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SouthWest Suburban Conference
Bolingbrook
Coach: Christopher DeSanto (second year)
2019 record: 7-11, 3-9 in conference
Top returners: P/CF Christina Zeitler, P/3B/OF Jasmine Freeze, P/SS Ariana Battle, P/1B/OF Tyanna Thomas, OF/3B/2B Jaelynn Taylor, 1B/RF Samantha Welko, 1B/C Sara Spreeman, OF/INF Sierra Slahor, OF/INF Isabella Farias
Key newcomers: OF/2B Dennise Kucan, 3B/OF Glory Hanny, C/1B/3B Sydney Hinojosa
Worth noting: Bolingbrook was poised to be a dangerous young team last year before COVID-19 hit, with four pitchers who were itching to show everyone what they can do, DeSanto said, but the quartet of Zeitler, Freeze, Battle and Thomas will get that chance this season. Taylor will look to improve after spending her freshman year on varsity, and sophomore newcomer Hinojosa will try to establish herself as a leader behind the plate. “Even though this group has a lot of new faces to varsity, they are eager and ready to play at a high level as they develop into strong varsity members,” DeSanto said. “The seniors are working toward ending their high school careers with an improvement as a team and reaching as far as we can. Through solid defense and strong pitching, we are going to compete with teams in our conference.”
Lincoln-Way Central
Coach: Jeff Tarala (ninth year)
2019 record: 32-3, 12-0 Red Division
Top returners: 3B Carly Alvers, C Isabella Wilkerson, CF Sydra Seville, P/INF Lyndsey Grein, OF Grace Kmak, INF Kristina Chronos, C/INF Grace Erickson, INF McKenzie Murdock, OF/P
Key newcomers: OF/P Alexa Michon, P Mackenzie Sheehan, INF Jamie Widule
Worth noting: The Knights, coming off a Class 4A regional title – the third in the past five seasons, return DePaul commit Alvers (.475 AVG., 7 HR, 42 RBIs, Herald-News All-Area first team), Illinois State commit Wilkerson (.316 AVG., HR, 15 RBIs), Creighton University commit Seville (.400 AVG., 7 2B, HR, 16 RBIs, Herald-News All-Area second team), and Virginia Tech commit Grein (4-0, 1.38 ERA, 35.1 IP, 57 K). “We have talented softball players, without a doubt, but more importantly great young ladies,” Tarala said. “As a coaching staff, we could not ask for a better group to coach. We should be a competitive team this season.”
Lincoln-Way East
Coach: Elizabeth Hyland (10th year)
2019 record: 22-7, 8-2 Blue Division
Top returners: P/INF Taylor Hochman, INF Danielle Stewart
Key newcomers: P/INF Taylor Zawacki, INF Katie Stewart, 2B Sophia Thormeyer
Worth noting: The Griffins, coming off a sixth straight Class 4A regional title in 2019, are expected to be led by four-year player Hochman (.351 AVG., 5 HR) in the circle and Danielle Stewart (.400 AVG., 7 HR) at the plate. Zawacki is a triple-threat player, solid in the circle, field and at the plate. Katie Stewart is a versatile infielder with power, while lefty-slapping Thormeyer will set the table at the top of the lineup. “We will be young, however, we will have experience,” Hyland said. “Communication will be key in the field. Many of our players can play multiple positions; therefore in the beginning it will take time to see what will work best, but once we find the combo, we hope to hit the ground running. Our conference is always highly competitive, and we are looking forward to the challenge.
