Softball preview: A look at the season ahead for Seneca, Sandwich, Fieldcrest, Earlville, Serena, Newark, Somonauk co-op

Softball season is getting underway for the Bobcats, Norsemen, Huskers, Red Raiders, Knights, Indians and Fighting Irish. Here is a look at their teams:

[ The Times 2021 All-Area Softball Team ]

Earlville

Coach: Shannon Cook (25th year)

Last season: 8-12 overall, 1-6 Little Ten

Top returners: Elizabeth Browder, sr., 3B; Brynne Guelde, sr., CF; Alexis Olson, sr., 1B; Paige Marks, sr., P/IF; Brooklyn Guelde, so., P/SS; Emily Harness, so., OF; Madyson Olson, so., C; Hannah Pfaff, so., OF

Key newcomers: Hailey Kuter, sr., 2B; Chesney Auter, so., 1B/OF; Madyson Shannon, fr., P

Worth noting: Cook has plenty of experience returning and some new players to fill holes in the ever-changing defensive lineup. However, the switches will mean little if the Raiders don’t hit the ball better than they did a year ago. ... It has possibilities, with three All-LTC players back: Brynne Guelde (.441, 18 R, 10 RBIs), Marks (.311, 11 R; 2.98 ERA, 124 K, 96.1 IP) and Browder (.269, 11 RBIs). ... “We should be fine as long as everyone stays healthy. We have a small team with a dozen girls out, and none of them juniors,” Cook said. “This is an athletic group with some nice, experienced pitchers. We’ve had to make some changes defensively with all the changes and new people coming in ... but the bottom line is we need to hit. That was our biggest downfall last year, a lack of consistency at the plate, but we’re tweaking things in our swings to help make us more successful. … They’re all working very hard, and we’re having a lot of fun, so I’m excited to see what they can do.”

– Charlie Ellerbrock

Serena

Coach: Kelly Baker (14th season)

2021 record: 11-11, 6-2 Little Ten

Top returners: Katie Baker, sr., SS; Lauren McNelis, sr., OF; Alexis Linder, jr., 1B; Reese Cole, jr., OF; Paisley Twait, so., C-3B; Makayla McNally, so., CF

Key newcomers: Aitziber Inda, sr.; Cali Edwards, so, Util.; Abigail Jahp, so.; Mackenzie Manke, so.; Maddie Glade, fr., P; Ray Elle Brennan, fr., C-3B; Jenna Setchell, fr., Util.; Lanee Cole, fr., Util.; Alyssa Engel, fr., P-1B; Addison Kempiak, fr.; Nikki Walsh, fr; Hannah McNelis, fr.

Worth noting: The Huskers will be led by co-captains Baker and Twait. Baker is a two-time All-LTC/All-State selection who hit .446 and led the team with 33 runs scored last season. Twait, All-LTC/All-State, hit a team-best .493 and drove in a team-high 31 runs. ... Serena has some overall experience back, but the pitching staff is made up of all freshmen. ... “Most of these girls are coming off a fantastic basketball season,” coach Baker said. “They know what it takes and the hard work they need to put into be successful. The freshman group was part of a junior high team that made it to the Elite Eight in IESA and has been playing together for a while now. Our pitchers are young, but I’m looking forward to seeing them mature throughout the season. We have a pretty solid defense behind them, so hopefully that will help their confidence in the circle. Overall, I’ve been very happy with our first week or so of practice. We have lots of speed on the bases, communication and desire to get better.”

– Brian Hoxsey

Somonauk/Hinckley-Big Rock/Leland

Coach: Hannah Bazan (1st year)

Last season: N/A

Top returners: Maddie Schubbe, sr., P/3B/1B; Haley Morris, sr., OF

Key newcomers: Felicity Thornton, sr., C; Bre VerCautren, fr., P; Morgan Potter, so., P

Worth noting: Bazan and the Bobcats have a task ahead of them, one the first-year coach said she’s excited for: melding three programs that haven’t fielded a team since 2019. The roster features 11 players from H-BR, six from Somonauk and one Leland player. Schubbe (HBR) and Morris (Somonauk) played for their respective programs as freshmen. For its part, Somonauk is not far removed from being a Little Ten Conference powerhouse, including five consecutive regional championships between 2014 and 2018 with a Class 1A State runner-up finish in 2015 and sectional championship just four years ago.

– Eddie Carifio

Newark

Coach: Tim Schofield (5th year, 56-18)

Last season: 19-4 overall, 8-0 Little Ten

Top returnees: Kailey Wohead, sr., OF; KJ Friestad, sr., 1B/3B; Kaitlyn Schofield, jr., P/2B; Taylor Kruser, jr., P/SS/2B; Peyton Wohead, jr., C/1B; Bre Dixon, jr., OF/1B; Kodi Rizzo, so., P/2B/OF; Danica Peshia, so., 3B/C/OF; Ryan Williams, so., SS/3B

Key newcomers: Dorothy Wood, fr., P/2B/OF; Gwen Friestad, fr., Util.

