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Fox Valley Conference
Cary-Grove
Coach: Tammy Olson (24th season)
Last year's record: 11-19 overall, 2-8 FVC Valley (tied for fifth)
Top returning players: Alyssa Gurgone, sr., SS; Emma Hill, so., P; Rachel Stanley, sr., P
Noteworthy: The Trojans will miss Brianne Prank, who hit a team-high .551 with 15 extra-base hits in the cleanup spot ... Gurgone (.402 batting average, 10 doubles) is one of three returning to the infield. ... Olson said the pitching staff, led by Hill and Stanley, will be a strength this year. "We are excited to have a solid and experienced pitching staff," she said. "We look forward to utilizing our speed in the outfield. Our goal is to grow more unified every day."
Crystal Lake Central
Coach: Brian Strombom (11th season)
Last year's record: 16-18 overall, 5-7 FVC Fox (tied for fourth)
Top returning players: Clare Urbanski, jr., 3B-OF; Jenna Ward, jr., OF; Jess Cruz, so., C; Kayla Duda, jr., SS; Aly Proper, sr., P-DP
Key newcomers: Morgann Paaske, so., P; Kaylie Jeter Torgerson, jr., 1B; Mickey Helm, jr., 2B-OF
Noteworthy: The Tigers pulled off a huge upset and beat Prairie Ridge in a Class 4A McHenry Regional final to clinch their first regional title since 2002. ... Amy Walsh led area players with a .625 batting average and 10 triples, and is one of five starters lost to graduation. ... Urbanski hit .324 and drove in 24, and Cruz started at catcher as a freshman in the regional final win. ... "Our team is young and untested in a lot of positions, but we will compete hard and improve a lot as the year progresses," Strombom said.
Crystal Lake South
Coach: Scott Busam (13th season)
Last year's record: 14-13 overall, 5-5 FVC Valley (tied for third)
Top returning players: Carly Chovanec, jr., C-IF; Brittany Baker, sr., IF-OF; Sam Schettl, sr., OF; Emily Sulikowski, so., IF
Key newcomers: Kyra Swartz, fr., OF; Lauren Schoen, jr., IF-OF
Noteworthy: Chovanec hit .380 and led the Gators with five home runs and 28 runs scored. She earned Northwest Herald All-Area first-team honors at catcher as a sophomore and is committed to Division-I Bradley. ... Schettl was an all-FVC pick last season. ... Sulikowski's .413 batting average was second on the team. ... "We have some outstanding leadership throughout the program, starting with the senior group at the top," Busam said. "This is a hard-working, fun group to be around, and they have some real skill."
Dundee-Crown
Coach: Tracy Beatty (10th season)
Last year's record: 18-18 overall, 2-8 FVC Valley (tied for fifth)
Top returning players: Sydney Ruggles, jr., P;
Claire Weeks, jr., C; Megan Emerson, sr., 1B;
Andrea Conway, jr., 2B, Deanna Origer, jr., 3B; Hannah Gestrich, so., SS; Jessica McVicker, sr., OF; Kayla Sjodin, jr., P
Key newcomer: Cassidy Randl, fr., OF
Noteworthy: The Chargers return their entire starting lineup and could be a dangerous team in the FVC. ... Ruggles is an aggressive pitcher and led all area players with 211 strikeouts in 167 innings, including a 23-strikeout game. She posted a 2.39 ERA, and her .396 batting average led the team. ... Beatty thinks the Chargers' infield defense of Conway, Gestrich, Origer, Emerson and Weeks is one of the team's biggest strengths. "We need to find that timely hit and pull through in clutch situations," she said. "Staying focused for seven innings is our team goal."
Hampshire
Coach: Kelly Wasilewski (second season)
Last year's record: 19-17 overall, 7-5 FVC Fox (third)
Top returning players: Peyton DeChant, sr., 3B; Renee Malecke, sr., OF; Erin Doyle, sr., IF-OF; Jasmine Lopez, jr., P; Melissa Esparza, jr., IF
Key newcomers: Delaney Rummell, so., SS; Gwen Malecke, fr., OF; Katie Del Re, fr., P; Emily Egger, fr., P; Abby Egger, fr., C
Noteworthy: The Whip-Purs beat Johnsburg in the Class 3A Hampshire Regional final last year for their first regional title since 2008. ... DeChant hit .500 with six home runs and 32 RBIs and committed to Loyola as a sophomore. ... Esparza hit .374, but underwent PCL surgery before the end of 2016, and will be limited early on. ... Rummell missed her freshman year after undergoing ACL surgery, but is back and healthy. She gave her verbal commitment to the University of Illinois three days after Christmas.
