Southern Fox Valley softball preview
Aurora Central
Coach: Claude Ainsworth
Last year's record: 14-20 overall, 3-11 in the Suburban Catholic.
Top returnees: Casey Regnier (sr., P); Kristin Brouch (sr., SS/P); Kendra Bradley (jr., 2B); Brooke Frantzen (sr., 1B); Crysta Hoffman (so., CF); Ashley Bohr (so., 3B).
Outlook: The Chargers have a star in Regnier, who hit .455 last year and also threw a no-hitter. Frantzen batted .331 last season. They also have a future star in freshman Katie Callahan, who is starting at catcher. "She has a rifle for an arm," coach Claude Ainsworth said. "Her throws are on the money, and she's a very mature girl." Look for Callahan to hit fourth. Ainsworth is expecting an improved team, which he already has noticed from practice. "I'm expecting a really good season," Ainsworth said. "When I took over last year we had trouble catching the ball and throwing the ball. At this time from last year we are lights years ahead of where we were last year. We're snapping the ball pretty good." Other newcomers to watch include junior third basemen Kayla Miller, freshman Danielle Blake and Katee Miller. Ainsworth said St. Edward could be a team to watch in this year's SCC race. "We're going to be pretty good," Ainsworth said. "I don't know if we'll be up in the top but we'll be good."
Aurora Christian
Coach: April Boldman
Last year's record: 6-16 overall, 5-9 in the Private School.
Top returnees: Shannah Morris (jr., C/SS); Naomi Haas (jr, util/P); Steph Park (jr., 2B); Amanda Hazlett (sr., 1B/P); Eryn Glassman (sr., 3B).
Outlook: The Eagles have six returning players hoping to help the team improve on their 2008 win total. Morris hit .532 last year with 24 runs, 29 RBI and 13 steals. Haas will be key on the mound after her 1.91 ERA and 65 strikeouts last year. She also hit .280 with 12 steals. Hazlett almost hit .400 last year (. 396) while Glassman and Perik bring back experience in the infield. "As a whole, ACS softball is making competitive strides," Boldman said. "We have high hopes in regards to many of our new players. Combining the different levels of players has enabled the program to reach a new height." Boldman is pleased with the work the Eagles have done to get ready for the season. "As a coach, I'm looking forward to the team improving and competing each day, and all of the players are extremely excited to start using the work they've done in the preseason during the games," Boldman said.
Batavia
Coach: Leon Pedrazza
Last year's record: 9-19, 4-10 in the Western Sun.
Top returnees: Alexa Scofield (sr., SS); Kelly Coleman (sr., 2B/CF); Brooke Nelson (so., P); Katie Luetkens (jr., CF).
Outlook: Pedrazza is confident his second year will go much better than his first. He has Nelson back for her second year on the mound after taking on an ace role as a freshman, he has some strong bats in the middle of his lineup, he has a new assistant coach who was a former All-State high school player, and perhaps most importantly, he says his team is going to field the ball better. "The girls are real positive, we've had good practices and a good attitude throughout the entire program," Pedrazza said. "We gave too many games away (last year) with our gloves." Assistant coach Kaylee Noll joins Batavia, fresh out of North Central College after a stellar high school career at McHenry. "She's a big help, has a nice connection with the girls," Pedrazza said. Nelson is the team's top pitcher, backed up by freshman Katie Coleman who also will play right field. "We're looking for her (Nelson) to have another good year especially if we play better defense behind her," Pedrazza said. Sophomore Emily Dorjath will catch which allows Christine Lynam to shift to third base. Kirsten Anderson and Alyssa Bleidorn share time at first, Kelly Coleman moves from center to second and Alexa Schofield returns at shortstop. Luetkens will be flanked in the outfield by Avery Vivian and Katie Coleman. Look for Luetkens, Lynam and Nelson to be tough outs in the middle of the lineup while Kelly Coleman and Schofield will try to give them RBI chances by getting on base at the top of the order.