Worth noting: Coach Schofield returns a wealth of talent and will be looking for Newark’s sixth consecutive Class 1A regional championship and the fourth straight since taking over the softball coaching reins at NHS in 2018. Last year, the Norsemen fell to Marquette, 5-3, in a 1A sectional title game but will return seven starters from that group with high hopes entering another season full of promise. ... “I know we’ll probably run across Marquette again, and we know they’re going to be very tough, so we’ll probably have to beat them to get out of a regional or sectional,” coach Schofield said. “But I really cranked up our schedule to compete against better teams so we can be ready once the postseason comes. I expect us to be very strong with solid pitching and good hitting., but we’ll need to improve on defense if we want to make a deep run toward state. I’m very excited at our chances.” ... Kaitlyn Schofield will lead the way pitching after recording a 9-2 record in 2021 with 92 strikeouts and a 1.17 ERA. Rizzo (49.1 IP, 89 K, 1.56 ERA) and Kruser (22.2 IP, 43 K, 1.54 ERA) should be right behind in the circle. ... As a sophomore, Kaitlyn Schofield also led Newark offensively, hitting a team-best .455 as well as contributing 30 hits, five homers and a club-leading 30 RBIs.

– Bill Lidinsky

Fieldcrest

Coach: Elizabeth Kay (8th year)

Last season: 4-11 overall, 2-5 Heart of Illinois

Top returnees: Kaya Buchanon, sr., IF; Ella Goodrich, sr., C; Kristyn Schwartz, sr., OF; Ashlyn May, jr., IF/OF; Morgan Gerdes, jr., P; Kylee Cook, jr., P; Allie Weisenhofer, so., OF

Key newcomers: Falyn Ehrnthaler, jr.; Laura VanCoppenolle, jr.; Riley Burton, so.; Aliah Celis, so.; Madalyn Monti, so.; Cassidy Palm, so.; Kaylin Reints, so.; Ella Ruestman, so.; Keara Barisch, fr.; Natalie DeBlaey, fr.; Julia Ehrenthaler, fr.; Jessica Schultz, fr.; Emily Tooley, fr.

Worth noting: The Knights lost only one player from last year’s team, but it was a huge one in P/Util. Reagan Ruestman (.436). Gerdes and Cook, who saw some time in the circle last year, will take over for her and back Buchanan, a Times All-Area second-team and HOIC honorable mention pick a year ago, in the order. ... The late start after the basketball success will be a “slight hinderance,” Kay said, putting the lineup up in the air early, but her squad has intelligent, multisport athletes that “just like to compete at whatever they do.” ... “I’m so proud of the basketball team. They worked hard, and it showed,” Kay said. “With so many softball players on that team, we’ve had very small practices so far. … We’ve been young the last few years, but now those girls are back with more experience under their belts, and that will be exciting to see. That will help us close out close games we weren’t able to close last season.”

– Charlie Ellerbrock

Seneca

Coach: Brian Holman (3rd year, 24-5)

Last season: 24-5 overall, 12-0 Tri-County

Top returnees: Maddy Klicker, sr., CF; Madi Mino, sr., 1B; Zoe Hougas, sr., C; Allie Arwood, sr., 2B; Lizzie Davis, sr., DP; Taya Roe, sr., P; Callee Bauer, jr., RF; Kennedy Hartwig, jr., LF; Sam Vandevelde, so., SS

Key newcomers: Neely Hougas, jr., Util.; Alyssa Zellers, fr., P/INF

Worth noting: The Irish have a ton of talent and are returning seven starters off a team that went undefeated in TCC play while also winning Seneca’s seventh regional championship. But one main component will be missing this season – Class 2A All-State first-team pitcher Maggie Carpenter graduated and now plays softball at D-I Charleston Southern University. ... Holman’s tall task will be having to figure out how to replace Carpenter’s 114 innings pitched, 15-3 record and 1.29 ERA. ... He’ll also have to find a new leadoff hitter after Carpenter filled that role last year leading the Irish with a team-best .505 batting average and a club-leading 46 hits. ... “Hopefully the beat will go on in a big way for Seneca softball, and there’s no reason not to be optimistic with the great set of players we’re returning,” Holman said. “We’re gonna miss Maggie for sure, and it’s on me as to how to fill that void moving forward.” ... Roe and promising first-year pitcher Zellers will take on the challenge in the circle, while All-Stater Vandevelde, who led the Irish with five homers and 35 RBIs in 2021, will anchor the infield at shortstop. Senior center fielder Klicker (.402 BA, 25 H) and senior catcher Zoe Hougas (.390 BA, 28 H) will play big roles as well on the Seneca diamond.

– Bill Lidinisky

Sandwich

Coach: Mattie McGuire (7th year)

Last season: 4-13, 3-10 Interstate 8

Top returning players: Maggie Knepper, sr., P/1B; Hannah Limon, sr., 2B; Emily Gomez, sr., C; Alexis Sexton, jr., CF; Breanna Sexton, jr., SS; Allison Olson, jr., 3B/C; Lily Geltz, jr., 1B/OF

Worth noting: The Indians return seven starters from last season’s team, with three seniors and seven juniors making up a seasoned roster. ... “Last year, we were a young group of a few seniors leading a lot of juniors and sophomores through a short season of pretty much just conference games,” McGuire said. “Because of a shortened amount of time to prepare before our first game and not having as many as we’re used to, we fell short in our season record. This year, we have our normal schedule that will give us many games of preparation for conference and postseason. We are hoping that the amount of returners we have with the short year experience they had last year will give us the preparation, skill, and confidence to take on our competition this year.” ... Sandwich is slated to open the season March 21 at Coal City, returning home the next day to host DeKalb.

– Joshua Welge