March brings softball thoughts

I'm guilty and I'll be the first to admit it.

Now don't get me wrong here. I love high school basketball. The thrill of March Madness in Illinois is deep-seeded in my sports history and high school basketball was, for a very long time, my first love.

But as the years have passed and the longing for temperatures above 60 degrees 24/7/365 have increased, turning that calendar page to March has become a ritual I look forward to more and more every year.

Not only does March signal the start of some really good basketball, it also denotes the beginning of the spring season for high school sports. And on Monday, those spring sports teams around the area and state will begin tryouts and practice. With that today come some random thoughts about the high school softball season, among other things, that we will embark on soon.

So here we go.

Pulling last year's softball file out of the cabinet is always one of the first rites of spring - kind of like pitchers and catchers reporting for spring training. It refreshes the brain and reveals we've got the makings of one darn fine softball season around the Fox Valley.

A total of 12 players return from the 2008 all-area team, including honorary co-captain Kayla Oranger of Burlington Central, who has signed to play at Division I Texas-El Paso. Throw in other all-area returnees Caris Alan of Elgin, Sam Clemons and Jenna Mychko of Huntley, Callie Dennison and Elizabeth Kay (ISU) of Bartlett, Megan Roadcap (Judson) and Ally Kent of Hampshire, Kristi Knott of St. Edward, Mackenzie Scott of Burlington Central and Kim Pierce (Indiana State) and Lauren Vitello of South Elgin and it's easy to see not only do we have some fine talent returning, but it's spread out around the area as well.

That list didn't mention Kaitlin and Megan Hardie of Crystal Lake South either. Kaitlin missed all of last season and Megan most of it with ACL injuries, and with their triplet sister Samantha as well as senior classmate Emily Mahoney leading the way, the Gators have the target on their backs, along with St. Edward, as being the Fox Valley area team that went the furthest (supersectional) last year. Kaitlin and Megan Hardie have signed with Winona State.

We also didn't mention any incoming freshmen and I'll all tell you is to keep your eye on the pitcher's circle at Elgin High.

After looking over the returning all-area list, the next spring ritual is to take a look at the schedules.

The first thing you notice about this year's spring schedules in all sports is the late start to the season. It's a weird year on the calendar, as the last Monday of May is the 25th, so that must be Memorial Day. What that does is push everything a week later, meaning baseball and softball state finals in Class 3A and Class 4A won't be until the weekends of June 5-6 and June 12-13, respectively.

Thus, all those March 15 games we've been complaining about for umpteen years are history. Most schools start their seasons the week of March 23, which is also spring break week for most schools around the area.

One early-season date to circle on your calendar is Saturday, March 28, when Jacobs hosts a quad that not only includes Hoffman Estates and South Elgin, but defending Class 4A state champion Lincoln-Way Central as well. Not one to shy away from competition, Jacobs coach Jeremy Bauer will then take his Golden Eagles to the Fields of Dreams on March 31 to play defending state runner-up Barrington.

The Elgin Sports Complex will again be abuzz with high school tournaments two straight Saturdays in April. St. Edward will host the Chicagoland Classic April 18, which includes Hampshire and Marengo in the 8-team field. Then the following week, it's the annual Larkin Slugfest.

Later in the season, South Elgin will host an interesting quad on May 16 that includes Crystal Lake South, Schaumburg and Rockford Boylan.

So who will be the best around this season? Well, we've got until mid-May to get that question answered but it says here to keep your eyes on CL South, Burlington, South Elgin, Bartlett, Jacobs, St. Edward and Hampshire. And no, there was no particular order to that.

Finch in town: Chicago Bandits pitcher Jennie Finch, one of the most recognizable names in softball, is slated to be in Elgin this coming Friday. She will speak and give a pitching demonstration at Westminster Christian and then speak at the school's Fellowship Dinner that evening. There is a charge of $40 for the pitching demonstration and the evening event at Stonegate in Hoffman Estates is by invitation only. For further information, contact the school at (847) 695-0310.

Best trip: This distinction goes to the Jacobs baseball team, which will spend its spring break week playing in Fort Myers, Fla. In these economic times, it's nice to see a program that has that kind of commitment, because I can guarantee you District 300 isn't paying for that trip.

Speaking of commitment: One basketball note today. I know it hasn't been an easy three years for St. Edward boys coach Keith Chuipek and his staff, but their commitment to the program, as well as that of guys like Josh Dix, Steve Martin and Riley Coleman, was rewarded Friday night when the Green Wave won a regional championship for the first time since 2003. I was at the forefront of taking the previous administration to task three years ago and it's nice to see how things have turned around at St. Edward. Good luck in the sectional next week guys, and congratulations.

Nice honor: Former Burlington Central football coach Dave Smith, now the head coach at Mt. Zion High School in southern Illinois, will be honored with the Ray Eliot Award on Saturday, April 4 by the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association. The award brings recognition to a person for their contributions to the furtherance of sportsmanship, quality of the game, and advancement of athletics or the association in Illinois. The ceremony will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Champaign and further information can be obtained by calling Phil Salzer at (309) 251-4868. University of Illinois football coach Ron Zook will be the featured speaker.

jradtke@dailyherald.com