Geneva
Coach: Greg Dierks
Last year's record: 14-15, 7-7 in the Western Sun.
Top returnees: Melissa Barber (so., SS); Danielle Caprile (sr., CF); Nikki Davis (sr., LF); Marly Eimerman (sr., RF); Rachel Hunter (jr., 3B); Kely McCaffrey (so., P/1B); Deeirdre Phalon (sr., C/3B); Kristyn Ruitenberg (jr., P/1B).
Outlook: The Vikings bring back eight starters and are looking to climb back up the Western Sun Conference standings. Ruitenberg is back after an injury cost her much of her sophomore season, and they also return McCaffrey who filled in when Ruitenberg went down. McCaffrey went 11-8 last year with 121 strikeouts in 140 innings. The offense has plenty of pop including Phalon (. 298, 1 HR, 17 RBI); Caprile (. 382, 15 runs, 6 doubles); Davis (. 391, 24 runs, 8 doubles) and Barber (. 333, 3 HRs, 19 RBI). "Our expectation for this season is that we will show improvements in all areas," Dierks said. "We hope to add to our win total in conference and overall and we would like to advance farther in the postseason. We have 6 seniors on our team and all of our best hitters return so our hopes are high. Practices are going very well."
Kaneland
Coach: Dennis Hansen
Last year's record: 23-7, 11-3 in the Western Sun.
Top returnees: Mallory Huml (sr., P); Sara Rose (sr., SS); Brianna Hurst (sr., 2B); Jess Lubic (so., 1B); Chassidy Mangers (sr., LF). Outlook: Every year you can count on Kaneland being in the middle of the race for conference and regional championships, and this spring looks no different. Huml gives the Knights a true ace after her 17-4 record and 1.22 ERA a year ago. The offense has plenty of big bats led by Rose (. 378, 4 HR, 27 RBI); Hurst (. 287); Lubic (. 337, 1 HR, 22 RBI) and Mangers (. 300). "We lost some talented players from last year's team, and we have some veterans returning with some solid young talent," Hansen said. Those top newcomers include freshman Delani Vest, who will pitch, play shortstop and the outfield, sophomore catcher Riley Vest and sophomore catcher/third baseman Andrea Dimmig-Potts. "We expect to have a good season if chemistry works like last season," Hansen said.
Rosary
Coach: Tara Tattersall
Last year's record: 17-13, 12-2 in the Suburban Catholic.
Top returnees: Courtney Classen (sr., RF); Andrea DeKing (sr., C); Jessica Fortier (sr., P); Karli Simmons (sr., OF); Lauren McNally (jr., OF); Brenda Rocha (so., INF); Ali Keenum (so., INF); Audrey Ruddy (so., P).
Outlook: The Royals are coming off a SCC title, the only area team to win their conference last year. It was their first Suburban Catholic crown since 2003, and they hope not to wait five years to win another. In her sixth season, Tattersall not only had a team that won on the field, off it 77 percent were named scholar athletes with an average GPA of 3.35. Classen and DeKing should be the team leaders, both two-time all-conference selections. "We are looking to boost offensive production while maintaining our defensive prowess of a year ago," Tattersall said. "Due to graduation, first base and third base are up for grabs along with outfield slots. Communication is one of the keys that we are working towards in our preseason training formats." In addition to the returnees above, the Royals add junior pitcher Molly Magri, sophomore infielder Emily Meyer, sophomore pitcher/infielder Tara Pfeiffer, junior outfielder Brittany Sikora, junior catcher Leighann Thomas and sophomore outfielder Cassi Zachmann. "We are looking to DeKing, Classen, Fortier and Rocha to bolster the confidence of the team," Tattersall said.
St. Charles East
Coach: Kelly Barnett
Last year's record: 15-15, 12-6 in the Upstate Eight.
