Naperville Sun All-Area Softball Team

Following are the top high school softball players this season among the six Naperville Sun high schools. Players are listed in alphabetical order.

FIRST TEAM

Jena Boudreau, Neuqua Valley — Pitcher also led the Wildcats in hitting and was voted the team MVP. The Missouri-St. Louis-bound senior went 11-9, struck out 132 and had an ERA of 1.97. At the plate, the No. 3 batter had 28 hits, four doubles, a batting average of .354 and an on-base percentage of .413.

Emily Dieckmann, Naperville North — The pitcher’s 16-win season ranks second for the Redhawks program. She also tied for the most postseason wins and finishes with a 34-21 career mark. Coach Jerry Kedziora called this senior the “heart and soul of the team.” She finished the year 16-8 with 90 strikeouts and an ERA of 1.64. She hit three home runs with 16 RBI in the No. 5 spot. She will play at DePauw next year.

Kendall Duffy, Benet — No. 2 in the lineup, this junior was known for laying down the sacrifice bunt for leadoff Maeve McGuire, yet still managed to bat .385. Expect this Bradley-bound catcher to be one of the best in the area next year. This year, she batted .385, scored 32 times, had 50 hits, 10 doubles, 20 RBI with an on-base percentage of .437. She was also first team all-conference for East Suburban Catholic.

Kelsey Gonzalez, Naperville Central — This junior shortstop was consistent in the No. 3 slot. With a team-leading 108 at-bats, the SIU-bound three-year starter tallied a team-best 28 runs, 49 hits, 25 RBI, and .454 batting average. Reliable at the plate, the DuPage Valley Conference first-teamer only struck out twice this season and compiled a .500 on-base percentage, .704 slugging percentage and 11 doubles.

Meghan Griffin, Naperville Central — The senior left fielder, in the No. 4 spot, scored 19 runs and had 35 hits, 23 RBI. She batted .343, had an on-base percentage of .379, with eight doubles and a slugging percentage of .422. The all-DuPage Valley Conference player struck out just three times.

Sammy Marshall, Naperville North — The senior shortstop caps an amazing career at North, where coach Jerry Kedziora called her “one of the best athletes you’ll see playing high school sports in the area.” As a leadoff hitter, she was a four-time DuPage Valley selection. She leaves holding team records for batting average (.430 in the 2011 season), hits (46), stolen bases (34), multiple hit games and hitting streak (48 games). She is taking her talents to Western Illinois in the fall.

Maeve McGuire, Benet — Just a sophomore, the Naperville Sun’s 2011 Player of the Year consistently ignited Benet, which finished third in Class 4A. The Division I-bound leadoff hitter has already set a school career record for doubles. The right fielder hit a team-best 26 this season, along with 49 runs, two triples, 19 stolen bases, drew 32 walks, 33 total extra base hits, with an .815 slugging percentage, a .569 on-base percentage and tied for first on the team with five home runs. The East Suburban Catholic Conference first-teamer was second on Benet in batting average (.469) and hits (61) and third in RBI (26). In the sectional final victory against Downers Grove South, she scored four of the Benet’s five runs.

Brooke Meyer, Neuqua Valley — The junior shortsop was the only unanimous Upstate Eight Conference Valley Division selection on the Wildcats. She was voted the best defensive player by her teammates. At the plate, the No. 5 batter had 40 hits (tied for first), nine doubles, three triples and a .471 batting average (all first on team) and was second on the team in RBI with 25.

Amanda Minahan, Waubonsie Valley — Despite sitting out briefly with a concussion, this sophomore shortstop enjoyed her first year on varsity with a team-best 45 hits, 32 runs, a .523 batting average, 15 doubles, five home runs, an on-base percentage of .586, struck out a team-low seven times and also tied for first in triples with six. Coach Aly Kelley called her the “go-to kid” after she posted the game-winning RBI in the Warriors’ first round playoff win against Oswego.