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Lincoln-Way West
Coach: Heather Novak (12th year)
2019 record: 21-12, 9-3 Red Division
Top returners: OF/1B Emma Young, P Allie Wondrasek, C Abbie Gregus, OF/P Julia Noga, SS Zoe May, OF Alexis Castaneda, INF/OF Chloe Erwin, OF Madison Stahulak, INF/3B Kailey Wagner, SS Julia Czart, INF Cydney Guillaume
Key newcomers: Cameron Ball, Olivia Calderone, Molly Marquardt
Worth noting: The Warriors, who have eight seniors who have committed to play softball in college, will be looking for strong seasons from 2019 Herald-News All-Area first-team selection Young (.495 AVG., 12 2B, 3 3B, 2 HR, 33 RBIs, 30 runs), Wondrasek (2.90 ERA, 145 strikeouts in 127 2/3 innings pitched, Herald-News All-Area second team), and Gregus (.343 AVG., 5 2B, 3 HR). “We’ll be led by the battery of Wondrasek and Gregus, who return even stronger as juniors and a talented senior class,” Novak said. “Young and Noga also return as four-year varsity athletes, while May returns as a three-year varsity athlete and will look to lead the infield at shortstop.”
Lockport
Coach: Marissa Chovanec (18th year)
2019 record: 29-6, 10-0 Blue Division
Top returners: 2B/SS Kate Woulfe, 2B/SS Kendal Herschbach, 3B Stephanie Hayes
Key newcomers: P Ellie Curtis
Worth noting: Lockport, which won its third consecutive Class 4A regional championship in 2019 and advanced to a sectional final, returns Woulfe, who committed to Division I St. Joseph’s University. “We are excited to be back on the field again this season,” Chovanec said. “We have goals that include being conference champions and playing well into the postseason. I’m excited to see how hungry our athletes are to play the game they love.”
Southwest Prairie Conference
Joliet Central
Coach: Corinne Zimmerman (fourth year)
2019 record: 3-24
Top returners: SS/OF Christine Butler, SS/OF Natalee Curry, 3B/C Alexandria Guzman, P/OF Lena Baltz, 2B/C Stephanie Castro.
Key newcomers: P/OF Caroline Baltz, 2B/OF Natalie Reyes, P/1B Krista Sierra
Worth noting: Joliet Central will be led by Butler, the Steelmen’s team captain, and a 2019 All-SPC selection. “We are set to score runs and take extra bases this year with a diverse offensive lineup of slappers, power hitters and speed,” Zimmerman said. “What we lack in a dominant pitching presence, we make up for with a solid defense of utility players willing to take on challenges at multiple positions. The goal of the team is to compete in every inning against our conference rivals. Our players are learning and growing every day. We are ready to compete.”
Joliet West
Coach: Heather Suca (15th year)
2019 record: 26-14, 12-6 in conference
Top returners: P Savannah Fierke, 3B Alex Hughes, CF Lanie Chizmark
Worth noting: In 2019, the Tigers were SPC co-champs, captured the program’s first sectional title since 1978 and finished the season with a third-place finish at the Class 4A state finals. Despite missing the 2020 season and losing seven talented seniors, Joliet West returns three starters and six players overall from the final four squad, including all-stater Fierke (16-7, 197 IP, 276 K, 1.02 ERA; .331 AVG.), the 2019 Herald-News Softball Player of the Year. Hughes (23 RBIs) and Chizmark (.256 AVG., 18 SB) also will be asked to lead the way. “We have a lot of young talent and I’m excited to see what they can do,” Suca said. “There is a lot of competition for starting roles, which has been making each and every player better each day at practice. It is so nice to be back on the field with the kids and coaches. Our three captains (Savannah, Lanie, and Alex) have very high expectations going into this year. I am very pleased with how well the seniors have been stepping up to create great team chemistry while working so well with the younger athletes. The work ethic and excitement at practices have been the best the coaches could ask for. Our team is going to look very different from the 2019 roster, but I am excited to see what they can do.”
