High school softball: Glenbard South, Glenbard West, Wheaton North, Wheaton Warrenville South among area teams ready for season

The high school softball season is in its early stages, and teams from across the state are on a journey they hope will lead to a trip to the state finals. Here is the outlook for Glenbard South, Glenbard West, Wheaton North, Wheaton Warrenville South and other area teams this season:

Glenbard South Raiders

Coach: Julie Fonda

2015 record: 25-9

TOP PLAYERS

Name Year Pos.

Payton Carli sr. CF

Mady Carli so. LF/2B

Ashley Cohen sr. P/SS

Bailee Flanagan so. 1B

Reilee Flanagan sr. RF

Aly Miller sr. C/3B

Kate Mora so. 2B

Outlook: Payton Carli and Ashley Cohen are entering their fourth varsity seasons, and that is just scraping the surface for the Raiders, who have familiar faces at nearly every spot on the diamond. "We have returners from last year that will all play a lot," head coach Julie Fonda said. Carli hit .492 last season with 20 RBIs and a team-high 49 runs scored. Cohen (.396), Reilee Flanagan (.345) and Mady Carli (.333) all hit for average last season and are back in the mix. Payton Carli (40), Mady Carli (16), Bailee Flanagan (14) and Cohen (12) finished with double-digit stolen bases last season, and speed is an asset Fonda plans to use this season. "Our speed on the bases and put-the-ball-in-play mentality will help us put pressure on our opponents," she said. After going 7-4 as South's No. 2 pitcher last season, Cohen will take over as the main hurler this season, and she should be helped out by a solid defense.

Glenbard West Hilltoppers

Coach: Mary McGrane

2015 record: 12-19

TOP PLAYERS

Name Year Pos.

Lexi Gregule so. OF

Bridget McGregor sr. IF

Kaitlyn Ohrnstein sr. OF

Katherine Porter jr. IF

Amanda Posegay sr. IF

Outlook: The future is now for the Hilltoppers with six sophomores on the roster, but seniors Maggie Bachochin, Bridget McGregor, Kaitlyn Ohrnstein, Amanda Posegay, Frankie Severyns and Sophie Severyns will set the tone this season. "I think our strength right now is senior leadership," head coach Mary McGrane said. "These seniors understand what it takes to play and compete at the varsity level and they are helping the younger players." All the seniors played extensively last season, and that experience should come in handy with some new faces taking over pitching duties. "We are young in the circle – two to three sophomores will all get innings – so we will have to be strong defensively behind them," McGrane said. McGrane said she expects the lineup to remain in flux leading up to West Suburban Silver play April 20 in an effort to find the best combination to help the Hilltoppers be competitive in conference.

St. Francis Spartans

Coach: Ralph Remus

2015 record: 24-5

TOP PLAYERS

Name Year Pos.

Fiona Summers sr. C

Shelby Winkelman so. P/3B

Bailey Zydek sr. P

Outlook: Pitching is a big part of softball success, and St. Francis looks to be set in that category with Bailey Zydek and Shelby Winkelman in the mix. Zydek posted a 6-1 record last season. Pitching prowess will be even more crucial this season as seven of the 12 players on the Spartans' roster are freshmen or sophomores. Fiona Summer brings experience behind the plate, but she, Zydek, Madeline Fitzgerald and Emma Johnson are the only seniors. Like the roster, the schedule has a new look this season. After playing in the Suburban Christian Conference, the Spartans will move into the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference, where they will play in the White Division along with De La Salle, DePaul Prep, Queen of Peace, Regina Dominican and Rosary.

West Chicago Wildcats

Coach: Kim Wallner

2015 record: 11-18

TOP PLAYERS

Name Year Pos.

Sam Michiels sr. 3B

Maddie Smith jr. SS

Outlook: With Sam Michiels and Maddie Smith the only returning varsity players, the Wildcats may need some time to figure things out this season. Indeed, West Chicago was 0-4 in its first four games of the season. Scoring runs was not an issue as the Wildcats scored 24 runs in a doubleheader against Willowbrook on March 28, but they gave up 27 runs in the two games. There are four freshmen and a sophomore on the team, and they will have opportunities to contribute right away. Isabelle Zentner is the sophomore who is expected to be a key part of the pitching staff along with juniors Taylor DeHaeseleer and Cassidy Murphy. All three saw time in the circle last season but will fill larger roles this year.

Wheaton Academy Warriors

Coach: Sammy Marshall

2015 record: 14-14

TOP PLAYERS

Name Year Pos.

Madison Ebeling so. SS

Meghan Gagliano jr. CF

Courtney Kinnane so. P

Andi Pivaronas jr. P

Haleigh VanWagner so. C

Outlook: The Warriors played .500 ball last season but are poised for more success in Sammy Marshall's first season as coach. Madison Ebeling (Loyola) and Meghan Gagliano (Charleston Southern) already have made college commitments, and pitchers Courtney Kinnane and Andi Pivaronas are back. "Our pitching staff is solid," Marshall said. "They complement each other well. We will be very good this year if we play well behind these two pitchers." The defense should be solid with Haleigh VanWagner (catcher), Ebeling (shortstop) and Gagliano (center field) up the middle. There are six sophomores and two freshmen with the varsity this season, but leadership shouldn't be an issue. "Our three captains – Giselle Rocha, Andi Pivaronas and Meghan Gagliano – are great leaders and unite the team well," Marshall said.

Wheaton North Falcons

Coach: Danielle Soraghan

2015 record: 12-22

TOP PLAYERS

Name Year Pos.

Alleghia Burau jr. SS

Taylor Gaimari sr. 1B

Sarah Gorzak jr. P

Natalie Shirley sr. C

Maggie Will sr. CF

Outlook: With five starters back, the Falcons look to be in prime position to improve on their overall record and 8-6 DuPage Valley Conference mark of a season ago. Maggie Will returns to anchor the lineup after batting .303 with 32 RBIs last season. Alleghia Burau scored 20 runs last season, and Sarah Gorzak was in the circle for 10 pitching wins last year. Taylor Gaimari and Natalie Shirley also return. "Our team this season has experience playing at an intense level," Soraghan said. "They look forward to coming together and playing hard this season." Wheaton North dropped its first four games of the season, though those losses came against tough teams Glenbard South, Geneva and Downers Grove North in a doubleheader. Head coach Danielle Soraghan hopes the tough early schedule and the experience on the team will pay dividends down the road, especially in a DVC that adds Metea Valley, Neuqua Valley and Waubonsie Valley this season.

Wheaton Warrenville South Tigers

Coach: Jeff Pawlak

2015 record: 10-23

TOP PLAYERS

Name Year Pos.

Maya Keating sr. SS

Maddie Trost sr. P/3B

Sydney Young sr. CF

Outlook: College-committed players Maya Keating (St. Cloud State), Maddie Trost (University of Indianapolis) and Sydney Young (Bradley) will fuel a speedy lineup that head coach Jeff Pawlak plans to keep active on the base paths. "We have some good speed in our lineup, especially at the top with some girls who get on base quite a bit and put a lot of pressure on the defense," the coach said. Keating batted .400 last season, with Young (.365) and Trost (.340) not far behind. Those three will lead the way, but Pawlak will be looking for others to step up at the plate and in the field this season. "We have some returning players who have an opportunity to build on their seasons from last year," the coach said. If South is to have sustained success throughout the season, it can't rely only on offense; defense and pitching also will be key. "Our pitching will need to be consistent and be able to allow our defense to make plays," Pawlak said. "Throwing strikes and getting ahead will be a big factor toward our success."