2022 Northwest Herald softball preview capsules

Fox Valley Conference

Burlington Central

Coach: Scott Richman (third season)

Last season’s record: 11-12, 9-9 FVC (fifth)

Top returners: Rylie DuVal, sr., SS; Lauren Knief, sr., 3B; Savannah L’Huillier, sr., LF; Alyssa Becker, sr., CF; Anna Sanders, so., 2B

Key newcomers: Hannah Rindner, jr., 1B-RF

Worth noting: DuVal, who will play next year at NCAA Division III Concordia University Wisconsin, and Knief both were Northwest Herald All-Area honorable mention and All-FVC selections last spring and helped form a dynamic left side of the infield for the Rockets. Sanders also earned All-FVC recognition as a freshman. … “Expectations are high, but realistic,” Richman said. “Our team is solid and we’re excited to be back on the field. This is the FVC where quite a few teams will contend and no one can be taken for granted. We’re excited and prepared to earn every win.”

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Cary-Grove

Coach: Tammy Olson (28th season)

Last season’s record: 5-21, 4-14 FVC (ninth)

Top returners: Gwenn Moran, sr., OF-3B; Allison Garski, jr., RF; Becca Weaver, so., P-2B-SS; Madilynn Crick, so., C-OF; Emily Green, so., DH; Kaley Koltz, so., CF; Katelyn O’Malley, so., 2B-3B

Key newcomers: Mia Olson, so., P-1B; Aubrey Lonergan, fr., SS-3B

Worth noting: The Trojans are young but have more experience this year after several freshmen made an impact last spring. Two of those first-year players, Weaver and Crick, were All-Area honorable mention selections. Weaver also made the All-FVC team and hit .384, scored 20 runs and struck out 76 batters. Crick (.368 batting average) hit her first homer in a Class 4A regional semifinal win over Dundee-Crown. … “We’re still very young, but we learned a lot from last year,” Tammy Olson said. “We’ll certainly compete to be in the top half of the conference.”

Crystal Lake Central

Coach: Brian Strombom (15th season)

Last season’s record: 9-14, 7-11 FVC (tied for sixth)

Top returners: Gianna Carone, jr., P-SS; Giada Motto, so., C-3B; Courtney Schober, sr., OF-P; Payton Kramer, jr., OF; Avery Bechler, so., OF-2B

Key newcomers: Olivia Shaw, fr., P-SS; Makayla Malone, fr., P-3B

Worth noting: Strombom likes the Tigers’ pitching depth and expects a much improved defense. Central’s seven FVC wins last spring were three more than the previous season in 2019. … Motto was an All-Area honorable and All-FVC pick as a freshman, hitting a team-best .457 with 23 runs, 17 RBIs and eight stolen bases as the team’s table setter. … Carone struck out 81 over 62 innings and added 11 steals. … “We have an exciting young team with a deep pitching staff that will be able to play all phases of the game well,” Strombom said.

Crystal Lake South

Coach: Pat Kelly (second season)

Last season’s record: 16-11, 10-8 FVC (fourth)

Top returners: Alexis Pupillo, sr., C-3B; Kennedy Grippo, jr., P-SS; Molly Cook, jr., 3B-1B; Dana Skorich, so., 1B-C

Worth noting: The Gators won their second straight regional title with a 8-0 win over Woodstock North in the Class 3A Crystal Lake South Regional final. South lost to Wauconda, 4-3, in the sectional semifinals. ... Kelly said the team is thin but has lots of versatility. ... Gone for the Gators is Brooke Kuffel, an All-Area first-team pick last season. Kuffel, now at Wisconsin, hit .450 with 11 homers, six doubles, 35 RBIs and 35 runs. She was 11-8 in the circle with a 2.53 ERA and 179 strikeouts in 113 2/3 innings. ... Pupillo tied Huntley’s Briana Bower with an area-leading 13 home runs and led the Gators in batting average (.594), on-base percentage (.687), slugging percentage (1.422), doubles (10), triples (two), RBIs (37) and runs (46) in 21 games. Pupillo, who will play at D-I Northern Iowa, was an All-Area first-team pick. ... Grippo, who is verbally committed to D-III Washington University in St. Louis, was an All-Area second-team selection, hitting .438 with 39 runs scored. Cook (.387 batting average, 25 RBIs) and Skorich (.387 batting average, 36 RBIs) were All-Area honorable mention selections. ... “I’m really excited about this group of girls,” Kelly said. “This team has a tremendous pair of senior leaders, who have set a terrific example for the program. I’m excited to see what this group is able to accomplish.”