Huntley
Coach: Mark Petryniec (14th season)
Last year's record: 26-9 overall, 9-1 FVC Valley (first)
Top returning players: Rylie Porretto, sr., CF; Tiffany Giese, jr., P; Caitlin Brown, sr., 2B-OF; Kateri Conklin, sr., P; Autumn Kasal, jr., RF-IF; Taylor Pacana, jr., 1B; Sofia Tenuta, so., C; Cailyn Pienschke, jr., IF-OF; Jackie Dorin, jr., IF
Key newcomers: Breanne Weiss, sr., IF; Hali Marte, so., P; Kendra Mitchell, so., OF; Quinn Walsh, so., OF; Taylor Zielinski, so., OF; Teagan O'Rilley, fr., IF
Noteworthy: The Red Raiders set a school record with 26 wins, winning their first FVC Valley championship and second straight regional title. ... Huntley loses three starters in Jessica Shields (school-record 67 steals), Hayley O'Mara (21 extra-base hits, eight home runs, 40 RBIs), and Megan Baczewski. ... Giese, a D-I UW-Green Bay commit, was an ICA Class 4A All-State third-team selection who went 25-7 with a 2.34 ERA and 197 strikeouts in 2181/3 innings. She hit .417 with 30 runs scored and 24 steals. ... Porretto (.364) had an area-best 47 RBIs with six homers and eight doubles and is committed to D-II Lewis University. ... Kasal (.346), Tenuta (.343, 14 extra-base hits), Pacana and Brown (NAIA Viterbo) all played in 30-plus games.
Jacobs
Coach: Katie O'Brien (third season)
Last year's record: 9-13 overall, 5-5 FVC Valley (tied for third)
Top returning players: Alexis Addante, sr., OF; Grace O'Malley, sr., OF; Kerri Healy, jr., UTIL; Jess Mrzlak, jr., C; Katie Armstrong so., P
Key newcomers: Hannah Slocum, so., UTIL; Savannah Svedman, fr., P
Noteworthy: The Golden Eagles will miss the booming bat of Emily Borg, who hit .470 with six home runs to finish her career with 27 dingers. ... Addante (D-III UW-Whitewater), O'Malley and Healy all return to form a talented outfield. ... Armstrong was impressive as a freshman and earned all-FVC honors, and Mrzlak brings valuable experience behind home plate. ... "This group is a team of dedicated and aggressive players that support each other in all that they do," O'Brien said. "On and off the field, they are confident, hardworking and capable of doing anything they set their minds to."
McHenry
Coach: John DiFrancesca (sixth season)
Last year's record: 20-11, 7-3 FVC Valley (second)
Top returning players: Tori Boysen, so., SS-C; Lindsey Ciesla, so., P; Taelor Schmitz, sr., OF; Ashley Dehmlow, jr., OF-P; Larisa Smits, sr., P-3B; Maddy Sullivan, sr. OF; Lexi Larson, jr., 3B-C
Key newcomers: Jocelyn Currie, fr., 2B-UTIL; Mannon Amelio, jr., 1B; Alyssa Pearson, so., P-1B; Madison McDaniel, so., C-UTIL; Madison Drake, jr., IF; Brooklyn Cvitkovic, sr., UTIL; Tiffany Kirk, jr., UTIL; Sam Hanley, sr., OF
Noteworthy: The Warriors' string of four straight regional titles came to an end with a Class 4A McHenry Regional semifinal loss to Crystal Lake Central. ... Alex Martens (now at Kentucky), the 2016 Northwest Herald Softball Player of the Year, and Amanda Manssen drove in 87 of the team's 224 runs, leaving a lot of offense to fill. ... Boysen stepped in at catcher as a freshman and hit .368 with 15 extra-base hits and drove in 23. ... Ciesla won five games with a 3.14 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 801/3 innings. ... DiFrancesca thinks offense will be a strength.
Prairie Ridge
Coach: Mike Buck (19th season)
Last year's record: 26-5 overall, 11-1 FVC Fox (first)
Top returning players: Hailey Baker, sr., P; Kaleigh O'Brien, sr., 1B-DP; Maddie Schillinger, sr., 2B; Haley Barnes, jr., P-3B; Kylie Leverenz, so., SS; Emmie Farnam, so., CF; Maggie Schremp, so., 1B
Key newcomers: Shannon Donaldson, sr., OF; Ashleigh Dierking, so., C; Jillian Minutillo, so., OF-P
Noteworthy: The Wolves won their second straight FVC Fox title, but were upset by Crystal Lake Central in a Class 4A McHenry Regional final. ... Baker is a a four-year varsity starter, and had the lowest ERA (1.82) and WHIP (0.85) of area starters. She walked only 25 in 150 innings, going 21-5 in the circle. ... Prairie Ridge averaged more than eight runs a game and lost only two to graduation. ... O'Brien hit .481 and led area players with 10 homers and struck out only twice. ... Schillinger was a nuisance and hit .525 with 47 runs scored and 40 steals in 40 attempts, striking out only three times. ... Barnes set a school record with 12 RBIs in a 17-14 win against Marian Central. She hit three home runs, including a grand slam.
