Talent on the softball field assured, Crusaders finding proper places

Marquette Academy softball coach Brad Oakes doesn’t have any problem being forthcoming about his team. He admits it will be a young squad with only five seniors, but that from top to bottom it boasts quite a bit of talent.

“The girls are all ready to play. Though we haven’t had an outdoor practice this year, they’re excited about the season. There’s nothing we can do about the past now, so we want to go out and enjoy the season we’ve been given.”

—  Marquette softball coach Brad Oakes

What he can’t say right now is exactly where those talented players will be playing.

Oakes – who posted an 88-48 record in five seasons as the Crusaders’ coach before stepping down in favor of Dave Tkach, who went 72-17 in his three seasons with the program – knows the game from many years associated with travel ball and recognizes he has talent to work with.

But the quarantine that ended the volleyball season already has cost them the scheduled season opener with Morris, and the inclement weather settling over the area has put Tuesday’s game at Deer Creek-Mackinaw in question. Those have combined to keep him from putting the girls through the paces he needs to see to set a firm lineup.

When the quarantine lifts along with the rainy weather, there should be a pretty decent MA team on the field.

“The girls are all ready to play. Though we haven’t had an outdoor practice this year, they’re excited about the season,” Oakes said. “There’s nothing we can do about the past now, so we want to go out and enjoy the season we’ve been given.

“We have 20 players, just five of them seniors. Some younger ones will play up, so we’ll be a little younger than we’ve been, but some of the younger ones have played some travel ball, got some work in there and will be ready for the varsity level now.

“We’ll make it work.”

Softball is a lot about pitching, and the Marquette staff will begin with a pair of hard-throwing sophomores, Kaylee Killelea and Lindsey Kaufmann. Whichever one is pitching, the other likely will play center field, flanked by seniors Miah Ferracuti, Natalie Cruise and Lauren Rayburn or junior Abby Leskanich. Rayburn also may see time in the circle.

The pitchers likely will be throwing to senior Paige Cottingim, who has signed to play in college at IVCC, although she may step out from behind the plate to play first or third. In that case, sophomore Eva McCallum likely will be putting on the gear. Or McCallum can move to first, third or shortstop. It’s all up in the air, pending outdoor practices.

Senior Addie McConnaughhay could return at third or move over to first so Cottingim or McCallum can play the hot corner. One of the few sure things is that second base falls to junior Izzy Garkey.

A possible staple from among some of those youngsters could be freshman Maisie Lyons at short; also, sophomores Lauren Machetta and Abbey Thumm perhaps seeing some varsity time at DH. Many of the sophomores on this year’s team played on the Marquette Academy Illinois Elementary School Association state champs in 2018, so there’s a history of playing well in big games.

“From the little bit I’ve got to see, I think our pitching is going to be fine, I think our hitting will come around and be good, and defensively we should be pretty good,” Oakes said. “As far as knowing who is going to play where, I’d like to see them out on the field a few times before anything is locked in. Things can change before we get to our first game. We’ll see.

“The girls, they really want to get back and play some school ball. I’ve been around the travel stuff a lot, but really, when they get to play for their own school, I see them really enjoy that more than people would think, so they’re really looking forward to it.

“We all are.”