Downers Grove, Hinsdale, Lemont, Westmont players comprise all-area softball squad

The high school softball season is officially in the books as all the state trophies have been awarded. With the season in the rearview mirror, it's the perfect time to celebrate the accomplishments of some of the top players from local schools.

Stephanie Abello

School: Benet

Year: Senior

Impact: The University of Illinois-bound catcher was solid behind the plate, but did most of her best work standing beside it. Her 60 career home runs top the Illinois High School Association record books, and the East Suburban Catholic all-conference selection has the Benet record with 211 career RBIs.

Payton Buresch

School: Downers Grove South

Year: Sophomore

Impact: A West Suburban Gold all-conference selection this season, Buresch excelled in her second varsity season. As a pitcher she went 18-1 with a 1.36 ERA and 153 strikeouts against 71 hits in 108 innings pitched. At the plate she batted . 344 with 21 RBIs and 26 runs scored.

Lilja Carden

School: Hinsdale Central

Year: Freshman

Impact: Carden made an immediate impact with the varsity team this season, playing catcher early in the season and switching to outfield later in the year. The Red Devils' leadoff hitter also provided some pop, hitting for average and power.

Caroline Hedgcock

School: Downers Grove South

Year: Junior

Impact: A West Suburban Gold all-conference selection and three-year varsity player, Hedgcock may have had her finest season yet. She batted .543 with 10 home runs and a program-record 68 RBIs, and went 15-1 with a 1.12 ERA as a pitcher.

Rylie Jay

School: Lemont

Year: Senior

Impact: This senior closed out her outstanding career on the diamond with another productive campaign. Despite getting off to a bit of a slow start, the Western Illinois recruit batted .475 with 13 doubles, six triples and five home runs. Jay scored 42 runs and drove in 30.

Faith Koffron

School: Hinsdale Central

Year: Senior

Impact: The emotional leader for the Red Devils and their de facto field general, Koffron provided the pulse for Central as the team's catcher and a dangerous hitter in the middle of the lineup. The four-year varsity player will continue her career at Lindenwood University.

Kristin Lea

School: Downers Grove South

Year: Junior

Impact: Lea turned in a record-setting performance this season, and that doesn't include her .574 batting average. The West Suburban Gold all-conference player had 81 hits and 76 runs to set new single-season program records, and her 28 doubles tied the known Illinois High School Association mark.

Kristen Skala

School: Westmont

Year: Senior

Impact: A four-year varsity standout, Skala was the Sentinels' ace from her first day on campus, and she may have had her two best seasons her final two year at Westmont. She pitched the Sentinels to regional and sectional titles last year, then helped a young squad win a regional again this season. She was 14-7 in the pitching circle this season with 228 strikeouts in 128 1/3 innings. She also batted .317 with 29 RBIs.

Emma Varsbergs

School: Downers Grove North

Year: Senior

Impact: This third baseman provided some pop in the Trojans' lineup and also provided some leadership for an overall young team. She batted .384 for the year with 10 doubles, six home runs and 28 RBIs.

Zoe Varsbergs

School: Downers Grove North

Year: Sophomore

Impact: The job of a leadoff hitter is to get on base, and Varsbergs excelled. She had an impressive .461 batting average to go with a .506 on-base percentage. She was more than just a solid on-base player as she had some pop with two home runs and 24 RBIs.

Maddy Vermejan

School: Lemont

Year: Junior

Impact: This junior put up eye-popping offensive numbers this spring, starting with a .567 batting average. Vermejan knocked out 13 doubles, 10 triples and three home runs and led the Indians in both runs scored [46] and RBIs [52]. The second baseman also stole 11 bases.

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HONORABLE MENTION

Benet: Emily York

Bolingbrook: Megan Lotarski

Downers Grove North: Katie Polaski, Megan Ramsden

Downers Grove South: Kristin Bialek, Nicole Bowman, Megan LoBianco, Zahrya McFarland

Hinsdale Central: Emma Day, Annemarie Tracey

Hinsdale South: Holli Jones, Morgan Majcen

Lemont: Elaina Latz; Anna Smagacz

Lisle: Catherine Coppin

Westmont: Ashley Eiermann, Alix Mendoza, Skyler Poel