Lady Norsemen back for more in 2020

The 2019 softball season was memorable in a lot of ways for the Newark Lady Norsemen.

First and foremost in the minds of the players, coaches and fans was the fact that the NHS gals registered the most softball wins during a campaign in school history after compiling a 26-6 overall mark as well as a 13-1, regular-season championship ledger within the Little Ten Conference without one senior.

Still, Newark — despite capturing its fourth consecutive Class 1A regional championship — couldn't match the 2004 Lady Norsemen squad as the school's only sectional title holder after falling to St. Bede in the sectional semifinals.

But with everyone back off of last year's history-making ballclub, the level of excitement is certainly brewing as to what can be accomplished this time around with a team loaded for bear.

"We talked about goals after our first practice, because I wanted to see where everyone was at in their thinking," said NHS third-year coach Tim Schofield. "I found out that everyone believes we can win a sectional championship and hopefully go beyond, and I'm totally on board with that.

"The program has won four straight regional titles, and all of us want to take that next step. We hope we can break through finally this season with a great group of players."

Leading the way for the Lady Norsemen will be senior pitcher Sophie Schomer, who has started in the circle for Newark ever since she appeared on the prep scene as a freshman.

Schomer was named to the Illinois Coaches Association Class 1A All-State First Team in 2019 after posting a sparkling 25-5 record with an ERA of 1.56 and 215 strikeouts in 178 2/3 innings. She also hit .314 with 13 doubles, 14 runs scored and 27 RBIs.

"We talked about goals on day one of practice, and it's a sectional championship for sure and a whole lot more hopefully after that," Schomer said. "We believe we'll be pretty solid in all areas with everyone back, so we're very confident about what we can achieve moving ahead this season."

Schomer will throw to junior catcher Emily Schofield, who led the team in batting (.522) along with scoring 45 runs, knocking in 36 runs and swiping 60 bases. The backstop was also tabbed ICA Class 1A All-State Second Team in 2019.

"I'm super excited for the upcoming season knowing we have so much potential to make it far with the same group we had last year," Emily Schofield said. "We're very deep on the bench, and hopefully we can take it as far as we can after our good run last year."

Senior second baseman Naomi Sweeney joined Schofield as an ICA Second Team pick in 2019 after hitting .514 along with a team-best 11 home runs, 59 runs scored and 57 RBIs. Sweeney will couple with senior shortstop Jocelyn Mitchell (.417 average) in the middle infield, who played in just 17 games as a junior due to injury.

Fleet-footed junior center fielder Skyler Chavoen is coming off a sophomore campaign where she hit .374 while scoring 43 runs with 25 RBIs and 26 stolen bases. Sophomore outfielder Kailey Wohead enjoyed a terrific freshman start, batting .386, scoring 37 runs with eight homers and 32 RBIs and will help accent Newark's offensive attack.

Key contributions can also be expected from senior first baseman Lexi Long, junior sister Morgan Long in the outfield as well as junior utility player Kaitlyn Hatteberg and sophomore infielder Kjersten Friestad.

Promising freshman pitchers Kaitlyn Schofield and Peyton Wohead should help spell Schomer in the circle, while first-year players Emily DiClementi, Bre Dixon and Taylor Kruser are highly touted on Coach Schofield's roster.

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ROSTER

No. Name Pos. Yr.

2 Mackenzie Hamer OF Sr.

25 Lexi Long 1B Sr.

20 Jocelyn Mitchell SS Sr.

0 Sophie Schomer P Sr.

11 Naomi Sweeney 2B Sr.

5 Skyler Chavoen CF Jr.

17 Kaitlyn Hatteberg UT Jr.

16 Morgan Long OF Jr.

1 Emily Schofield C Jr.

3 Emmie Akre OF So.

22 Emma Dormany OF So.

23 Kjersten Friestad 3B/1B So.

8 Kailey Wohead OF So.

10 Emily DiClementi OF Fr.

24 Bre Dixon 1B/OF Fr.

21 Taylor Kruser LF/OF Fr.

14 Kaitlyn Schofield P/OF Fr.

15 Peyton Wohead P/OF Fr.