Post by Homer Hawks Site Administrator on Mar 26, 2009 7:20:58 GMT -5
Congratulations to all the Hawks mentioned in the below article I saw an another website ... and CONGRATS to all our college bound student athletes!
There are a few reasons for dubbing Lockport the first No. 1 team of the 2009 softball season, among them myriad college signees, depth at virtually every position, and a proven history that when the talent is obviously there, impressive results will follow.
The clincher was this: When Porters coach Marissa Chovanec spoke about her top returning players, she couldn't do it all in one breath. In fact, it took a few to recite the names and attributes of 10 returning (and significant) players.
"Oh, we're excited," Chovanec said. "On top of the senior class, we have some pretty talented juniors coming up from the sophomore team, which was 34-2 last year. We have high hopes for these kids and our goal is to have a championship season."
To get there, the Porters will face many challenges, more than a couple out of the SouthWest Suburban Conference.
Sandburg, which we're starting out at No. 2, has one of the most prolific pitchers in the state in Brittany Gardner and a supporting cast of veterans. No. 3 Marist has five returning seniors who put up big numbers last season.
Katie Meader is very excited about her No. 4 Lincoln-Way East Griffins. And while defending Class 4A champion Lincoln-Way Central is rebuilding, coach Dick Mandella doesn't usually make it a long process.
Here's a closer look at the first SouthtownStar softball Top 10 of 2009:
1. Lockport
Roll call, please:
Dana Bowler, a Ferris State signee, is back on the mound. Allison Shimkus, an Aurora University signee, is too. So are first baseman Maggie Dugan (Indiana University); center fielder Morgan Kramerich (Ferris State); outfielder/third baseman Brittaney Gonsoulin (Southeast Missouri State); and second baseman Kayleigh Bertram (Grand Valley State).
That's just the beginning for a Porters team that may be as stacked as any in the storied program's history, including the 1997 and 2004 state champions.
There's junior shortstop Amanda Stanton, who has verbally committed to Western Michigan University. Samantha Stanicek, a Southern Illinois University recruit, is back behind the plate. Pitcher Alyssa Vorel and DP/outfielder Megan Jones make it an even 10 regulars who are returning to try to improve on a 29-7 campaign in 2008.
"My hopes are that we're able to stay healthy, unlike last year when we were plagued with injuries but were still able to bounce back from them," Chovanec said. "The ultimate goal is to win the small battles in our conference, which will prepare us for the postseason battle. Then we will hopefully make a return downstate with a chance of victory."
2. Sandburg
Head coach Jim Fabianski is so tight-lipped about the prospects for his Eagles that he included just one name - staff ace Brittany Gardner - on a survey he returned at the beginning of preseason practice. Upon further prodding, he allowed that OF Morgan Biel and 1B/C Lexi Bryant had lineup spots locked up. Other than that, he wouldn't commit.
"I don't want to make any promises to anybody," he said. "We're working things out. The talent is there. We're going to be good. It's just a matter of who's going where."
Gardner, a junior, was 24-5 with 278 strikeouts and an ERA of 0.56 in 188 innings in 2008. Bryant, a sophomore, is a power hitter, while Biel is one of the team's more consistent hitters. Nikki Abramovske, Ashley Ballard, Erin Cotter, Nicole Hurley and Brooke Spencer return. A newcomer to watch is sophomore P/IF Lora Olson, the younger sister of former Sandburg stars Sara and Anna Olson.
3. Marist
The RedHawks are three-deep in college-committed talent with Lewis University-bound SS Michelle Vucsko, University of Illinois-bound OF Erin Bradarich and Carthage College-bound 3B Katie Paulmeyer. Add sophomore 2B Rikki Alcaraz, who sparkled on the varsity last year, and you've got a good core of players for coach Denise Fasano to build around.
How quickly the sophomore pitching duo of Keegan Walsh (who transferred from Marian Catholic) and Stephanie Gierman adapt to front line roles will be a key.
"We're working and we're prepared mentally and physically," Fasano said. "Now and throughout the rest of the season it's on their end to come mentally and physically prepared every day, and continue to believe in us and our coaching. We'll take it from there as a team."