Leigh Nebendahl, Neuqua Valley — The Toledo-bound senior first baseman was voted best offensive player by her teammates, and it’s easy to see why. In 96 at-bats, the No. 4 batter had a team-best 39 hits, six home runs and 30 RBI. She was second in doubles (eight) and runs (23). She was an Upstate Eight Conference Valley selection with a batting average of .406.

Anna Petersen, Metea Valley — In the Mustangs’ first varsity season, this sophomore shortstop was a big reason the team had a solid year. In 104 at-bats, the No. 4 batter posted 46 hits, 10 home runs, 45 RBI, 33 runs, had a batting average of .442, an on-base percentage of .500 and a slugging percentage of .779.

Julianne Rurka, Benet — The freshman third baseman, who was in both the fifth and sixth spots in Benet’s lineup, ended up first in batting average (.472) and tied Maeve McGuire with five home runs. She also posted 38 hits, 41 RBI, hit 22 doubles, had an on-base percentage of .493 and a slugging percentage of .743. The East Suburban Catholic Conference first-teamer also struck out just five times all season.

Allyson Staats, Benet — This four-year varsity starting pitcher capped her career with 58 career wins and a program-best 29 wins this year in Benet’s state playoff run. The Union College-bound East Suburban Catholic Conference first team pick finished the year with 222 strikeouts and an ERA of 1.48. The senior, who coach Jerry Schilf called the “glue” of the team, did damage in the No. 3 spot with 34 RBI, 17 doubles, 54 hits, four home runs and a batting average of .397.

Caitlyn Warren, Naperville North — The center fielder had a knack for game-winning hits, collecting eight at the No. 3 slot while batting .361 with 35 hits, six homers and 32 RBI. The junior earned DuPage Valley all-conference honors for the second consecutive season and has verbally committed to Wisconsin. Coach Jerry Kedziora said her defense was just as good as her offense, and that many teams did not want to run on her.

Alyssa Wunderlich, Naperville Central — The SIU-bound pitcher tossed three one-hitters before finally getting that no-hitter in early May against Glenbard East. She recorded 11 of her 210 total strikeouts this season in that game. The senior DuPage Valley Conference selection finished 15-7 with eight shutouts and an 0.89 ERA.

HONORABLE
MENTION

Jenn Faassen, Metea Valley — The junior catcher finished with 44 hits, four home runs, 34 RBI, scored 26 runs, had a batting average of .449, an on-base percentage of .522 and a slugging percentage of .673.

Tara Degl’Innocenti, Naperville North — The junior catcher stepped up toward the end of the season and ended up on DVC honorable mention for the second straight season. Her five home runs were third best in program history. She also tied teammate Caitlyn Warren for second in RBI (32) for a season. She had 32 hits with a batting average of .337 and recorded four game-winning hits.

Nicole Kappelman, Naperville Central — Coach Andy Nussbaum called this junior one of the best leadoff batters he’s coached. The second baseman scored 25 runs, had 28 hits, a batting average of .354, drew a team-high 20 walks.

Amanda Lack, Waubonsie Valley — The lone freshman on the Warriors batted up and down the lineup most of the season and was an outfielder and designated player. She ended up with 38 hits, a .388 batting average, 23 RBI, eight doubles, a .541 slugging percentage and a .404 on-base percentage.

Marissa Panko, Benet — The shortstop had a solid freshman year. She batted .380, scored 25 runs, with 34 hits, 17 RBI, and eight stolen bases. In the supersectional game against Richards, she hit an RBI single and double in the 4-1 victory. Coach Jerry Schilf called her an up-and-comer whose defense took away other teams’ slap hitters.

Kat Widup, Neuqua Valley — The junior left fielder, who usually batted at the top of the lineup, finished with 40 hits, 17 RBI, scored 25 runs and batted .421. She made just one error all season. She has verbally committed to play at Loyola.

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