Minooka
Coach: Mark Brown (10th year)
2019 record: 12-19, 10-8 in conference
Top returners: P/3B Allie Timm, 3B/C Abbi Davis
Key newcomers: P/LF Maddie Belluomini, C Megan Medlin, SS/OF Riley Hickey, 1B/P Peyton Lowden, OF/INF Anna McClimon, SS/C Chloe Kohnhorst, SS/CF Sofia Dzuiba
Worth noting: Minooka returns a pair of starters from 2019 in seniors Timm and Davis, who are talented players who will be expected to lead the squad. “We have a great mix of senior leadership and youth,” Brown said. “We have five quality pitchers who should keep us in almost every game. If we can combine the pitching with quality bats throughout the lineup and a solid defense, this should translate into more wins for us this season. We expect to compete with the best teams this year and go into the 2021 season loaded, with talent and high hopes of winning a conference championship and making a deep playoff run.”
Plainfield Central
Coach: Kate Welsh (1st year)
2019 record: 15-12, 12-6 in conference
Top returners: P Makena O’Donnell, P Natalie Tatera, 2B Kailey Morrell, C/2B Paige Williams, 3B Kendra Geistler, SS Kaia Garnica
Key newcomers: C Emma Polanski, 1B Jordan McCully, OF Baylie Forsythe, 1B/OF Taylor Rock, UTIL Breanna Kwasniewski, OF Abby DeGrado, 2B/OF Courtney Werner, SS/OF Tricia Hogrefe, P Mia Johnson
Worth noting: The Wildcats, SPC co-champs in 2019, return a pair of solid senior pitchers in O’Donnell (an All-SPC selection and Herald-News All-Area honorable mention) and Tatera, while a balanced offense will be powered by junior Garnica. “I am ready to begin my first season and to continue the traditions set forth by my predecessors,” Welsh said. “I look forward to developing and strengthening the program at all levels. We have a talented group of veteran players who are ready to lead our team to victory. The newcomers are eager to learn and have been willing to put in the effort to prepare for this season. I am excited to see what this team will accomplish this season.”
Plainfield East
Coach: Rebekah Grimes (second year, fourth overall)
2019 record: 15-20-1, 10-6 in conference
Top returners: 1B Adelina Staden, C Katelyn Lamm, CF Ally Rodriguez, SS Breanna O’Malley-Molk, C/UTIL Teagan Pranchke, P McKenna Repovich.
Key newcomers: P/OF Kiley Torkelson, OF/P Morgan Wiberg, OF Megan Maloney, INF Katie Guiborat, INF Izzy Stewart, INF Kaitlyn Sullivan, OF Kiley Lamb, OF/P Masen Danker.
Worth noting: Plainfield East has a solid and cohesive unit, led by a talented senior class, including Staden (.491 AVG., 8 2B, 6 HR), who was a Herald-News All-Area first-team pick, and also an all-state and all-conference selection in 2019. On any given day, any one of the 14 players can be named as a potential starter ... In the best way, they will make it difficult on the coaching staff to put together a starting lineup, said Grimes, who took over the program last year after two years as skipper at Kankakee . “We are looking to build upon the tradition of excellence this program has constructed over the years, in order to solidify a new era of Bengal softball,” Grimes said. “This group is highly versatile, which allows us to call upon a number of players when needed to perform at different positions. We hope our aggressive style of offensive both at bat and on the basepaths will go along well with our solid defense behind our pitching staff. If attitude is any indication of success this season, a lot of victories are coming our way. This season is all about being grateful for the opportunities we are given and making the most of these chances to play softball together again.”
Plainfield North
Coach: Deanna Blyth (1st year)
2019 record: 15-15, 10-8 in conference
Top returners: SS Brooke Knox, P Jasmine Yancey, INF/OF Anna Smith, 1B Kelly Aultman, OF Ashley Clanton
Key newcomers: C Natalia Lesnicki, OF Keira Suntken
Worth noting: The Tigers will be led by seniors Knox, Yancey, Smith, Aultman and Clanton, but Blyth said her team will be relatively young, starting two sophomores in Lesnicki and Suntken, as well as two freshmen. “This year is an exciting developmental year with tremendous potential for the current season and future seasons,” Blyth said.