4. Lincoln-Way East
Grand Valley State-bound OF Nellie Kosola, Quincy-bound 2B Monica Gray, Aurora University-bound SS Caroline Calabrese, Bethel College-bound 3B Melissa Gunderson and junior P Caitlin Santefort lead the way for the Griffins, who will be looking to improve on last year's 18-9 mark.
First baseman Alex Fjeldheim completes an all-senior infield, while Marian Catholic transfer Megan Butler, a sophomore, and senior Alexa Harke will share time behind the plate. Kosola has youngsters to help her in the outfield with juniors Tiffany Zumpf and Alexis Filippo and sophomore Jill Reid.
5. Lincoln-Way Central
Senior P Jackie Dugan enters her fourth season on the varsity for the defending Class 4A state champion. She, along with senior OF Desi DeMarco and junior IF Gina Brown, will be trying to lead the rebuilding process that sees coach Dick Mandella replacing seven graduated starters. Brown is just getting back on the field after shoulder surgery, but should be at full strength by April.
"We're still a work in progress," Mandella said. "We've got a lot of kids who are kind of close to each other in talent, so we might not know a whole lot (about the regular lineup) until we've completed the first couple of weeks. Because we did win it last year, we realize that teams are obviously going to put forth their best effort against us. We must become solid in the infield and prove we can hit."
6. Andrew
Head coach Jim Holba has the best of both worlds with his Thunderbolts: They're young, but they're also experienced. That's particularly true of juniors Julie Love (IF), Sarah Benak (OF) and pitchers Megan Schapiro and Breanna McGee. All are in their third season as varsity players. Add to that St. Xavier-bound senior shortstop Kate Mollohan and junior returnees Brooke McDermoot and Alex Washkowiak and the foundation is there for an even better campaign than the 19-13 in 2008.
"We need to continue to make solid contact at the plate and use our speed to manufacture runs, as well as the girls getting used to each other on defense," Holba said in an e-mail. "As long as we take advantage of our talents and play solid defense behind our control pitchers we should be OK."
7. Richards
Julie Folliard has had 20 consecutive winning seasons as the head coach of the Bulldogs. With eight returning starters, there is no reason to think this won't be her 21st.
Roosevelt University-bound senior P Stephanie Gatton has great ball movement and, on average, strikes out more than one batter per inning. Senior 2B Ashley Tenerelli is going to St. Ambrose University on both a softball and bowling scholarship. Carli O'Toole, Katie Ferguson, Jourdan Kaminski, Molly Hankes, Danielle Dace and newcomer Brianna LeBeau are also among the Bulldogs to watch.
8. Oak Forest
The Bengals return five marquee players from their 22-8 2008 squad, including Northern Illinois University-bound senior SS Amanda Sheppard. C/3B Alyssa Prucak and OFs Haylee Swanson and Amy Zalud are two other senior leaders, while sophomore Emily Norton is coming off of a fantastic freshman varsity debut on the mound.
"We have really high hopes for this season," Oak Forest coach Paige Stryczek said in an e-mail. "The girls are working hard to prepare themselves for games and pressure situations. We are lead by a core group of returning players who know what it takes and our underclassmen are eager to learn."
9. Beecher
You don't lose an Alex Lagesse to graduation and not feel the effects, but if the Bobcats do backslide from their 29-7 mark in 2008, it won't be far. Among the returnees for head coach Kevin Hayhurst are four girls - seniors Jennifer Hermanson and Samantha Ores and sophomores Skyler Woods and Samantha Nissen - who hit over .300. Hermanson was among the area's best at .430.
"We have a lot of young kids with talent that can hit and play defense," Hayhurst said in an e-mail. "The pitching will be split among three sophomores with no previous varsity experience. As they improve and gain some confidence, our team will get a lot better."
10. Stagg
The Chargers have exploded out of the gates in 2009, totaling 30 runs in their first three games. They're got a dynamite lineup that includes sophomore phenom Faith Johnson and senior Jessica Roubik in the No. 3 and 4 slots. Roubik moved from 1B to C. Junior Ashley Yaros takes over full-time on the mound, while senior 2B Emily Cikowski brings .400 potential to the plate. Sophomores Victoria Dellorto and Lea LaSota have both already hit home runs.
"We have a good mix of experienced and young players," Stagg coach Jen Tyrrell said in an e-mail. "We have some solid senior leadership. Our sophomore class will make a huge impact. They'll have to grow up fast, though, if we're going to be competitive in the SouthWest Suburban Conference."
