Wheeler has big cleats to fill

Updated: March 28, 2011 9:38AM

The GSSC is home to seven state finalist teams over the last five years (Wheeler twice, Whiting four times and Bishop Noll once), including the defending Class 2A state champion Bearcats.

It will be tough to add to that number this season, but at least one of those teams could have a shot.

Wheeler, though, will have to work hard to repeat last year's magical after losing two-time Post-Tribune player of the year Lanay Parks and three other key seniors. But they will have at least four starters returning, including Caitlin Herzog (.337, 16 RBI) and pitcher Emily Bisch (7-0 record, 1.11 ERA).

"We were hit hard by graduation, but we've had very good players in the program that had a hard time cracking last year's lineup," Wheeler coach Marc Bruner said.

Noll hopes to be the 2A team that emulates Wheeler's success. The Warriors return several key players, including outfielder Rose Mullaney (.390, 26 RBI) and pitcher Vanessa Hartzell (14-8, 1.42 ERA, 243 strikeouts).

Hartzell was one of the area's top pitchers last season, and if the hitting is as potent as last season, coach Ralph Laramie could get his second regional title.

Whiting had three key graduations, but the biggest loss will be coach Paul Laub's longtime friend and assistant Bruce Stewart. He was almost as much of a mainstay in the dugout as Laub. But he could be looking down on another long Oilers postseason run.

They return the battery of catcher Amanda Blackwell (.431, 33 RBI) and pitcher Ashley Pokraka (14-5, 1.52 ERA, 218 strikeouts), who was also a pretty good hitter with a .392 average and 37 runs batted in. In fact, Whiting's No. 3, 4, 5 and 6 hitters in the lineup are all back.

Those three top teams in the GSSC need to watch out for Calumet, which has been gradually improving the last two years. After going 7-7 in the conference last year, the Warriors return top pitcher Kaitlyn Magiera (17-12) and top hitter Misty Alvarado (.540).

"We have set some very high goals this year," coach Ryan Vondrak said. "The attitude is, ‘Why not? We deserve this.'"

After her first year at the helm, North Newton coach Amanda (Wendlinger) Suarez is optimistic about getting better. Her squad is coming off a 15-11 season with pitcher Allyson Leach, leadoff hitter Alyssia Powers and shortstop Morgan Lang returning.

"We are very young, but we have the talent to be strong," Suarez said. "I believe many teams may underestimate us."

Second-year River Forest coach Courtney Quigg will have multiple athletes coming back to help with the rebuilding process. Seniors Anna Dema (.360) and Katie Buehler (.430), who was a P-T all-area basketball player, should lead the offense while senior Jessica Perez is back after not playing her junior season. Quigg is especially optimistic at having seven seniors on the roster and no key graduating players.

It's all about numbers for second-year Lake Station coach Linda Llewellyn. Never mind the 6-15 record (3-14 GSSC) last season and that she has top pitcher Nicole Frizzell and top hitter Megan Tenorio back. What impresses Llewellyn most is the number of players out for the squad.

"We have to make cuts this year, which is a result of a program that is turning things around," she said. "We have eight incoming freshman, some with many years of playing experience."

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