Plainfield South
Coach: Dan Deacon (first year)
2019 record: 20-14, 11-8 in conference
Top returners: C Meagan Maza, P/UTL Myleigh Halmon, P/OF Jenna Judge
Key newcomers: 3B Emily Bickett, 1B Kara Aguilar, INF Anna Lisa Fludder, INF Molly Nichols, INF Addison Brandl, INF, Kaitlynn Sworst, Bella Hanson, Katie Nichols, Kaylee Aimone, Lauren Pell
Worth noting: Deacon, who takes over the Cougars’ program after coaching the junior varsity team in 2019 and 12 years with high-level travel teams in the area, will be counting on his three seniors – Maza, Halmon and Judge – to lead the way. Maza, a Wisconsin-Parkside recruit, will be the catalyst behind the plate. Halmon, a Trinity Christian recruit, is a solid pitcher and all-around athlete. Judge, a Friends University recruit, is solid in the circle and in the outfield. “Very excited for this upcoming year, and I think this team has a very high potential for success,” Deacon said. “I think our bats could be very fun and exciting, and I also believe that we have very good depth at pitching going three deep with all of them capable of leading any high school team in the area. We are looking forward to getting back to some normalcy in these times and hoping to send the three seniors out with a bang along with building the Plainfield South softball program up to compete at a high level each and every year. A conference championship is always our goal each and every year, and I believe it’s within reach.
Romeoville
Coach: Amy Ligmanowski (fourth year)
2019 record: 3-19, 2-15 in conference
Top returners: C Larissa Ortiz, UTIL Reese Massaro, OF Savannah Anderson
Key newcomers: Jolene Anderson, Juliana Anderson
Worth noting: Romeoville returns four-year varsity players in Ortiz, who will be playing at Wisconsin next year, Massaro and Savannah Anderson – all of whom will play key roles in our lineup throughout the season and bring leadership both on and off the field according to Ligmanowski. The coach also said the Anderson sisters – Jolene (so.) and Juliana (fr.) – are a dynamic duo both offensively and defensively who will be fun to watch this season. “I am very excited for the opportunity to have a season this year, especially with this group of seniors who were my first freshman class when I joined the Spartan family,” Ligmanowski said. “The new turf stadium has been completed, and the girls are really excited for the opportunity to have a home field after the three-year construction process. We have a strong defensive unit in our athletes and are looking to make an impact within our tough conference this season.”
GCAC
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Providence Catholic
Coach: Jay Biesterfield (17th year, 22nd overall)
2019 record: 28-8, 11-1 in conference
Top returners: P/INF Nicole Mucha, SS/OF Corey Maloney
Key newcomers: 3B/C Gianna Russo, P/OF Grace Golebiowski, P/SS/OF Abby Johnson
Worth noting: Providence returns Mucha (.337 AVG, 18 RBIs, 27 R; 52.1 IP, 0.94 ERA, 7-1, 3 saves, 49 K, All-GCAC), who is committed to D-I Monmouth University (N.J.). She will be the pitching ace and a top hitter and run producer, as well as Maloney (.447 AVG, 41 R, 22 RBIs, Herald-News All-Area second team), who is a versatile defender and a true triple-threat leadoff hitter. Biesterfield said the biggest question mark is pitching because the defending league champion Celtics will be relying on pitchers who haven’t logged a ton of innings in the circle, but he feels his team will have one of the best outfield defenses in the area. “Our offense will need to put a lot of pressure on the opponent with our speed and putting the ball in play,” Biesterfield said. “We are the defending GCAC Red champs, and we expect to compete to defend that title with our ultimate goal of also winning a state championship. We realize these are lofty expectations, but that is the mindset of every player in our program.”
