Softball: St. Charles East streaks to red-hot start
It's been an impressive start to the season for the St. Charles East softball team.
The Saints won their first 3 games by a combined 16-0 count. St. Charles East downed Glenbard West 13-0, Jacobs 2-0 and Kaneland 1-0.
Star pitcher Izzy Howe has struck out 39 in 17 innings, while allowing only 5 hits and 5 walks. She has no ERA thus far.
Mel Stathopoulos struck two home runs and drove in six RBI against Glenbard West and also had the game-winning RBI against Kaneland.
"I am impressed by the depth this year, not only on varsity, but also on the JV side of our program," Saints coach Jarod Guetsha said. "We are carrying a slightly bigger varsity roster this year and all 16 players will have an opportunity to play early on as we build towards conference and the postseason."
St. Charles North update:
Equally impressive has been St. Charles North early on. The North Stars came out of the gates with a 2-0 win at Huntley and a 9-5 victory over Lake Park on the turf at The Ballpark at Rosemont.
Ava Goettel threw a complete-game shutout and struck out nine against Huntley, while Sophia Olman drove in both runs with a first-inning single.
Against Lake Park, Leigh VandeHei went 2-for-3 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored. Freshman Paige Murray pitched and threw a complete game in her varsity debut. Coach Tom Poulin cited strong leadership from Ashlee Chantos and Meghan Nicastro thus far, and noted team camaraderie with this North Stars' version is excellent.
Cary-Grove update:
In her first outing of the season, pitcher Becca Weaver threw a no-hitter in the Trojans' season-opening 10-0 win against Lakes. Cary-Grove dropped games to Palatine (8-6) and to Grant. Cary-Grove coach Tammy Olson noted the loss to Grant was tough after "two really competitive and outstanding performances," she said.
Gwen Moran and Weaver have been bright spots at the plate. "Gwen and Becca are consistently getting on base and applying pressure to the defenses of other teams," Olson said.
Speaking of defense, Olson said likes what she sees so far, impressed with the growth her players have seen on defense from last year to this year thus far.
South Elgin update:
The Storm returned from the Southern Warrior Classic in Tennessee with a 4-1 record. South Elgin lost 5-1 to Greenbriar and then recorded wins against Oakland (10-1), Coffee County (13-4), White County (8-2) and Blackman (12-4).
Cara Cruthers went 4-for-4 with 2 home runs, 4 runs scored and 4 RBI against Coffee County. Hannah Harms went 4-for-4 with a homer and 2 RBI against Coffee, while Sammy Jimenez went 2-for-3 with a home run and 4 RBI against Oakland.
"Cara has been on fire at the plate and really does a nice job with our pitching staff behind the plate," South Elgin coach Brad Reynard said. "Hanna Harms - between her and Cara - I am not sure there is anyone hotter at the plate right now."
Cruthers hit .667 in Tennessee with 11 hits in 17 at-bats. That line included 3 doubles, 4 homers, 10 RBI, 11 runs scored and 3 stolen bases. Harms also hit .667 with 12 hits in 18 at-bats, including 2 doubles, 3 home runs, 7 RBI and 2 stolen bases.
Reynard pointed out South Elgin scored 44 runs in the five games "against good competition," he said. Reynard also has been thrilled with the resilience of his team and how quickly it has meshed together."
Freshman Anna Kiel went 2-0 in the circle with 17 strikeouts, 0 walks and 3 earned runs allowed in her first 11 varsity innings.
Huntley update:
The Red Raiders got after it in the competitiveness category immediately with a 2-0 loss against St. Charles North, a 3-2 win over Fremd and a 1-0 loss against Lemont.
"We play a very competitive nonconference schedule," Huntley coach Mark Petryniec noted. "We are looking to improve each day while playing against some of the top teams in the state."
Valpo signee Jori Heard has struck out 42 in 20 innings while allowing only 4 earned runs and walking two.
"Jori has been outstanding on the mound for us," Petryniec said.
Larkin update:
The Royals downed Hoffman Estates 7-0 and DeKalb 9-5 to start the season. Baylei Johnson hit 2 home runs, including a grand slam, and drove in 6 runs in the DeKalb win.
Senor Kailey Cronin threw a 7-inning shutout against Hoffman, while junior Chelsea Herrick fanned 13 in seven innings against DeKalb.
Larkin coach Anne Vogt said she's been most impressed with the efforts of freshmen Mya Bermudez (IF) and Kaitlyn Neubert (CF). "Both have collected multiple hits, added a stolen base and played impressive defense," she said.
West Aurora update:
The Blackhawks were off to a 3-0 start after wins against Geneva (18-5), Waubonsie Valley (7-3) and Newark (3-1).
"We have had a lot of contributions," West Aurora coach Randy Hayslett said.
Senior Riley Mont (SS-2B) has returned from a knee injury and his hitting .625. "If I had to narrow it down, the return of Riley from her ACL injury is a big boost to the top of our order," Hayslett said.
Starting freshmen Sara Tarr (2B-SS) and Keira Hayton (2B-OF) have also been key. Tarr is at .444 with a homer and 6 RBI, while Hayton is hitting .500 and is on base at a .680 clip with 5 runs scored and 2 stolen bases out of the leadoff spot. "Sara and Keira have done more than we could ask stepping right in," Hayslett said.
Hadleigh Bedwell, Alyssa Perkins and Katelyn Serafin have stood out on the mound, each going 1-0 and contributing to a team ERA of less than 1.50. Perkins struck out seven in a complete-game, no-walk effort against Newark.
Jacobs update:
Jacobs opened the season with a 2-0 loss to St. Charles East. Pitchers Caitlin Cook and CiCi DiSilvio were standouts in the circle for the Golden Eagles, coach Katie O'Brien noted. Hope Hernandez had a bunt single in the game.
"Both Caitlin and CiCi have done a great job for us," O'Brien said.
O'Brien was impressed with her team's ability to keep its composure against St. Charles East.
"I have been impressed with our ability to contain errors," O'Brien added. "Both runs against St. Charles East were unearned due to two separate errors. We did not allow this to snowball into a big inning for them. I am very proud of our team's ability to focus on the next play instead of dwelling on the previous ones. I was very pleased with our team's performance against a tough, ranked team."
On the college front, Jori Petrone, the team's only senior, has verbally committed to Benedictine University in Lisle and will officially sign this spring, O'Brien revealed.
Hampshire update:
The Whips split their first two games, which included a 21-4 win against Woodstock. In that game, Bria Riebel went 5-for-5. Elyse Garcia and Noelle Scott have been standouts at the plate and in the field, while Scott was lauded for her strong pitching, coach Jeremy Bauer noted. Scott also has a home run.
"For early-season softball, our team has played great defense," Bauer said.
Geneva update:
The Vikings were 1-1 to start after a 17-5 loss to West Aurora and a 17-4 win against Streamwood. Bre Venditti and Gabi Fanella each went 3-for-5 in the Streamwood game.
"Bre and Gabi are performing well at the plate," Geneva coach Annie Plackett said.