Dundee-Crown

Coach: Tracy Beatty (14th season)

Last season’s record: 2-22, 0-18 FVC (10th)

Top returners: McKayla Anderson, so., P; Kendall Brents, jr., 1B; Annabelle Pederson, so., SS; Kailyn Wiebe, sr., 3B

Key newcomers: Faith Dierwechter, fr., C

Worth noting: The Chargers have struggled against FVC competition over the past two seasons, going 3-31. ... Anderson (.450 batting average, four homers in seven games; 44 strikeouts in 29 innings pitched) was on the verge of a big freshman campaign before a season-ending injury. Wiebe was second on D-C with a .422 batting average. ... “We need [Anderson] to have a big season from the mound and batter’s box,” Beatty said. “Pederson and Wiebe both bring solid defense and a strong bat. Brents is a great first baseman, and we expect her to come through on offense. Our team goal is to improve every day and to leave our heart on the field.”

Hampshire

Coach: Jeremy Bauer (first season)

Last season’s record: 6-18, 6-12 FVC (eighth)

Top returners: Noelle Scott, sr., P-1B; Madison Kinczewski sr., C; Abby Lentz, so., IF

Key newcomers: Bria Riebel, fr., IF-C; Lily Sippel, fr., P-OF

Worth noting: Bauer takes over for Kelly Wasilewski, who led the Whip-Purs for five seasons, including a Class 3A regional title in 2016. ... Hampshire had six FVC wins for the second straight season. ... Lentz was an All-Area honorable mention and All-FVC pick as a freshman, hitting leadoff and playing all over the field at shortstop, third and center field. She hit .467 with five home runs, six doubles, 22 runs and six steals. ... The Whips graduated their other top hitter, Miki Snider (.468 batting average, six homers, 20 RBIs), now at D-I St. Thomas in Minnesota. ... Bauer is optimistic about the state of his team’s offense. “I think we should be able to score some runs and help take some of the pressure off our pitchers,” Bauer said. “Defensively, we’re still trying to get enough reps to build chemistry and determine what defensive lineup will help most.”

Huntley

Coach: Mark Petryniec (18th season)

Last season’s record: 35-7, 18-0 FVC (first)

Top returners: Reese Hunkins, sr., SS; Jori Heard, sr., P; Zoe Doherty, sr., OF-IF; Lauren Ryan, sr., OF; Clara Hudgens, jr., CF; Katie Mitchell, jr., OF; Madison Smith, jr., 3B; Alyssa Ekstrom, jr., OF; Meghan Ryan, so., C

Key newcomers: Juliana Maude, jr., P; Alyssa Roos, jr., OF; Christina Smith, so., IF; Elly Winter, so., OF; Madison Rozanski, fr., C-IF; Isabella Boskey, fr., IF-C; Sadie Svendsen, fr., IF-OF; Ava McFadden, fr., IF-OF

Worth noting: The Red Raiders return nine from last year’s Class 4A state third-place finisher. Huntley lost to eventual state champion Marist, 1-0, in the semifinals and beat Minooka, 4-3, in the third-place game. ... Huntley won the FVC crown with a perfect record. The Raiders, who are 181-45 since the start of 2015, have won six straight regional, two straight sectional and two straight supersectional titles. ... Huntley graduated its ace, Briana Bower (Mississippi State), who led all pitchers in the state last spring with 31 wins, along with 460 strikeouts. She also led her team in home runs (13) and RBIs (42). Bower finished her career at Huntley with 65 wins and 922 strikeouts over three years. ... Mitchell (D-I Loyola), an All-Area first-team selection, hit .482 with a .530 on-base percentage and led the team in hits (66), runs (50) and steals (40). Hunkins (D-I Illinois), who was an All-Area second-team pick, hit .393 with 33 RBIs, 26 runs and 15 extra-base hits. Hudgens and Heard (D-I Valparaiso) also earned All-Area second-team honors. Hudgens hit .386 with 21 RBIs and 16 steals, while Heard hit .340 with 18 RBIs and 18 steals. Heard was 4-1 in the circle with a 1.96 ERA, 74 strikeouts and nine walks in 46 1/3 innings. ... Doherty will play next year at NAIA Cardinal Stritch University. ... “We are very excited to have a sense of normalcy returning,” Petryniec said. “We’ve put together a very competitive schedule and look forward to playing against the top teams in the state.”

