Softball: Tri-Cities all-area team
Amanda Ciran
St. Charles North
The best pitcher in the area this year, Ciran went 13-1 with 2 saves and a 1.27 ERA in 104 innings. Fanned 103 and walked 37. Didn't allow a triple or home run all year. Also batted .310 with 4 homers. "Big presence on the field," St. Charles North coach April Stary said. "Work ethic to get the job done in all situations, does what she needs to get outs; comfortable in any game situation either offensively or defensively. Has a big bat in the lineup and does well at the plate."
Annie Korth
St. Charles North
Nobody slugged the ball better than Korth - almost half of her 41 hits went for extra bases. Her 14 doubles, 2 triples and 4 home runs gave her an .816 slugging percentage to go with a .471 batting average. "Solid player behind the plate can and does call a good game, works well with pitchers and is able to go from position to position without any problems," St. Charles North coach April Stary said. "Heavy bat that came on this year and did very well in all roles she was put into."
Katie Neubauer
Batavia
The sophomore emerged on the softball scene this season and ended up leading the Bulldogs with 46 hits and 27 RBI. Batted .351 with 25 runs, 11 doubles, 2 triples and 3 home runs. Her triples led the team, her home runs tied for the team lead and doubles were second. On the mound she won a team-high 7 games with a team-low 3.03 ERA. "Katie Neubauer has been a force all season at the plate," Batavia coach Ashley Szymski said.
Jenny Niemiec
St. Charles East
The four-year starter capped her stellar career with her best season yet, sliding from second base to shortstop and leading the Saints with a .462 average. She smashed 55 hits, including 11 doubles, and scored a team-high 30 runs while driving in 23. Unanimous Upstate Eight all-conference selection and also selected to the Super 60 Senior game. "She took the team on her shoulders and carried them the entire season," Saints coach Kelly Horan said.
Rae Anne Payleitner
St. Charles East
The Saints catcher makes her second appearance on the All-Area team. "Rae continues to work hard," Saints coach Kelly Horan said. Teams pitched her carefully this year after she hit 7 home runs as a sophomore. That led to 22 walks and a .545 on-base percentage. Did plenty of damage with the pitches she saw, hitting .433 while leading the Saints in doubles (14), home runs (7) and RBI (31). Also scored 28 runs.
Steph Roan
St. Charles East
"A total softball player," said Roan's coach, Kelly Horan. "I would never bet against her." Unanimous Upstate Eight all-conference selection and also chosen to the Super 60 Senior game. Roan finished as one of the top hitters around by batting a sizzling .456. Of her 47 hits, she showed plenty of power with 13 doubles, 3 triples and 3 home runs while driving in 28 runs and scoring 25. Will play next year at Kankakee Community College.
Brenda Rocha
Rosary
In 129 at-bats, had 59 hits, scored an area-best 50 runs with an area-best 33 steals, batted .457 with 17 RBI. That is an improvement from her .356 average as a sophomore with 29 steals - she has now swiped 62 bases in the past two years and 72 in her career. Earned a share of the Suburban Christian Blue Player of the Year. "Brenda has unparalleled stamina and endurance and just keeps coming at you," Rosary coach John Kazmierczak said. "I'll put her energy up against anyone around as well as her bat and glove."
Dori Rogers
Geneva
How important was Rogers to the 21-17 and Class 4A regional champion Vikings? Coach Greg Dierks said she was the one player the team could not replace. That's not just for her glove at shortstop or her presence at the plate, though both were impressive. Rogers hit .347 and led the Vikings in runs, triples, walks and on-base percentage. Dierks also praised Rogers' leadership and "glue" she provided for a team that surprised many by winning a regional as a No. 12 seed.
Sydney Russell
St. Charles North
The second baseman and No. 3 hitter in the North Stars lineup batted .418 with 35 runs, 25 RBI and 10 steals. "Quick and versatile infielder - has a good head for the game," St. Charles North coach April Stary said. "Several double plays this year from her quick thinking and game play. As a lefty, went for solid hits and extra bases - great speed on the base paths and knows how to take advantage of the other team's mistakes."