South Suburban Conference
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Lemont
Coach: Chris Traina (15th year)
2019 record: 24-13, 17-2 in conference
Top returners: P/OF Maddy Wallace, OF Emma Kucharski, 3B Lily Schuit, 2B Kaylee Purgatorio
Key newcomers: P/OF Sage Mardjetko
Worth noting: Lemont returns Wallace, who signed a national letter of intent to play at Central Michigan next year. She hit .300 with 24 runs scored and eight RBIs, while also appearing in 17 games in the circle, recording 102 strikeouts and an ERA of 3.44 in 85 1/3 innings. Fellow seniors Kucharski (.351 AVG., 22 runs, 19 RBIs, Herald-News All-Area second team), Schuit (.255, 14 runs, 11 RBIs), and Purgatorio (Lake Forest College commit) also will be asked to provide bigger leadership roles. “I’m optimistic and looking for a good showing in the South Suburban Conference and playoffs with the leadership of our seniors,” Traina said. “This team has a blend of upper and lower classmen that are focused, dedicated and excited about the season.”
Illinois Central Eight Conference
Coal City
Coach: Rodney Monbrum (first year)
2019 record: 10-17, 5-7 (in Interstate Eight Conference)
Top returners: C/3B Natalie Teague, P Kaitlyn Jasper.
Key newcomers: 1B/C Kerigan Copes, 2B Jocie Widlowski, SS Makayla Henline, LF Makenzie Henline, DP/OF/1B Jadyn Shaw, CF Mia Ferrias, 3B Abby Gagliardo, OF Lilly Ullrich, INF/OF Maci Baldauf, 1B/OF Natalie Appleton, OF/3B Skylar Milinkovic, OF/C Carley Morris, P/OF Addison Gagliardo, OF/IF Paige Walker, OF Lola Lavezzi.
Worth noting: The Coalers will rely on the experience of Teague, the lone senior on the roster, who posted a .455 average with 12 extra-base hits (9 2B, 3B, HR) in 2019 and was a Herald-News All-Area second-team pick, and top-returning hurler in Jasper. “We jump right into an eight-team tournament, including Minooka, all three Lincoln-Way schools, Lockport, JCA and Joliet West to start the year,” Monbrum said. “We are young – very young – basically taking a JV team and playing a varsity schedule. However, we have talented girls who love the game, so we are very excited about the season. Our goal is to be competitive all season and win a regional. This year is about focusing on the process, finding out the girls’ strengths and weaknesses while building on them throughout the season. We are ready to compete daily over the next seven weeks.”
Peotone
Coach: Alexis Bryant (first year)
2019 record: 8-15, 3-10 in conference
Top returners: C Grace Vowell, 3B/P Emma Herder, 1B Taylor Thweet, 2B Alyssa Pasch, OF/3B Emma Spagnoli, P/OF Jade Cadieux
Key newcomers: P Mackenzie Strough, Mady Kibelkis
Worth noting: The Blue Devils and new coach Bryant will be looking to improve on their 2019 record and have strong returning players in Vowell, Herder and Thweet. “This year we are looking for consistency,” Bryant said. “We have a strong team with many powerful players. I’m looking forward to getting out there and playing some great competition.”
Reed-Custer
Coach: Nick Arndt (first year)
2019 record: 16-12-1, 7-4-1 in conference
Top returners: 3B Hannah Coster, C Naomi Gomez, 2B Sylvia Crater, INF Lexi Mixner
Key newcomers: P Grace Moyers, P/SS Halie LaGrange, CF Mya Beard, OF/1B Grace Cavanaugh
Worth noting: Reed-Custer won its fourth regional title in the past six seasons and advanced to a Class 2A sectional final, falling to eventual state champion Beecher in 2019. The Comets have lost most of the players from that team, including Olivet Nazarene commit senior Abrey Ricketts, who hit .323 her sophomore year but injured her knee during the basketball season and will be out for the season. Arndt said this year’s group is working hard to have another successful season. “Grace Moyers, a sophomore, will be our ace this year and is a solid hitter. Gomez, Crater and Coster are all returning from that ’19 regional championship team. The Comets have been putting in the time this year, and I look forward to getting the season rolling.”