Jacobs

Coach: Katie O’Brien (seventh season)

Last season’s record: 23-7, 16-2 FVC (second)

Top returners: CiCi Di Silvio, jr., SS-P; Kaitlyn Wysong, jr., IF-OF; Liz Smith, jr., C-IF; Taylor Stennett, jr., C-OF; Caitlin Cook, jr., P-1B; Arya Patel, jr., UTIL; Taylor Lynch, jr., OF; Anna Cook, jr., UTIL; Hope Hernandez, so., 2B; Clare Piazza, so., OF

Key newcomers: Jori Petrone, sr., IF; Jianna Tanada, fr., IF

Worth noting: The Golden Eagles captured their first regional championship since 2012, topping Cary-Grove, 11-1, in the Class 4A Jacobs Regional final. ... Jacobs finished two games behind Huntley for the FVC title, with both of its losses to the Raiders. ... Pitching will be a question mark this year, as the Eagles graduated top starter Delaney Garden (D-II Lewis University). Garden led the team in batting average (.549), on-base percentage (.580) and slugging (.744) and was 9-1 in the circle. Jacobs also won’t have its other top pitcher, Abbey Nesnidal, back for her senior year. Nesnidal, who is committed to D-I Bellarmine University, hit .457 and led the Eagles in hits (48), triples (two), home runs (five) and RBIs (44). She won 10 games in the circle ... Di Silvio and Wysong were both All-Area honorable mention choices. ... “As we return the majority of players from our regional championship team, we’re looking to build on last year’s success,” O’Brien said. “We’re returning many knowledgeable players.”

McHenry

Coach: Mikaela Mitsch (third season)

Last season’s record: 19-10, 13-5 FVC (third)

Top returners: Abby Geis, jr., 3B; Emma Stolzman, jr., C; Channing Keppy, so. P; Cooper Ten Bruin, jr., UTIL; Gianna Buske, sr., 1B; Vanessa Buske, so., IF

Key newcomers: Olivia Townsend, so., OF

Worth noting: The Warriors earned their fourth consecutive regional title last spring with a 7-1 win over Grant in the Class 4A McHenry Regional championship. McHenry now has won a regional title in eight of the past nine seasons. ... McHenry graduated four impact players in Lauren Sena (Valparaiso), Kyra Lard (D-III Wisconsin-La Crosse), Kiana Johnson and Peyton Atwater. Lard led area players with a .656 batting average and posted a team-high 61 hits, 47 RBIs, 39 runs, 11 triples, 13 doubles and six homers. ... Sena hit .433 and scored 39 runs, along with 21 RBIs and 21 extra-base hits. ... Keppy earned All-Area second-team honors as a freshman, posting a 3.34 ERA in 115 1/3 innings. Stolzman was an All-Area honorable mention and All-FVC selection. ... “We have been together three years and know our teammates well,” Mitsch said. “We’re still young and continue to grow together. Our juniors have made huge waves and we expect them to be a force to be reckoned with by the end of the year.”

Prairie Ridge

Coach: Jim Summaria (second season)

Last season’s record: 7-13, 7-11 FVC (tied for sixth)

Top returners: Elena Smith, sr., P-2B; Hope McHugh, sr., C-1B; Mary Myers, so., 2B-P; Emily Harlow, so., 3B-SS

Key newcomers: Adysen Kiddy, fr., SS-3B; Kendra Carroll, fr., 1B-C

Worth noting: The Wolves finished sixth in the FVC for the second straight year. Prairie Ridge last won a regional title in 2018. … The Wolves graduated co-captains Bella Crimaldi (.538 batting average, 15 extra-base hits) and Nichole Kiddy (.538, 29 runs, 26 RBIs), both All-Area second-team selections. … McHugh (.421 BA) caught every inning last spring. Harlow hit .412 and drove in 16 runs. … “We have a very young team but with a lot of travel experience,” Summaria said. “We should be near the top of the [FVC] by the end of the season. It will be interesting to see how this young group gels together.”

Kishwaukee River Conference

Harvard

Coach: Becky Edinger (seventh season)

Last season’s record: 2-15, 0-10 KRC (sixth)

Top returners: Britta Livdahl, so.; Abigail Tittle, sr.; Jackie Mykytiuk, sr.