Kishwaukee River Conference
Harvard
Coach: Becky Edinger (third season)
Last year's record: 3-23 overall, 2-12 Big Northern Conference East Division (sixth)
Top returning players: Catherine Austin, jr., CF; Daniela Garcia, jr., SS
Key newcomers: Macy Witz, jr., C; Allison Musgrove, fr., P; Jennah Brookner, fr., P
Noteworthy: Austin and Garcia excelled up the middle on defense as sophomores and will lead the Hornets in the inaugural season of the KRC. ... Witz will bring "determination and leadership" behind the plate, Edinger said, and Musgrove and Brookner will help round out the pitching staff as freshmen. ... "We have a nice mixture of returning players and new players that are coming together and working hard to improve every day," Edinger said. "We are especially focusing on improving our play in the box, and becoming mentally tough overall."
Johnsburg
Coach: Ted Juske (third season)
Last year's record: 11-18 overall, 7-7 overall (fifth)
Top returning players: Hannah Roy, sr., 3B-P; Paige King, sr., C; Amy Bennett, sr., OF; Haley Erickson, jr., UTIL; Adriana Montewska, so., CF; Tess Wright, so., 3B; Leah Kottke, so., SS; McKenna Diedrich, so., 1B
Key newcomers: Emily Owen, jr., P-OF; Morgan Madsen, so., P-1B; Megan Madsen, so., C-OF; Hanna Lichtenstein, sr., 3B-1B; Tori Mulvihill, so., OF
Noteworthy: The Skyhawks fell to Hampshire in the Class 3A Hampshire Regional final after battling back to beat Belvidere in the semifinals. ... Montewska played every inning of all 29 games and hit .427 with 35 runs and 21 RBIs. ... Kottke and Montewska were named to the all-BNC East team as freshmen. ... "We have a good group that has the right mindset and works hard," Juske said. "Using the early part of the spring to prepare for later in the year will be very important. The goal will be getting the entire group up to speed to get back and compete for a regional championship."
Marengo
Coach: Dwain Nance (11th season)
Last year's record: 29-9 overall, 14-0 BNC East (first)
Top returning players: Mariah Dionne, sr., P; Leah Secor, SS, sr.; Anna Walsweer, jr., 2B; Riley Connell, jr., OF-P; Susie Nawrot, jr., OF-P; Megan Anthony, sr., 1B; Hannah Ritter, so., C-OF; Lauren Aubry, so., C-3B-OF
Key newcomers: Grace Houghton, so., DP-OF; Nina Reed, sr., OF; Rachael Jasinski, sr., OF
Noteworthy: The Indians lost to Sterling, 2-1, in a Class 3A Genoa-Kingston Sectional final. ... Marengo has won 50 straight conference games and 10 straight regional titles. ... Dionne and Secor are returning four-year varsity players and earned Northwest Herald All-Area first-team honors as juniors. ... Dionne (Southeastern University) has been a first-team pick all three years and has 600-plus strikeouts. She went 20-7 with a 2.45 ERA and 208 strikeouts in 166 innings, and also hit .483 with 19 doubles, eight home runs and 46 RBIs. She was a 3A ICA first-team pick. ... Secor (Rock Valley) hit .424 with 50 runs and didn't strike out all season, committing only two errors at short. She has more than 140 hits in three years batting leadoff with a .960 fielding percentage. ... Marengo had an area-best 29 victories and brings back eight starters. Walsweer (.420, 13 doubles), Connell (.357), Anthony (.380) and Nawrot (.355) were Northwest Herald All-Area picks.
Richmond-Burton
Coach: Vicki Klopf (first season)
Last year's record: 16-16 overall, 8-6 BNC East (fourth)
Top returning players: Alexa Rodriguez, sr., OF; Ashley Turner, sr., C; Haylie Regnier, sr., 3B; Rachael Hayden, sr., P-OF; Sophie Schwegel, jr., P; Abby Hayden, so., 2B; Kaitie Regnier, so., SS
Key newcomers: Peyton Bannon, fr., SS-UTIL; Bella Spittler, fr., OF
Noteworthy: Klopf takes over coaching duties for Stephanie Hutchinson, who now is an assistant. ... Haylie Regnier led the team with a .433 batting average, 33 runs scored and 11 doubles. ... Rodriguez (.333) led the team with five home runs, two triples and 24 RBIs. ... Turner (.368) brings leadership behind home plate, and Kaitie Regnier (.337, 28 runs scored) impressed as a freshman. ... Schwegel hit .396 with nine doubles, three home runs and 20 RBIs, and struck out 111 in 952/3 innings. ... Rachael Hayden went 9-3 with a 2.69 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 96.1 innings.