Wilmington
Coach: Jack Skole (22 years)
2019 record: 24-4, 13-1 in conference
Top returners: 3B/SS/2B Anna Liaromatis, P/3B Emily Mazon
Key newcomers: Jessica Castle, Kaitlyn O’Donnell, Abby Pitts, Raena Del Angel
Worth noting: The Wildcats won a Class 2A regional title in 2019, but all nine starters have graduated since. Senior Mazon missed her sophomore year with an injury but is looking forward to a strong season, while junior Liaromatis has the ability to play multiple positions and brings speed to the lineup. According to Skole, Castle is a good all-around player who has good bat speed, can pitch and is strong defensively. “Needing to replace nine starters is going to be a difficult task with having no season last year,” Skole said. “We hope to be competitive throughout the season and be in the top tier for our conference.”
Interstate 8 Conference
Morris
Coach: Jennifer Bamonte (second year)
2019 Record: 7-23, 3-10 in conference
Top Returners: SS Kennedy Dransfeldt, CF MaddyHughes, RF Taylor Nelson, P Maddie Noon, 2B Grace Lines, 1B Jaelyn Wiers, 3B/OF Madigan Doss.
Key newcomers: P Ella Davis, P Kylee Claypool, C Madison Shannon, LF Alana Beshoar, P Addie Narwick.
Worth Noting: Bamonte took over the Morris program in 2019 with a varsity roster made up of all freshmen and sophomores, but now they are all upperclassmen. Dransfeldt (Herald-News All-Area first team) and Lines (Herald-News All-Area second team) are returning from seasons in which they both were voted to the ICA All-State third team. The starting lineup at times will feature seven left-handed hitters, as well as speed, power, and agility. Davis is a power pitcher and hitter, Noon is a strategic, junkball hurler, while Claypool and Narwick also will see time in the circle. “This year we are blessed with versatility and support,” Bamonte said. “Losing our season last year lit a fire in our girls. They are ready to show everyone how much they have grown.”
Tri-County Conference
Seneca
Coach: Brian Holman (first year, 11th overall)
2019 record: 30-6, 13-1 in conference
Top returners: OF Mallory Othon, P Maggie Carpenter
Key newcomers: C Zoe Hougas, SS Allie Arwood, CF Maddy Klicker, INF Sam Vandevelde, INF Kennedy Hartwig, OF Callee Bauer
Worth noting: The Fighting Irish return only two players – Othon and Carpenter – with true varsity experience and both are coming off major injuries in their last high school season, but both are expected to lead the way. “Definitely a strange year, not only here in Seneca, but across the state,” Holman said. “Othon [torn ACL] and Carpenter [Tommy John elbow surgery] should lead us, however, Carpenter has not appeared in a high school game since she was a freshman, where she lost in the sectional title game to Beecher, 3-2 and Othon is very similar after tearing her ACL in warmups during the first game of her sophomore year. The heart of our team will be unproven but talented, and we hope to rely on a strong junior class and some talented underclassmen to help us out early in the season. We hope to be balanced in our lineup and strong up the middle defensively with Hougas, Arwood and Klicker. With a challenging schedule, we hope that we are able to compete with some of the best teams in the area toward the end of the season.”
River Valley Conference
Gardner-South Wilmington
Coach: Cassi Carlson (fourth year)
2019 record: 14-11, 7-3 in conference
Top returners: SS Kylie Hawks, 1B Katelyn Farris
Key newcomers: C Bella Vyce
Worth noting: The Panthers return Hawks – who batted .400 with an on-base percentage of .468 and had 12 stolen bases. She was a an All-RVC first-team selection as a sophomore. “We graduated the majority of our team last year ... our only returning starters are Hawks and Farris,” said Carlson. “Both are very strong players who are going to be leaders both on and off the field. Our softball numbers have decreased this year because of the overlap with the volleyball season, but I’m seeing a lot of potential in our new players. Our team goal is to have a .500 season.”