Top returnees: Rachael Edwards (sr., 1B/3B); Cortney Morgan (sr., 1B/C); Rebecca Reinbold (sr., SS); Mary Kate Brooks (jr., OF); Beth Carrignan (jr., OF); Claire Desrosiers (jr., OF); Casey Driessen (jr., OF); Gaby Moe (jr., P); Jenny Niemec (jr., 2B); Steph Roan (jr., OF); Rae Anne Payleitner (so., C).
Outlook: Barnett is enjoying her first season after taking over for Eric Ray. "The job is going well. It is really nice to be around the girls and get to work," Barnett said. The Saints will try to improve on last year's fifth-place finish in the Upstate Eight behind all-conference returnees Reinbold, Desrosiers and Moe, and honorable mention selection Roan. Reinbold hit .321 last year, Brooks .263, Desrosiers .361 and Roan .259. They will look to Moe on the mound after she went 9-3 last year with a 1.72 and 88 strikeouts. St. Charles East will work newcomers Pamela Sommer, a senior outfielder, Kayla Brooks, a junior first baseman, junior pitcher/ outfielder Savannah Hupe and junior pitcher/infielder Katie Stengler into the lineup. "The competitive juices are flowing at East," Barnett said. "We are deep at every position so every practice has been a battle - which, I think, will only help us when it comes to game time." Barnett said she will go to a committee approach on the mound until someone steps forward as the ace. "We should be solid defensively and now with most of the girls with at least one year of varsity under their belts, our hitting should be better. I tell the girls that 'We are going to go, go go until the end of the season so tie your shoes and grab your bats because it's time to get to work.' And they have responded very well."
St. Charles North
Coach: April Stary
Last year's record: 23-12, 11-8 in the Upstate Eight.
Top returnees: Loren Cihlar (so., OF); Natalie Capone (so., INF) Sydney Russell (so., INF); Taylor Russell (so. INF).
Outlook: The North Stars won 23 games and lost a tough 1-0 regional final in 11 innings to West Chicago with an extremely young team, so look for St. Charles North - now a year older - to be one of area's best. Cihlar earned all-conference last year with a .388 average and .406 on-base percentage. Capone and Sydney Russell also were strong at .313/.398 and .348/.412, respectively. Russell hit .336 while the North Stars also have some newcomers to watch in sophomores Ashley Seering and Julia Clare Plezbert. That brings the total of sophomores on the team to 9. "(Our outlook) is very promising with lots of young talent," said Stary, who is expecting another dogfight in the Upstate Eight against Bartlett, Neuqua Valley and Lake Park.
West Aurora
Coach: Dave Zine
Last year's record: 17-14, 5-9 in the DuPage Valley.
Top returnees: Stephanie Becker (sr., P/IB); Devin Vaughn (jr., INF); Mariah Barnak (sr., INF/OF); Allison Sherman (sr., INF); Madison Whitt (sr., INF); Maribeth Vasquez (jr., INF); Christina Hunger (so., INF/P)
Outlook: The West Aurora coaching staff wants to see more consistency after the Blackhawks started 11-0 last season before fading when the bats slumped, ending with a 1-0 loss to Downers Grove North in their regional opener. After finishing sixth in the DVC last year, West Aurora will try to improve in the standings, and they expect West Chicago, Naperville Central and Glenbard North with their outstanding pitching to be tough tests. The Blackhawks also have an outstanding pitcher in Becker. Several players who spent last season splitting time between the varsity and junior varsity should have big roles. Junior Ali Hoffman and sophomores Francesca Evischi and Christina Hunger will be competing for the No. 2 spot on the pitching staff behind Becker. Other players who will be stepping up this year are sophomores Alyssa Reimers and Jamie Avery as well as junior Kiara Towles. Speedy freshman LaRi Mitchell also could make an immediate impact. The Blackhawks will be busy traveling this spring to Ohio, Kentucky and Freeport.