Most of the big names that have dominated the softball scene for the past couple of years have moved on.
So while questions of how four classes will change the postseason, parity seems to be the key for the 2008 season.
The first day games could be played was March 10, when there was snow and ice on the ground. Talk about March madness. Everybody has holes to fill and what teams are standing for the Final Fours in East Peoria will be determined by who does patchwork best.
Two area pitchers who have won state titles are back — Beecher’s Valparaiso-bound Alex Lagesse, who hurled the Ladycats to the Class A title last spring, and Oak Park’s Loyola-bound Seana Stillson, who pitched the Huskies to the Class AA title in 2005.
The preseason No. 1 nod goes to Plainfield Central. Coach Anne Campbell’s Wildcats have as potent a 1-2 punch as anyone with Michigan-bound shortstop Stephanie Kirkpatrick (.354), a three-time all-conference third baseman who is moving over, and junior second baseman Taylor Tooley (.473), a first-team Sun-Times All-Area selection last spring.
Plainfield also has a 1-2 punch in the circle with Brittany Adcox, who was 16-4 last season and is headed to Benedictine, and Julia Fink, who signed with Valdosta State. She was 9-1 in 2007 and played a lot of first base while recovering from elbow surgery.
There has been a big turnover in coaches. Some of the best players the area produced in recent years — Stagg’s Jen Tyrell, Glenbard South’s Julie Fonda, Marist’s Denise Fasano, Lincoln-Way East’s Katie (Blackmore) Meader, Mother McAuley’s Colleen Kilduff, Thornwood’s Tahria Saafir, Oak Forest’s Paige (Shemoski) Stryczek, Joliet’s Laurie Markatos-Pappas, Ag. Science's Jenny Markatos, Eisenhower’s Jen Degliomini and Shepard’s Gina (Salvatori) O’Brien — are now head coaches.
1 | PLAINFIELD CENTRAL: Campbell has to replace six graduated seniors. Look for catcher Ali Lukasek, outfielder Felicia Camacho and juniors Nancy Carrington and Kali Pasternak to pick up some of the slack.
‘‘There are some holes to fill, but this team has high expectations,” Campbell said. “Last year’s team set a school record for wins [29].”
2 | OAK PARK: Stillson (16-6, 0.87 ERA) and Sara Hutchinson (12-1, 1.35 ERA) are a formidable pair of pitchers. Behind the plate, coach Mel Kolbusz has Lauren Gonzalez (.342) and junior Mara Blesoff (.330). Also back for the West Suburban Silver champs are outfielder Kim Grimes and infielder Megan White. Other juniors looking to make an impact are Janie Brennan, Maggie Paoli, Elanya Citko and Asia Babbington.
3 | STAGG: After two years as an assistant, Tyrell takes over and has eight starters back from a team that won 20 games last year. The Chargers are very strong with Bradley-bound infielders Jackie Roth at third base and Julie Sherman at second. Between them is freshman Faith Johnson, who Tyrell said, ‘‘could be one of the best infielders to ever come out of Stagg.” Catcher Carli Raisutis (Grand Valley State), pitcher Trisha Klutcharch and outfielders Emily Cikowski and Liz Payonk could make their rookie coach’s season one to remember.
4 | BARTLETT: Almost everyone is back for coach Jim Wolfsmith’s Elite Eight qualifier including pitcher Lauren Wydra (23-5, 0.58 ERA, 289 K in 206.2 innings) and Illinois State commit Elizabeth Kay, a junior, who hit .449 last season. Also back are first baseman Rachel Anello, shortstop Callie Dennison, third baseman Megan Morales, whose grand slam was the big blow in a sectional final upset of Lake Park, and outfielder Concetta Lampugnano.
5 | RESURRECTION: The Bandits last to eventual state champion Normal in nine innings in last year’s Class AA quarterfinals. Returning is junior ace Hana Somogyi, who was 25-2 last season with an ERA of 0.93, and batted .455. Coach Mike Marrese’s GCAC champions also return catcher Nicki Nadrowski (.408), outfielders Ashley Szyska (.330) and Mia Henderson (.355) and second baseman Sarah Cademartori (.299).
6 | LOCKPORT: Last year’s 18-15 is a distant memory for a program that has been among the state’s elite for more than two decades. Coach Marissa Chovanec’s Porters return DePaul-bound center fielder Katelyn Braget, Illinois State-bound shortstop Rebecca Baltikas and a very talented group of experienced juniors led by pitcher Dana Bowler, catcher Samantha Stanicek and second baseman Kayleigh Bertram. Watch sophomore shortstop Amanda Stanton, who is back after a back injury last spring.
7 | DOWNERS GROVE SOUTH: Coach Ron Havelka’s teams are always in the hunt. Brooke Andresen moves from shortstop to center field and both pitchers, Karissa Habel and Jessi Bozek return with catcher Kayla Gull and infielders Kaelene Curry and Ashley Dec. Keep an eye on freshman outfielder Marissa Mersch.