There are a few reasons for dubbing Lockport the first No. 1 team of the 2009 softball season, among them myriad college signees, depth at virtually every position, and a proven history that when the talent is obviously there, impressive results will follow.
The clincher was this: When Porters coach Marissa Chovanec spoke about her top returning players, she couldn't do it all in one breath. In fact, it took a few to recite the names and attributes of 10 returning (and significant) players.
"Oh, we're excited," Chovanec said. "On top of the senior class, we have some pretty talented juniors coming up from the sophomore team, which was 34-2 last year. We have high hopes for these kids and our goal is to have a championship season."
To get there, the Porters will face many challenges, more than a couple out of the SouthWest Suburban Conference.
Sandburg, which we're starting out at No. 2, has one of the most prolific pitchers in the state in Brittany Gardner and a supporting cast of veterans. No. 3 Marist has five returning seniors who put up big numbers last season.
Katie Meader is very excited about her No. 4 Lincoln-Way East Griffins. And while defending Class 4A champion Lincoln-Way Central is rebuilding, coach Dick Mandella doesn't usually make it a long process.
Here's a closer look at the first SouthtownStar softball Top 10 of 2009:
1. Lockport
Roll call, please:
Dana Bowler, a Ferris State signee, is back on the mound. Allison Shimkus, an Aurora University signee, is too. So are first baseman Maggie Dugan (Indiana University); center fielder Morgan Kramerich (Ferris State); outfielder/third baseman Brittaney Gonsoulin (Southeast Missouri State); and second baseman Kayleigh Bertram (Grand Valley State).
That's just the beginning for a Porters team that may be as stacked as any in the storied program's history, including the 1997 and 2004 state champions.
There's junior shortstop Amanda Stanton, who has verbally committed to Western Michigan University. Samantha Stanicek, a Southern Illinois University recruit, is back behind the plate. Pitcher Alyssa Vorel and DP/outfielder Megan Jones make it an even 10 regulars who are returning to try to improve on a 29-7 campaign in 2008.
"My hopes are that we're able to stay healthy, unlike last year when we were plagued with injuries but were still able to bounce back from them," Chovanec said. "The ultimate goal is to win the small battles in our conference, which will prepare us for the postseason battle. Then we will hopefully make a return downstate with a chance of victory."
2. Sandburg
Head coach Jim Fabianski is so tight-lipped about the prospects for his Eagles that he included just one name - staff ace Brittany Gardner - on a survey he returned at the beginning of preseason practice. Upon further prodding, he allowed that OF Morgan Biel and 1B/C Lexi Bryant had lineup spots locked up. Other than that, he wouldn't commit.
"I don't want to make any promises to anybody," he said. "We're working things out. The talent is there. We're going to be good. It's just a matter of who's going where."
Gardner, a junior, was 24-5 with 278 strikeouts and an ERA of 0.56 in 188 innings in 2008. Bryant, a sophomore, is a power hitter, while Biel is one of the team's more consistent hitters. Nikki Abramovske, Ashley Ballard, Erin Cotter, Nicole Hurley and Brooke Spencer return. A newcomer to watch is sophomore P/IF Lora Olson, the younger sister of former Sandburg stars Sara and Anna Olson.
3. Marist
The RedHawks are three-deep in college-committed talent with Lewis University-bound SS Michelle Vucsko, University of Illinois-bound OF Erin Bradarich and Carthage College-bound 3B Katie Paulmeyer. Add sophomore 2B Rikki Alcaraz, who sparkled on the varsity last year, and you've got a good core of players for coach Denise Fasano to build around.
How quickly the sophomore pitching duo of Keegan Walsh (who transferred from Marian Catholic) and Stephanie Gierman adapt to front line roles will be a key.
"We're working and we're prepared mentally and physically," Fasano said. "Now and throughout the rest of the season it's on their end to come mentally and physically prepared every day, and continue to believe in us and our coaching. We'll take it from there as a team."
4. Lincoln-Way East
Grand Valley State-bound OF Nellie Kosola, Quincy-bound 2B Monica Gray, Aurora University-bound SS Caroline Calabrese, Bethel College-bound 3B Melissa Gunderson and junior P Caitlin Santefort lead the way for the Griffins, who will be looking to improve on last year's 18-9 mark.
