Post by Homer Hawks Site Administrator on Jun 8, 2007 8:51:52 GMT -5
Congrats to Hawk stars Lauren McNulty, Zoe Sinner and former Hawks Nicole Costello and Sara Olson on this honor!
Lauren - FIRST TEAM ALL STATE --- wow!!!!!
Eagles MVP Olson class act, even in defeat
By Bob Sakamoto
Tribune staff reporter
June 8, 2007
If there were a most valuable player award for softball, Sandburg's Sara Olson would be the runaway winner.
As a pitcher, the Indiana signee was 24-3 with a 0.24 earned-run average, 17 shutouts and nearly 11 strikeouts per game.
With a bat, Olson hit .425 with 48 hits, 41 RBIs and 14 home runs -- four shy of the state's single-season record.
As with most MVPs, Olson saved perhaps her best performance for last. Long after teammates and coaches had quickly departed following a stunning 2-1 loss to Lincoln-Way East on Tuesday in the Class AA Thornwood supersectional, there was Olson -- tears streaming down her face -- answering questions from the media.
This is one student-athlete who exudes class in everything she does, which includes headlining the 2007 Chicago Tribune All-State Softball Team.
"To be considered the best player in the state -- it's an honor to be talked about like that," Olson said. "It's outstanding to be thought of as an All-State player -- like a dream come true. What I've done is play with my heart and for the love of the game."
Olson couldn't account for the power surge this spring after hitting five homers as a sophomore and three last year.
But as soon as she hit No. 7 to tie the school record, she text-messaged older sister Anna, who plays at Indiana.
"Anna had set the record, and she said: 'I'd rather it be you than anybody else,' " Sara said. "She was so proud of me, and told me to break the record by a lot."
Olson's co-pitcher on the all-Illinois dream team broke a couple records herself. Lemont ace Suzie Rzegocki pitched 14 no-hitters this season, eclipsing the 13 by Emily Alsup of Warrensburg-Latham in 1999.
Rzegocki also had 1,467 career strikeouts to wipe out the mark of 1,450 set by Dylan Mathis of Roxana from 2002-05.
"The records are nice, but I wish I could've helped my team get Downstate," said Rzegocki, whose team lost to Stagg in the regional finals.
Not only did All-State catcher Jenna Grim make it to East Peoria for the Class A quarterfinals, but her two-run single against Carterville and two-run homer against Morrison propelled the Ladycats to the championship game.
Grim, who has signed with Loyola along with twin sister Jacqueline, was red-hot in Beecher's run to the championship. In eight postseason games, the 6-foot slugger hit .740 and drove in 19 runs. On the season she batted .548 with eight home runs and 57 RBIs.
The All-State infield features Northwestern-bound power hitter Michelle Batts of Glenbard North (.487, nine homers, 40 RBIs) at first base and two more sluggers, Georgia signee Alisa Goler of Lincoln-Way East (.433, eight homers, 38 RBIs, 15 doubles) at shortstop and junior Lauren McNulty of Downers Grove North (.454, nine home runs, 36 RBIs, 14 doubles) at third base.
Second baseman Megan Murphy of Casey-Westfield hit .582 with 78 hits, 54 runs, nine doubles, eight triples and 21 stolen bases. The lefty speedster has made an oral commitment to Illinois.
DePaul landed a future leadoff batter in Oak Park center-fielder Alex Morocco, who hit .553 with 68 hits, 47 runs and 33 stolen bases.
Pitchers had difficulty stopping Troy Triad outfielder Jen Stahlhut, who batted .662 with 12 doubles, five triples and 29 RBIs.
Chatham Glenwood's Krista Kunz batted .495 and knocked in 50 runs.
---
SOFTBALL FIRST TEAM
Catcher
Jenna Grim, Beecher, sr.
Hit .548 with eight home runs and 57 RBIs for Class A champion. Batted .740 with 19 RBIs in eight playoff games. College: Loyola.
First base
Michelle Batts, Glenbard North, sr.
Intimidating athlete batted .487 with nine home runs and 40 RBIs with 11 doubles, 24 walks and 17 stolen bases. College: Northwestern.
Second base
Megan Murphy, Casey-Westfield, jr.