8 | BEECHER: Lagesse was 21-3 last year and was born to play softball. Her father, former Thornwood coach and current athletic director Gary Lagesse won three state softball titles in the 1990s. Ladycats’ coach Kevin Hayhurst, who was Eddy Curry’s high school basketball coach at Thornwood, has some rebuilding to do, but a load of young talent to do it with. Beecher will be a big factor in Class 2A.
9 | LAKE PARK: The Lancers have some answers with Iowa-bound pitcher Missy Mazur, who committed as a junior and was 26-4 last season while batting .464, and DePaul-bound infielder Lynsey Ciezki, who gave a verbal to Blue Demons coach Eugene Lenti when she was a sophomore. Last year, moving from second base to shortstop, the multi-sport standout batted .478 with 26 stolen bases.
10 | ELK GROVE: Veteran coach Ken Grams has eight starters back from a team that won 30 games last season led by sophomore pitcher Stephanie Maday, sophomore shortstop Olivia Roback and junior second baseman Caitlin Garrison will have the Grenadiers strong up the middle. A freshman to watch is Jessica Balzano.
11 | GLENBARD SOUTH: Coach Julie Fonda calls senior ace Jill Trzaska, ‘‘a top pitcher in the state.” after going 22-4 with a school record 228 strikeouts. Also back is center fielder Nikki Simpson, catcher Jess Fojolek, infielder Emily Braem and junior outfielder Lauren Podgorski. The reigning Western Sun champs figure to be a big beneficiary of four classes and one of the favorites in Class 3A.
12 | PLAINFIELD SOUTH: Eight starters are back for coach Tara Singler led by Northern Illinois-bound infielder Krista Matsui. Also returning for the Cougars are pitcher-outfielder Jackie Frey, who was injured last season, catcher Mary Giancarlo, Toya Meeder, Alyssa Schrader, Lauren Walker, and juniors Melissa Reyes and Gaby Liberatore.
13 | MARIST: The RedHawks rate an edge in the East Suburban Catholic. Jessie Marinec (Valparaiso) will share time with Michelle Vuscko (UIC) in the circle and at shortstop when they are not pitching. Catcher Katie Freeman, junior outfielder Erin Brodarich and pitcher-outfielder Alyssa Thompson also return for coach Denise Fasano. Watch for freshman infielder Rikki Alcaraz.
14 | GLENBARD NORTH: Josh Sanew takes over for retired Jim McKinney as the Panthers’ coach. With junior ace Hannah Santora and senior Stephanie Iori back, look for another strong run in the DuPage Valley. Catcher Bri DiGioia, second baseman Laura Scott, sophomore shortstop Jenny Nelson and outfielders Ashley Mottar and Elisabeth Walters return. Watch out for freshman Alyssa Jasinski.
15. BARRINGTON: The Fillies made it to the Class AA title game last year, and despite graduation taking a heavy toll, never count out a team coached by Perry Peterson. One rival said, “He just reloads.” Returning are shortstop Michal Jane Maropis, catcher Devinne Wapotisch, second baseman Jessica McGurn, outfielder Lisa Shandley and Kim Cygan, who hit a game-winning homer in last year’s supersectional and will be the No. 1 pitcher.
16 | LINCOLN-WAY EAST: Illinois State-bound catcher Bri Lizen and third baseman Lyndsey Slawkowski are the top returners from an Elite Eight qualifier. First-year coach Meader was an All-Area first team outfielder at Lockport and all-conference at Loyola U. Others to watch include Maggie Kerrigan, Jessica Iversen and Ashley Linhart. Junior Caity Niemczyk and sophomore Caitlin Santefort will contribute.
17 | LANE TECH: The Indians and coach George Stavrakas could be a breakthrough team for the Public League. Third baseman Daniella Torres signed with Miami of Ohio. Lane has two pitchers, Jazzy Camacho and sophomore Jackie Manrique. Circle April 24 when Lane is at Loyola under the lights.
18 | SANDBURG: Third baseman Brit Wolski and outfielders Taylor Dixon, Laura Christensen and Gina Gawron return. Coach Jim Fabianski is excited about sophomore Brittany Gardner and junior Nikki Abramovske, who will share the pitching duties.
19 | FREMD: Outfielder Brittany Borst and shortstop Stacey Stutzman are veterans for coach Jim Weaver. The Vikings will play as many as six or seven sophomores, many of whom got varsity experience last year, including pitcher Lena Brottman, first baseman Jessica Tackett and second baseman Lauren Zawrowski.
20 | CARMEL: Before 2007, the Corsairs had never won a regional or sectional. But led by a freshman pitcher, Rachael Tack, Carmel broke a lot of ground. With tri-captains —catcher Kelly Gerli, shortstop Kelly Cook and second baseman Caitlin Hendricks — leading the way, expectations are sky high for coach Jason Raymond’s squad. Senior Katie Cornell and sophomore Meg Grady are two others to keep an eye on.
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