Morton reloads for another run

Updated: March 28, 2011 9:38AM

The Great Lakes Conference was very competitive last season, with Morton returning to the winning ranks (14-9, 6-0 GLAC) and other teams improving as they tried to catch the Governors.

Morton should be on the way up after not losing any key players. The Govs have outfielder Trisha Miles (.384), pitcher Megan Ross (.419) and Jessica Chorak (.484) back to anchor the offense for second-year coach Matt Barno.

"We set a standard for ourselves at the end of last year," he said. "It is our responsibility to pick up where we left off."

Gavit probably has the same mindset after winning its third straight sectional title, the last two coming under coach Lisa Mendoza, who relishes not losing anyone to graduation. Among the youth returning for Mendoza are all-conference players Mariah Barber and Erika Ramirez.

Clark lost to Gavit in the sectional final, but the Pioneers are in the same position as Gavit and Morton in having all hands on deck. Among the large contingent of returners are shortstop Courtney Mansfield (.410), Barb Maciel (.382) and catcher Tina Palma (.366).

"I am very excited," fifth-year coach Christina Delgado said. "We had such a tremendous turnout during (offseason) conditioning and I'm impressed with how hard this group of girls has been working."

Hammond only lost one player from a team that only won six games. Third-year coach Jackie Brasseur has a young squad anchored by sophomores Andrea Davila (.383) and Jazzlyn Baines (.347) and junior Deanna Downing (.323). But Brasseur is happy about numbers for a second straight season.

"We had a great turnout for tryouts (47 girls), so we will have a JV and varsity squad again this year," she said. "The program continues to grow."

New East Chicago coach Amanda Heckaman is optimistic the Cardinals can produce on the field with the majority of the squad returning. Seniors Ziana Givens and Lisa Maldonaldo will lead an athletic group that includes juniors Jackie Rodriguez and Adriana Rivera.

Despite having never won a sectional game, optimism reigns at Knox after a 17-7 season. Fourth-year coach Ron Kukula believes the Redskins will be better, thanks to the return of seniors Shayna Conner, Kelsy Kajer, Brittany Tetzloff and Janyl Zachary, who were all part of an potent offense.

Starke County rival North Judson has even more of its team back for longtime coach Brian Reading. And the Bluejays are still fairly young, led by juniors Elisabeth White and Kelsey Sanchez.

"If the pitching holds up, we should be over .500 this year," Reading said.

That goal is a longshot for first-year Rensselaer coach Kim Denton, whose Bombers only had one victory last season, following having zero wins the year before. She has to deal with the loss of four starters, including sophomore Chelsea Hughes due to medical reasons, and leading hitter Tiffany Junk. Seniors Ashley and Amanda Barton, and junior pitcher Ashley Kleinkort, are back for a rebuilding squad.

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