Sparked Casey to second in Class A, batting .582 with 78 hits, 54 runs, nine doubles, eight triples, 21 stolen bases. College: Illinois.
Shortstop
Alisa Goler, Lincoln-Way East, sr.
Led Griffins to Class AA quarterfinals, batting .433 with 15 doubles, eight home runs and 38 RBIs. College: Georgia.
Third base
Lauren McNulty, Downers Grove North, jr.
One of the state's most dangerous hitters had .454 average, nine home runs and 36 RBIs.
Outfield
Krista Kunz, Chatham Glenwood, sr.
The pride of central Illinois batted .495 with five home runs and 50 RBIs. College: Kankakee.
Alex Morocco, Oak Park, sr.
Led Oak Park to Class AA quarterfinals, hitting .553 with 68 hits, 47 runs and 33 stolen bases. College: DePaul.
Jen Stahlhut, Troy Triad, sr.
Batted .662 with 29 RBIs and 15 steals. College: Evansville.
Pitchers
Sara Olson, Sandburg, sr.
Went 24-3 with 0.24 ERA and 17 shutouts while batting .425 with 14 homers and 41 RBIs. College: Indiana.
Suzie Rzegocki, Lemont, sr.
Was 20-4 with 0.08 ERA and set state records for no-hitters in a season (14) and career strikeouts (1,467). College: Purdue.
SOFTBALL SECOND TEAM
POSITION PLAYER SCHOOL YR Catcher Michelle Weems Edwardsville Sr. First base Terra Ramsey Westville Sr. Second base Taylor Tooley Plainfield Central So. Shortstop Lynsey Ciezki Lake Park Jr. Third base Taylor Sloat Casey-Westfield Sr. Outfield Jenna Campos Prospect Sr. Outfield Jill Jacobson Beecher Sr. Outfield Zoe Sinner Downers Grove South Sr. Pitcher Amber May Normal Sr. Pitcher Claire Voris Barrington Sr. SOFTBALL SPECIAL MENTION PITCHERS Autumn Allen Belleville East Jr. Torie Benzell LaSalle-Peru Sr. Jennifer Burns Lincoln-Way East Sr. Maddie Butterfield Machesney Park Harlem Sr. Sydney Greenwalt Edwardsville Sr. Louie Haney Chatham Glenwood Sr. Brittany Hillenbrenner Murphysboro Sr. Alex Lagesse Beecher Jr. Brittany LeBeau Richards Sr. Kiley Lythberg Prospect Sr. Missy Mazur Lake Park Jr. Hana Somogyi Resurrection So. Hannah Santora Glenbard North So. Seana Stillson Oak Park Jr. Chelsey Sullivan Casey-Westfield Sr. Jami Whitcomb Taylor Ridge Rockridge Jr. CATCHERS Ali Davis Glenbard South Sr. Paula Louise Hinsdale South Jr. Lindsey Major Joliet Catholic Sr. Carly Norton Oak Forest Sr. Jackie Roth Stagg Jr. Sarah Waylock Cary-Grove Sr. Allie VadeBoncouer Kankakee Fr. INFIELDERS Alicia Abbott Lincoln-Way Central Sr. Amanda Brendel Salem Sr. Carissa Carlson Rockton Hononegah Sr. Courtney Chigaros Marist Sr. Emma Clark Morton (Ill.) So. Amanda Clifton Rock Island Alleman Sr. Andrea Colosimo Sandburg Sr. Sadie Conner Washington Sr. Nicole Costello Richards Sr. Nicole Dimiceli Lake Park Sr. Christa Gammon Belleville East Sr. Megan Glosser Mattoon Sr. Jacqueline Grim Beecher Sr. Emily Hecht Effingham Sr. Kiley Holtz Larkin Sr. Stephanie Kirkpatrick Plainfield Central Jr. Tricia Nelson Plainfield Central Sr. Shannon Powers Lake Park Sr. Christina Signore Lincoln-Way East Sr. Kayla Smith Glenbard North Sr. Abby Vock Morrison Sr. OUTFIELDERS Sophie Berman Edwardsville Jr. Sarah Hurley Plainfield Central Sr. Christine Holthus Burlington Central Sr. Kelly Petersen Willowbrook Sr. Kelly Quinn Glenbrook North Sr. Shannon Starr Lake Park Sr.
