Softball: Streamwood's excited about new faces
In any high school sport, graduations create holes in lineups and playing opportunities for those graduated players' replacements.
That's exactly what's happening with the Streamwood softball team. The Sabres are coming off a 2021 season where they won four games and finished seventh in the Upstate Eight Conference.
"We have a fresh group of players on the field with a strong dynamic," Streamwood coach Colleen Hill said. "It's a young group coming in with skills to fill in the holes of (graduated) seniors. It's a strong-knit group with a bond across all years."
Junior catcher Ashley Harrison is back after hitting .396 a year ago. Other key contributors for the Sabres include a trio of freshmen in Sophie Saflarski (pitcher), Hailey Dworak (catcher-infield) and Kailey Pawlikowski (infield-center field). Hill said South Elgin and Glenbard South again will be teams to keep an eye on in the UEC.
Bartlett update:
The Hawks moved to 3-3 with recent wins over Geneva (11-1), Schaumburg (11-1) and Palatine (8-6).
Senior Nikki Young went 3-for-3 with a pair of home runs against Schaumburg, while junior Addie Koth went 3-for-3 with 2 homers of her own against Palatine. Young is coming off a junior year where she batted .702, while Koth belted 15 home runs in 2021.
South Elgin update:
After a 4-1 effort in Tennessee, the Storm returned to Illinois and downed Prospect 12-2 in a recent nonconference game.
Hannah Harms went 2-for-4 with a grand slam home run.
Harms and Cara Cruthers continue to tear it up at the plate for South Elgin. After that effort against Prospect, Harms is hitting .636 with 14 hits in 22 at-bats. Included in those 14 hits are 2 doubles and 4 home runs to go with 11 RBI, 9 runs scored and a pair of stolen bases. Cruthers is hitting .569 with 11 hits in 19 at-bats. She has 3 doubles, 4 homers and 13 RBI, along with 11 runs scored 3 walks and 3 stolen bases. Cruthers has a .636 on-base percentage.
Geneva update:
The Vikings dropped to 1-2 after an 11-1 loss to Bartlett last week. Sophomore Reagan Krohe went 2-for-3 with an RBI in that contest. "Reagan hit well," Vikings coach Annie Plackett said.
Huntley update:
The Red Raiders were busy recently with games against Lockport (2-1 loss), Chicago Marist (2-0 loss) and Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin (7-1 win in extra innings). The Springfield game was tied 1-1 after 7 innings.
Jori Heard's hot start continues for Huntley. In addition to batting .389, Heard has struck out 78 batters in 40 innings. She has a 1.22 ERA, a 0.65 WHIP (walks plus hits divided by innings and pitched) and has walked only 2 batters.
Junior center fielder Clara Hudgens returned from an ACL injury and played in the Marist and Springfield games, going a combined 3-for-7.
Crystal Lake South update:
The Gators were off to a 1-2 start early-on. Coach Pat Kelly cited strong recent play from Alexis Pupillo, who has 2 home runs in the team's first three games. "Alexis has had a great start to the season," Kelly said.
Hampshire update:
The Whip-Purs evened their record at 2-2 with a 10-0 win over Hoffman Estates last week. In that game, Noel Scott was the winning pitcher, throwing 1-hit shutout.
"We are off to a good start this year and everyone is contributing," Hampshire coach Jeremy Bauer noted.
Larkin update:
The Royals were off to a 2-0 start on the young season. In addition to returning players such as Baylei Johnson (all-conference last year), Chelsea Herrick, Ariela Bermudez and Kailey Cronin, coach Anne Vogt is expecting big things from key newcomers such as sophomore catcher Alanis Ortega, a transfer student who played at Lake View High School last year. Sophomore shortstop/utility Brynn Kerber is back after missing last year with an injured knee, and freshmen Kaitlyn Neubert (outfield) and Mya Bermudez (2B) are also expected to contribute for the Royals.
Dundee-Crown update:
Sophomore pitcher McKayla Anderson did not play last year because of injury.
"We need McKayla to have a big season form the mound and the batter's box," D-C coach Tracy Beatty said.
Beatty also is excited about the prospects of Annabelle Pederson (sophomore shortstop), Kailyn Wiebe (senior 3B) and Kendall Brents (junior 1B).
"Annabelle and Kailyn both bring solid defense and a strong bat," Beatty said. "Kendall is a great first baseman, and we also expect to see her come through on offense."
West Aurora update:
The Blackhawks started the season 3-0 and coach Randy Hayslett noted his squad will be bolstered this season by a strong middle of the order with seniors Sara Archer, Callie Meinel and junior Alyssa Perkins, along with good all-around defense. West Aurora also has three pitchers in Hadleigh Bedwell, Perkins and transfer Katelyn Serafin, who each had a win in those first three contests.
"Hadleigh, Alyssa and Katelyn can move the ball and keep hitters off balance," Hayslett said. "It's a new year and we are eager to see how good we can be in a very tough conference led by Yorkville and pitcher Madi Reeves."