will be this year's St. Charles North? Will it be the North Stars again, or someone else? One thing is clear - Marist (29-2) is again the team to beat in 4A. But there's a lot of softball to be played before any team from the Fox Valley or DuPage County can set their sights on the RedHawks, or anyone else in the state finals in Peoria.
Here's a look at the postseason.
Class 4A SCN sectional
A strong case can be made for this being the toughest sectional field in the state. And why not? The top nine seeds all have winning records. In fact, seven of those nine have won 20-plus.
The top-seeded North Stars (20-6) open regional play Tuesday at Glenbard West against the winner of Monday's play-in game between Elgin (1-23) and Hoffman Estates (1-24). SCN would then face either No. 10 seed Glenbard West (12-16) or a dangerous No. 8 Glenbard North (15-9-1) in the regional final.
"There are so many good teams in the sectional. It really is as challenging as I can remember," said SCN coach Tom Poulin, who is 267-94 in his 12th year at the helm. "Glenbard North is fully healthy now, so they are much better than their seed. Fremd, Conant, Lake Park, St. Charles East, South Elgin, are all good enough to win a sectional title and I'm sure I am forgetting some teams. The real key will be our ability to overcome the difficult situations that teams face during a tournament run. Experience and leadership are the most valuable assets."
The Stars have plenty of that. Their top three hitters and their two pitchers were all instrumental in last year's state title run.
So far this season, seniors Julia Larson (.500, 1.298 OPS, .780 SLG, 11 2Bs, 4 HRs, 35 RBI, 29 RS, 13/13 SBs), Sophia Olman (.455, 1.260 OPS, .766 SLG, 4 2Bs, 6 HRs, 35 RBI, 20 RS) and, Leigh VandeHei (.457, 1.119 OPS, .593 SLG, 2 2Bs, 3 3Bs, 1 HR, 14 RBI, 30 RS, 21/23 SBs) have led the offense while senior Ava Goettel (80.2 IP, 11-4, 29 BBs, 99 Ks, 0.95 ERA, 1.079 WHIP) and sophomore Paige Murray (59 IP, 6-2, 11 BBs, 64 Ks, 1.237 WHIP) have again been standouts on the mound.
"We are looking forward to the tourney," Poulin said. "We have tried to use each game throughout the season as another step in our preparation for the state tournament. Any adversity along the way tends to get you ready for the 'win or go home' aspect of this time of year. Our focus is on continuing to do our job in the circle, make the plays we are supposed to make and have quality at-bats that improve each time at the plate."
No. 2 seed Lake Park (22-11-1) will host a regional, where the Lancers take on No. 15 Streamwood (2-18) in the semifinals. Then, how's this for a 7-9 matchup? Bartlett (21-7) takes on Addison Trail (20-8) on Wednesday. The regional final is on Friday.
"This sectional is pretty rough, starting with the defending champion St. Charles North," said Bartlett coach Jim Wolfsmith. "But I think there are really solid teams in the top 9 or so. Right off the bat playing Addison Trail will be a tall task. They are well-coached, can play a variety of styles and are solid on D. Not looking past them but Lake Park can hit up and down the lineup and presents a rough assignment for anyone.
"Like most teams we need to play solid defense and pitch well to give our offense a chance to win the game."
Bartlett's explosive offense is led by senior Addie Koth (.587, 63 RS, 15 2Bs, 2 3Bs, 19 HRs, 82 RBI, 1.413 slug and .675 OBP) and junior Olivia Ligouri (.520, 46 RS, 11 2Bs, 2 3Bs, 16 HRs, 17 SBs, 62 RBI, 1.150 slug).
"As usual the St. Charles sectional is full of teams that can make it out," said Lake Park coach Tom Mazzie. "I feel like St. Charles North is the deepest and most dangerous team. They can hit for power, play small ball, run the bases and have the ability to dominate on the mound. They are just one of those teams that is not going to beat themselves - you have to go out and beat them with a flawless game.
"The 2-10 seeds are all capable of winning multiple games. Most of the teams have either a really strong pitcher or a really good offense. Not many of the teams have both. The (DuKane Conference) teams are battle-tested. Our conference was a dogfight all year. If you didn't show up with your 'A' game you got beat, period. I like the fact the DuKane teams have faced a ton of great competition throughout the year."