Taylor Russell
St. Charles North
Finished as the area's leading hitter with a .519 batting average. Drove in 44 runs and scored 32, stole 11 bases and had 10 doubles and 4 home runs among her 56 hits. Also played sure-handed defense at third base for the 29-4 North Stars to earn captain honors of the Daily Herald All-Area softball team. "She is an awesome kid," St. Charles North coach April Stary said. "She is very confident in herself."
Ashley Seering
St. Charles North
The right fielder provided another power bat in the middle of St. Charles North's attack. She batted .416 with a team-high 6 home runs, 37 RBI and 26 runs scored. Also stole 11 bases for St. Charles North, which finished 20-1 in the Upstate Eight Conference to win a second straight championship. Her coach April Stary liked Seering's arm in right field, too. "Fantastic arm to get runners out and a big bat in the lineup that can hit for power," Stary said. "Speed and smarts on the base paths too."
Delani Vest
Kaneland
The sophomore led the Knights with a .403 batting average to make the All-Area team for her second straight season. Vest also led the team with 9 stolen bases and 3 triples; she slugged .571 and had a .477 on-base percentage. She won 13 games - giving her 30 in her career already - with a 1.20 ERA and 116 strikeouts. Led a young Kaneland team to another 20-win season and second place in the Western Sun Conference. "Thirteen wins, with the (circle moved back) 43 feet, Delani had a great season," Kaneland coach Brian Willis said.
Special mention
Mackenzie Astling (Rosary, jr. OF); Alyssa Bleidorn (Batavia, 1B, jr.); Emily Dorjath (Batavia, C, jr.); Amanda Engel (St. Charles North, P, sr.); Francesca Evischi (West Aurora, P, jr.); Chelsea Frieders (Rosary, 3B/C, jr.); Allyson O'Herron (Kaneland, SS, fr.); Katie Stengler (St. Charles East, sr., P); LaRi Mitchell (West Aurora, OF, so.); Elana Wright (Geneva, 3B, so.).
Honorable mention
Dani Asquini (St. Charles East, 3B, jr.); Melissa Barber (Geneva, 2B, jr.); Kendra Bradley (Aurora Central, SS, sr.); Kayla Brooks (St. Charles East, 1B, sr.); Katie Callahan (Aurora Central, C, so.); Kristin Damm (St. Charles North, C, sr.); Meghan Fabian (Batavia, OF, so.); Jordan Hester (Kaneland, CF, sr.); Katie Luetkens (Batavia, SS/CF, sr.); Kelly McCaffrey (Geneva, P, jr.); Lauren McNally (Rosary, INF, sr.); Emily Meyer (Rosary, INF/OF, jr.); Gabby Moe (St. Charles East, P, sr.); Brooke Nelson (Batavia, P, jr.); Tara Pfeiffer (Rosary, SS/P, jr.); Kristyn Ruitenberg (Geneva, P, sr.); Julie Sobieski (St. Charles East, U, sr.); Courtney Thomas (Aurora Christian, 3B/SS, fr.); Rilee Vest (Kaneland, C, jr.); Avery Vivian (Batavia, INF, sr.); Emily Watts (St. Charles North, LF/P, jr.); Bridget Weitzel (Geneva, OF, fr.).
The kids can play
Top freshmen and sophomores
Katie Neubauer (Batavia, P/INF, so.); Allyson O'Herron (Kaneland, SS, fr.); Kirsten Searcey (Geneva, 3B, fr.); Delani Vest (Kanleand, P, so.); Bridget Weitzel (Geneva, CF, fr.); Elana Wright (Geneva, 3B, so.).
The winners
Conference champions
St. Charles North
Regional champions
Geneva
The future
Teams to watch in 2011
St. Charles North, Rosary, Geneva
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<h2>Related documents</h2>
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<li><a href="/pdf/trisoftballfront10.pdf">Tri-Cities all-area team Page 1</a></li>
<li><a href="/pdf/trisoftballteam110.pdf">Tri-Cities all-area team Page 2</a></li>
<li><a href="/pdf/trisoftballteam210.pdf">Tri-Cities all-area team Page 3</a></li>
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