Herald-News 2021 All-Area Softball Team

First Team

Carly Alvers, infielder, Lincoln-Way Central: Alvers capped a spectacular career at Lincoln-Way Central by playing a big part in the Knights’ run to the Class 4A state title game. Alvers battered opposing pitchers for 11 home runs and 39 RBIs while finishing with a .441 batting average.

Andie Broniewicz, pitcher, Joliet Catholic: The Angels leaned heavily on Broniewicz, and she responded by pitching them into the Class 2A title game. A tough schedule touched up Broniewicz’s stat line a little bit, but she still finished 18-7 with a 1.35 ERA with 169 strikeouts.

Morgan Bruno, second baseman, Joliet Catholic: The Angels used a varied offensive attack to subdue many of their foes this season, but more often than not, Bruno was right in the middle of the havoc the offense caused. She finished with a 370 batting average.

Savannah Fierke, pitcher, Joliet West: The Western Kentucky recruit finished her stellar Joliet West career with a flourish, both pitching and hitting at excellent rates. She shined in the circle again, finishing with a 17-2 record a 0.68 ERA and 235 strikeouts. She also belted seven home runs and drove in 32.

Lyndsey Grein, pitcher, Lincoln-Way Central: The Herald-News Player of the Year put together a season rarely seen from a pitching and hitting threat. The junior finished with 290 strikeouts and was dangerous with the bat, tying fellow Herald-News All-Area teammate Carly Alvers for team-high honors with 11 home runs.

Alex Hughes, catcher, Joliet West: Hughes was a massive offensive threat for the Tigers while forming a powerful battery with fellow All-Area performer Savannah Fierke. Hughes hit at a .517 clip while popping five home runs and driving in 28 runs. She also connected for 12 extra-base hits and was named the Southwest Prairie East’s Most Valuable Player.

Brooke Knox, shortstop, Plainfield North: Knox was named the Southwest Prairie West’s Most Valuable Player, and it was easy to see why. Knox crunched eight home runs and drove in 33 runs while batting .440.

Sage Mardjetko, pitcher/outfielder, Lemont: Stepping into the box against Mardjetko was simply not a winning proposition for opposing batters. She allowed only four earned runs in 110 regular-season innings pitched and struck out more than two batters an inning, finishing with 225 whiffs.

Frankie Rita, catcher, Lemont: Rita was one of only three area players to post an on-base percentage above the .600 mark (.602). And it wasn’t something she put together by just drawing walks, as nearly all of it came from a spectacular .576 batting average that includes 16 extra-base hits.

Danielle Stewart, first base, Lincoln-Way East: Stewart was yet another big weapon in the middle of the Griffins’ potent lineup. She finished the season with 40 RBIs and 25 extra-base hits, making her a player Lincoln-Way East could count on to drive in big runs.

Katie Stewart, third base, Lincoln-Way East: Stewart posted a .606 on-base percentage, basically guaranteeing that opposing pitchers were going to have to deal with her roaming the basepaths. It wasn’t an empty OBP, either, as she walloped 26 extra-base hits, including 14 home runs.

Allie Timm, pitcher/third baseman, Minooka: Timm came up big time and time again during the Indians’ surprising run to the Class 4A state tournament, where they finished fourth. Timm finished with a 2.66 ERA with 76 strikeouts and chipped in a .341 batting average.

Allie Wondrasek, pitcher, Lincoln-Way West: Wondrasek was really tough to get at when she was in the circle, striking out 179 batters in only 137 innings. She picked up 12 victories, and even when she didn’t collect wins, she fared well against some of the area’s best competition, posting a 1.61 ERA.

Christina Zeitler, Outfield, Bolingbrook: Zeitler was a pretty good bet to find her way to base safely in most situations, hitting at a .444 clip and closing in on a .500 on-base percentage. Zeitler drove in 22 runs in the heart of the Raiders’ lineup, connecting for 12 extra-base hits.

Second Team

Jessica Castle, P/IF/OF, Wilmington; Grace Cavanaugh, IF/OF, Reed-Custer; Lainie Chizmark, OF, Joliet West; Kennedy Dransfeldt, SS, Morris; Wrigley Fanter, 3B, Joliet Catholic; Addison Foster, 2B, Lockport; Kaia Gamica, SS, Plainfield Central; Megan Medlin, C/3B, Minooka; Brooke Schwall, IF, Joliet West; Sydra Seville, OF, Lincoln-Way Central; Bella Vyce, C, Gardner-South Wilmington; Maddy Wallace, P/OF, Lemont; Isabella Wilkerson, C, Lincoln-Way Central; Emma Young, 1B, Lincoln-Way West.

Honorable Mention

Abby DeGrado, OF, Plainfield Central; Jasmine Freeze, CF/P, Bolingbrook; Cloe Geijer, OF, Lincoln-Way East; Abbie Gregus, C, Lincoln-Way West; Kylie Hawks, SS, Gardner-South Wilmington; Stephanie Hayes, 3B, Lockport; Emma Herder, P/UT, Peotone; Taylor Hochman, P, Lincoln-Way East; Tricia Hogrefe, UT, Plainfield Central, Avery Houlihan, SS, Joliet West; Chloe Kohnhorst, C/2B, Minooka; Emma Kucharski, OF, Lemont; Aspen Lardi, 3B, Gardner-South Wilmington; Anna Liaromatis, IF, Wilmington; Hailey Mailto, OF, Lincoln-Way East; Corey Maloney, SS, Providence; McKenzie Murdock, IF, Lincoln-Way Central; Abby Pitts, OF, Wilmington; Kaylee Purgatorio, 3B, Lemont; Gianna Russo, 3B/C, Providence; Jolee Santiago, C, Joliet Catholic; Lily Schult, 3B, Lemont; Anna Smith, IF/OF, Plainfield North; Kiera Suntken, OF, Plainfield North; Jaelynn Taylor, C/IF/OF, Bolingbrook; Tyanna Thomas, IF/OF, Bolingbrook; Grace Vowell, C, Peotone; Kate Woulfe, 1B, Lockport.