Woodstock
Coach: Steve Beard (eighth season)
Last year's record: 9-24 overall, 2-10 FVC Fox (tied for sixth)
Top returning players: Emily Maxwell, sr., IF-C; Jocelyn Eisenmenger, jr., P-IF; Abby Primus, jr., P-IF-OF; Julia Vosburgh, jr., C-IF; Taylor Spanbauer, jr., OF-C; Joanna Watson, jr., IF-OF
Key newcomers: Nichole Piquette, so.; Michelle Hanson, so.; Natalie Hansen, so.; Natalie Hume, sr.; Katie Walsh, so.
Noteworthy: Eisenmenger, Primus and Vosburgh led the young Blue Streaks as sophomores. ... Eisenmenger and Primus are the team's top two returning pitchers. ... Vosburgh (.300, 14 RBIs) hit the team's only homer and also was strong defensively, throwing out seven baserunners. She was the Streaks' only all-FVC Fox pick. ... Spanbauer led the team with 12 steals. ... Beard said pitching and catching will be a big strength. ... "We have high expectations for our season," Beard said. "The players have worked hard on their skills in the offseason, and we are excited to compete in the KRC."
Woodstock North
Coach: Pete Riis (fourth season)
Last year's record: 10-25 overall, 2-10 FVC Fox (tied for sixth)
Top returning players: Lulu Nicks, sr., C-SS-OF; Maddie Busch, sr., SS-OF; Paiton Lawrence, sr., OF; Amaya Saldana, jr., P-1B-2B; Taeya Beard, jr., C-3B; Savannah Adcock, so, SS-OF; Ellie Thurow, so., P-3B-OF; Chloe Vermett, so., P-3B
Key newcomers: Victoria Galicia, jr., OF; Maddie Rank, so., P-OF; Tess Schultz, so., 1B-OF; Mackenzie Spung, so., P-1B-OF; Abby Hartmann, fr., OF
Noteworthy: The Thunder tied a program record with 10 wins. They also finished with 10 wins in 2010, the school's first year, and 2012. ... Thurow was the team's lone all-FVC Fox selection as a freshman, posting a 3.06 ERA and striking out 189 batters in 158 innings. She also was a Northwest Herald All-Area second-team pick. ... Vermett hit .302 to lead the team with three home runs and 18 RBIs. ... Saldana had a 17-strikeout game against Alden-Hebron. ... The Thunder will host Woodstock in a Strike Out Cancer game May 9. ... "Last year we turned a corner in our program ... narrowing the gap in our losses against some good teams," Riis said.
East Suburban Catholic Conference
Marian Central
Coach: Erin Widmayer (sixth season)
Last year's record: 11-14 overall, 4-6 ESCC (sixth)
Top returning players: Emily Miller, sr., CF-1B; Jackie Chmiel, sr., SS-3B; Maggie Finnegan, so., 2B-OF
Noteworthy: Miller emerged as one of the area's most complete players, hitting .542 with 18 extra-base, 33 RBIs and 34 runs. She struck out twice and walked 25 times, playing flawless defense in center field with four assists and no errors. ... Finnegan was as impressive as a freshman, hitting .526 and pounding 13 doubles and a team-best four home runs. She committed to Penn State in July. ... Chmiel (.348) drove in 23 runs. ... "We are returning a very solid core from last year with the expectation of going at least .500 in a very strong ESCC," Widmayer said. "Our final goal is to make a strong push in the postseason with the hope of winning a regional title."
Northeastern Athletic Conference
Alden-Hebron
Coach: Marty Hammond (first season)
Last year's record: 22-8 overall, 8-0 NAC (first)
Top returning players: Chey Knoll, sr., 3B; Zoe Deeringer, so., P; Emily Webber, sr., 1B; Lexi Morris, sr., CF; Katie Rosio, jr., SS
Key newcomers: Tally Lalor, sr.; Eden Wanderer, so.; Anna Webber, fr.
Noteworthy: The Giants fell to Ashton-Franklin Center, 7-5, in the Class 1A Westminster Christian Regional final, the team's fourth straight loss in a regional final. A-H never has won a postseason title in softball. ... Hammond, who also coaches girls basketball, takes over for Jerry Lagerhausen, who helped build the program into a consistent winner over his 12 years. ... Kassandra Clauss of Faith Lutheran finished 20-5 with a 2.15 ERA to earn Most Valuable Player in the NAC. She has since graduated, as did Zoee Lagerhausen (.396, 33 RBIs), Tiffany Damato (.563, 36 steals) and Emily Cunningham (.375, 15 extra-base hits). ... Deeringer hit .379 with 31 RBIs and nine doubles as a freshman, and Emily Webber hit .342 with 21 RBIs.