Mazzie's team is led at the plate by senior Penn State recruit Michela Barbanente (.505, .598 OBP, 1.569 OPS, 52 hits, 4 2Bs, 4 3Bs, 12 HRs, 36 RBI, 57 runs, 21 BBs, 5 Ks, 39 SBs).
"Michela has been an absolute force for us hitting over .500 for the third season in a row and an OPS over 1.500," Mazzie said "She is our emotional leader on the field and in the dugout. I have never had a team that is more loose, confident and supportive of one another. When your best player is humble, coachable, aggressive and positive, it is infectious to the rest of the team."
It's a powerful offense that includes senior Mia Giammarese (.429 AVG, .459 OBP, 39 hits, 9 2Bs, 3 HRs, 23 RBI), junior Kylie Pytlak (.423 AVG, 44 hits, 14 2Bs, 7 HRs, 33 RBI, 28 runs), sophomore Ava Arenz (.392, 40 hits, 9 2Bs, 29 RBI) and senior Cailynn Gdowski (.357 AVG, .422 OBP, 33 hits, 12 2Bs, 6 HRs, 37 RBI, 29 RS, 12 BBs).
"We need to continue our offensive efficiency," Mazzie said. "Over the course of the season we have averaged 8.5 runs a game against a brutal schedule. We can hit and score with anyone. In order for us to make it through this sectional we need to keep up our offense, continue to play stellar defense and be efficient on the mound. If we keep hitters off balance from the circle we can beat any team in the state."
No. 3 seed South Elgin (22-5-1), the Upstate Eight champ, hosts a regional. The Storm takes on No. 14 Rolling Meadows (6-21) in one semifinal with No. 5 St. Charles East (16-10-1) facing No. 11 Glenbard East (12-14) in the other. The fourth regional, at Conant, is all Mid-Suburban League teams with No. 4 Fremd (22-9) the highest seed.
The SCN sectional winner returns to North for supersectional action against the Whitney Young sectional champ.
Class 4A Oswego sectional
Yorkville (30-2 is the top seed and favorite to advance to the Illinois Wesleyan super to play the Normal sectional champ.
No. 2 seed Wheaton North (24-9) is the favorite to emerge from the West Chicago regional, while No. 5 seed Naperville North (22-7) faces No. 12 Metea Valley (12-17) in a regional semifinal at Oswego East. No. 3 seed Oswego (23-11) is the favorite at West Aurora.
Class 4A Hononegah sectional
Split into sub-sectionals, regional hosts Barrington (30-5) and Hononegah (24-6-1) are the top seeds. Huntley (24-6) is a two-seed and will play Jacobs (11-24) on Tuesday. The Red Raiders won't soon forget last year, when Barrington scored 7 runs In the seventh inning to stun Huntley in the sectional final at Huntley.
"Huntley is looking forward to competing in the playoffs," said Red Raiders coach Mark Petryniec, whose team won the 2019 state title. "It is always a challenge to play a team a third time but we are preparing for that challenge. We are taking a one-game-at-a-time approach and right now everything is getting us ready for our first round contest against Jacobs.
"(Class) 4A is a very competitive class and there are many talented teams that could make a run at the state title this year. We are happy to have that opportunity to compete."
Class 3A
Benet (20-11) is the No. 1 seed in the St. Ignatius sectional. The Redwings host a regional that includes No. 8 Fenton (13-20-1). No. 4 seed Glenbard South (11-11-1) is also a regional host. No. 7 seed St. Francis (18-12-1) is at Glenbard South.
Retiring Cary-Grove coach Tammy Olson will host a regional as part of the Carmel sectional. The fifth-seeded Trojans open against No. 11 Ridgewood (9-16). No. 3 seed Wauconda (24-9) takes on No. 14 Grayslake North on the other side of the bracket. The Carmel sectional winner plays the Belvidere North sectional champ at the Kaneland supersectional.
Crystal Lake South and Burlington Central host regionals in the Belvidere North sectional. CLS faces No. 2 seed Woodstock North in its regional opener while No. 7 BC (9-20) takes on No. 4 Kaneland (13-16).
Class 2A
IC Catholic Prep (23-8) and Montini (14-11) are on a collision course to meet in the Westmont sectional final later this week. Montini faces Rickover Naval Academy and ICCP takes on DePaul Prep in this week's semifinals.