Lauren - FIRST TEAM ALL STATE --- wow!!!!!
Eagles MVP Olson class act, even in defeat
By Bob Sakamoto
Tribune staff reporter
June 8, 2007
If there were a most valuable player award for softball, Sandburg's Sara Olson would be the runaway winner.
As a pitcher, the Indiana signee was 24-3 with a 0.24 earned-run average, 17 shutouts and nearly 11 strikeouts per game.
With a bat, Olson hit .425 with 48 hits, 41 RBIs and 14 home runs -- four shy of the state's single-season record.
As with most MVPs, Olson saved perhaps her best performance for last. Long after teammates and coaches had quickly departed following a stunning 2-1 loss to Lincoln-Way East on Tuesday in the Class AA Thornwood supersectional, there was Olson -- tears streaming down her face -- answering questions from the media.
This is one student-athlete who exudes class in everything she does, which includes headlining the 2007 Chicago Tribune All-State Softball Team.
"To be considered the best player in the state -- it's an honor to be talked about like that," Olson said. "It's outstanding to be thought of as an All-State player -- like a dream come true. What I've done is play with my heart and for the love of the game."
Olson couldn't account for the power surge this spring after hitting five homers as a sophomore and three last year.
But as soon as she hit No. 7 to tie the school record, she text-messaged older sister Anna, who plays at Indiana.
"Anna had set the record, and she said: 'I'd rather it be you than anybody else,' " Sara said. "She was so proud of me, and told me to break the record by a lot."
Olson's co-pitcher on the all-Illinois dream team broke a couple records herself. Lemont ace Suzie Rzegocki pitched 14 no-hitters this season, eclipsing the 13 by Emily Alsup of Warrensburg-Latham in 1999.
Rzegocki also had 1,467 career strikeouts to wipe out the mark of 1,450 set by Dylan Mathis of Roxana from 2002-05.
"The records are nice, but I wish I could've helped my team get Downstate," said Rzegocki, whose team lost to Stagg in the regional finals.
Not only did All-State catcher Jenna Grim make it to East Peoria for the Class A quarterfinals, but her two-run single against Carterville and two-run homer against Morrison propelled the Ladycats to the championship game.
Grim, who has signed with Loyola along with twin sister Jacqueline, was red-hot in Beecher's run to the championship. In eight postseason games, the 6-foot slugger hit .740 and drove in 19 runs. On the season she batted .548 with eight home runs and 57 RBIs.
The All-State infield features Northwestern-bound power hitter Michelle Batts of Glenbard North (.487, nine homers, 40 RBIs) at first base and two more sluggers, Georgia signee Alisa Goler of Lincoln-Way East (.433, eight homers, 38 RBIs, 15 doubles) at shortstop and junior Lauren McNulty of Downers Grove North (.454, nine home runs, 36 RBIs, 14 doubles) at third base.
Second baseman Megan Murphy of Casey-Westfield hit .582 with 78 hits, 54 runs, nine doubles, eight triples and 21 stolen bases. The lefty speedster has made an oral commitment to Illinois.
DePaul landed a future leadoff batter in Oak Park center-fielder Alex Morocco, who hit .553 with 68 hits, 47 runs and 33 stolen bases.
Pitchers had difficulty stopping Troy Triad outfielder Jen Stahlhut, who batted .662 with 12 doubles, five triples and 29 RBIs.
Chatham Glenwood's Krista Kunz batted .495 and knocked in 50 runs.
---
SOFTBALL FIRST TEAM
Catcher
Jenna Grim, Beecher, sr.
Hit .548 with eight home runs and 57 RBIs for Class A champion. Batted .740 with 19 RBIs in eight playoff games. College: Loyola.
First base
Michelle Batts, Glenbard North, sr.
Intimidating athlete batted .487 with nine home runs and 40 RBIs with 11 doubles, 24 walks and 17 stolen bases. College: Northwestern.
Second base
Megan Murphy, Casey-Westfield, jr.
Sparked Casey to second in Class A, batting .582 with 78 hits, 54 runs, nine doubles, eight triples, 21 stolen bases. College: Illinois.