First baseman Alex Fjeldheim completes an all-senior infield, while Marian Catholic transfer Megan Butler, a sophomore, and senior Alexa Harke will share time behind the plate. Kosola has youngsters to help her in the outfield with juniors Tiffany Zumpf and Alexis Filippo and sophomore Jill Reid.
5. Lincoln-Way Central
Senior P Jackie Dugan enters her fourth season on the varsity for the defending Class 4A state champion. She, along with senior OF Desi DeMarco and junior IF Gina Brown, will be trying to lead the rebuilding process that sees coach Dick Mandella replacing seven graduated starters. Brown is just getting back on the field after shoulder surgery, but should be at full strength by April.
"We're still a work in progress," Mandella said. "We've got a lot of kids who are kind of close to each other in talent, so we might not know a whole lot (about the regular lineup) until we've completed the first couple of weeks. Because we did win it last year, we realize that teams are obviously going to put forth their best effort against us. We must become solid in the infield and prove we can hit."
6. Andrew
Head coach Jim Holba has the best of both worlds with his Thunderbolts: They're young, but they're also experienced. That's particularly true of juniors Julie Love (IF), Sarah Benak (OF) and pitchers Megan Schapiro and Breanna McGee. All are in their third season as varsity players. Add to that St. Xavier-bound senior shortstop Kate Mollohan and junior returnees Brooke McDermoot and Alex Washkowiak and the foundation is there for an even better campaign than the 19-13 in 2008.
"We need to continue to make solid contact at the plate and use our speed to manufacture runs, as well as the girls getting used to each other on defense," Holba said in an e-mail. "As long as we take advantage of our talents and play solid defense behind our control pitchers we should be OK."
7. Richards
Julie Folliard has had 20 consecutive winning seasons as the head coach of the Bulldogs. With eight returning starters, there is no reason to think this won't be her 21st.
Roosevelt University-bound senior P Stephanie Gatton has great ball movement and, on average, strikes out more than one batter per inning. Senior 2B Ashley Tenerelli is going to St. Ambrose University on both a softball and bowling scholarship. Carli O'Toole, Katie Ferguson, Jourdan Kaminski, Molly Hankes, Danielle Dace and newcomer Brianna LeBeau are also among the Bulldogs to watch.
8. Oak Forest
The Bengals return five marquee players from their 22-8 2008 squad, including Northern Illinois University-bound senior SS Amanda Sheppard. C/3B Alyssa Prucak and OFs Haylee Swanson and Amy Zalud are two other senior leaders, while sophomore Emily Norton is coming off of a fantastic freshman varsity debut on the mound.
"We have really high hopes for this season," Oak Forest coach Paige Stryczek said in an e-mail. "The girls are working hard to prepare themselves for games and pressure situations. We are lead by a core group of returning players who know what it takes and our underclassmen are eager to learn."
9. Beecher
You don't lose an Alex Lagesse to graduation and not feel the effects, but if the Bobcats do backslide from their 29-7 mark in 2008, it won't be far. Among the returnees for head coach Kevin Hayhurst are four girls - seniors Jennifer Hermanson and Samantha Ores and sophomores Skyler Woods and Samantha Nissen - who hit over .300. Hermanson was among the area's best at .430.
"We have a lot of young kids with talent that can hit and play defense," Hayhurst said in an e-mail. "The pitching will be split among three sophomores with no previous varsity experience. As they improve and gain some confidence, our team will get a lot better."
10. Stagg
The Chargers have exploded out of the gates in 2009, totaling 30 runs in their first three games. They're got a dynamite lineup that includes sophomore phenom Faith Johnson and senior Jessica Roubik in the No. 3 and 4 slots. Roubik moved from 1B to C. Junior Ashley Yaros takes over full-time on the mound, while senior 2B Emily Cikowski brings .400 potential to the plate. Sophomores Victoria Dellorto and Lea LaSota have both already hit home runs.
"We have a good mix of experienced and young players," Stagg coach Jen Tyrrell said in an e-mail. "We have some solid senior leadership. Our sophomore class will make a huge impact. They'll have to grow up fast, though, if we're going to be competitive in the SouthWest Suburban Conference."