Shortstop
Alisa Goler, Lincoln-Way East, sr.
Led Griffins to Class AA quarterfinals, batting .433 with 15 doubles, eight home runs and 38 RBIs. College: Georgia.
Third base
Lauren McNulty, Downers Grove North, jr.
One of the state's most dangerous hitters had .454 average, nine home runs and 36 RBIs.
Outfield
Krista Kunz, Chatham Glenwood, sr.
The pride of central Illinois batted .495 with five home runs and 50 RBIs. College: Kankakee.
Alex Morocco, Oak Park, sr.
Led Oak Park to Class AA quarterfinals, hitting .553 with 68 hits, 47 runs and 33 stolen bases. College: DePaul.
Jen Stahlhut, Troy Triad, sr.
Batted .662 with 29 RBIs and 15 steals. College: Evansville.
Pitchers
Sara Olson, Sandburg, sr.
Went 24-3 with 0.24 ERA and 17 shutouts while batting .425 with 14 homers and 41 RBIs. College: Indiana.
Suzie Rzegocki, Lemont, sr.
Was 20-4 with 0.08 ERA and set state records for no-hitters in a season (14) and career strikeouts (1,467). College: Purdue.
SOFTBALL SECOND TEAM
POSITION PLAYER SCHOOL YR Catcher Michelle Weems Edwardsville Sr. First base Terra Ramsey Westville Sr. Second base Taylor Tooley Plainfield Central So. Shortstop Lynsey Ciezki Lake Park Jr. Third base Taylor Sloat Casey-Westfield Sr. Outfield Jenna Campos Prospect Sr. Outfield Jill Jacobson Beecher Sr. Outfield Zoe Sinner Downers Grove South Sr. Pitcher Amber May Normal Sr. Pitcher Claire Voris Barrington Sr. SOFTBALL SPECIAL MENTION PITCHERS Autumn Allen Belleville East Jr. Torie Benzell LaSalle-Peru Sr. Jennifer Burns Lincoln-Way East Sr. Maddie Butterfield Machesney Park Harlem Sr. Sydney Greenwalt Edwardsville Sr. Louie Haney Chatham Glenwood Sr. Brittany Hillenbrenner Murphysboro Sr. Alex Lagesse Beecher Jr. Brittany LeBeau Richards Sr. Kiley Lythberg Prospect Sr. Missy Mazur Lake Park Jr. Hana Somogyi Resurrection So. Hannah Santora Glenbard North So. Seana Stillson Oak Park Jr. Chelsey Sullivan Casey-Westfield Sr. Jami Whitcomb Taylor Ridge Rockridge Jr. CATCHERS Ali Davis Glenbard South Sr. Paula Louise Hinsdale South Jr. Lindsey Major Joliet Catholic Sr. Carly Norton Oak Forest Sr. Jackie Roth Stagg Jr. Sarah Waylock Cary-Grove Sr. Allie VadeBoncouer Kankakee Fr. INFIELDERS Alicia Abbott Lincoln-Way Central Sr. Amanda Brendel Salem Sr. Carissa Carlson Rockton Hononegah Sr. Courtney Chigaros Marist Sr. Emma Clark Morton (Ill.) So. Amanda Clifton Rock Island Alleman Sr. Andrea Colosimo Sandburg Sr. Sadie Conner Washington Sr. Nicole Costello Richards Sr. Nicole Dimiceli Lake Park Sr. Christa Gammon Belleville East Sr. Megan Glosser Mattoon Sr. Jacqueline Grim Beecher Sr. Emily Hecht Effingham Sr. Kiley Holtz Larkin Sr. Stephanie Kirkpatrick Plainfield Central Jr. Tricia Nelson Plainfield Central Sr. Shannon Powers Lake Park Sr. Christina Signore Lincoln-Way East Sr. Kayla Smith Glenbard North Sr. Abby Vock Morrison Sr. OUTFIELDERS Sophie Berman Edwardsville Jr. Sarah Hurley Plainfield Central Sr. Christine Holthus Burlington Central Sr. Kelly Petersen Willowbrook Sr. Kelly Quinn Glenbrook North Sr. Shannon Starr Lake Park Sr.