Key newcomers: Tallulah Eichholz, fr.

Worth noting: The Hornets took a step back last spring after winning 13 games during the 2020 season. ... The team graduated its lone All-KRC member, Michaela Froehlich, who was on varsity her entire high school career. ... Tittle and Mykytiuk are both strong leaders, Edinger said. Eichholz will be a big contributor this year to the Hornets’ pitching. ... “We are a work in progress,” Edinger said. “Every day, we will be working on improving an aspect of our game. The team has great chemistry and is beginning to gel. They process things quickly and work hard. ... We may not have a lot of experience but we make up for it in other ways.”

Johnsburg

Coach: Jamie Smeigh (fourth season)

Last season’s record: 15-8, 8-2 KRC (tied for first)

Top returners: Addison Mass, sr., P; Brooke Klosowicz, jr., SS-3B

Key newcomers: Brianna Rutkowski, fr., C-2B; Joree Tibbs, fr., 3B-P

Worth noting: The Skyhawks claimed their first regional title since 2008 with a 4-2 win over North Boone in the Class 2A Johnsburg Regional final. Johnsburg also shared the KRC title with Richmond-Burton, the team’s first conference title since 2008. ... The Skyhawks graduated All-Area first-team selection Kate Linkletter, now at Wisconsin, who led the team with a .523 batting average. She hit 10 homers, 23 RBIs, 32 runs and 10 steals. ... Klosowicz returns after a huge sophomore year in which the Penn State commit led the team in hits (40), homers (11) and doubles (10), along with 26 RBIs and 23 runs. Klosowicz and Addison Mass were both All-Area first-team picks last spring. Mass, who will play next year at D-II Charleston, went 11-3 in the circle with a 1.94 ERA and 169 strikeouts in 115 1/3 innings. She hit .403 with 22 runs and 11 extra-base hits. ... “Our expectations are high for returning players to show the newcomers what it takes to win games,” Smeigh said. “I’m really excited to see Addison and Brooke continue their success and to see what other girls are going to step up for us. This year will be a grind, realizing we’ll be playing some tough competition. But that is what makes playing sports so great.”

Marengo

Coach: Dwain Nance (15th season)

Last season’s record: 19-18, 7-3 KRC (third)

Top returners: Courtney Jasinski, sr., SS-2B; Mia Lulinski, jr., OF; Maddy Christopher, jr., OF; Lilly Kunzer, so., P; Marissa Young, so., 1B; Emily White, so., 3B

Key newcomers: Kylee Jensen, fr., C; Gabby Gieseke, fr., 2B-SS; Josephine Christiansen, fr., P-OF

Worth noting: The Indians’ streak of 13 consecutive regional titles ended last spring with an 11-9 loss to Richmond-Burton in the Class 2A Richmond-Burton Regional championship. ... Christopher and Jasinski both earned All-Area honorable mention and All-KRC honors. Christopher hit .429 with seven doubles and 34 runs, while Jasinski, the team’s only senior this year, hit .343 with 11 doubles. ... Kunzer hit .347 with 12 doubles, 23 RBIs and 18 runs scored and will be the team’s No. 1 pitcher. She went 7-4 as a freshman with 58 strikeouts in 69 innings. Young hit .379 as a freshman, while Lulinski hit .313 with 34 RBIs and 22 runs. ... Nance is excited about the incoming freshmen class, led by Jensen, Gieseke and Christiansen. ... White and Christiansen will help keep a few innings off Kunzer in the circle. ... “The KRC was very competitive in 2021 and appears it will be the same in 2022,” Nance said. “Johnsburg’s pitching will keep them in every game and shortstop Brooke Klosowicz can dominate a game at the plate. R-B has five returning starters and brings in a phenomenal pitcher. Harvard has an impressive freshman pitcher.”

Richmond-Burton

Coach: Tylar Stanton (first season)

Last season’s record: 17-4, 8-2 KRC (tied for first)

Top returners: Taylor Davison, jr., C; Mia Spohr, jr., CF-SS; Norah Spittler, jr., 1B; Lyndsay Regnier, jr., 3B-2B

Key newcomers: Hailey Holtz, fr., P-OF; Madison Kunzer, fr., P-OF

Worth noting: Stanton takes over for Vicki Klopf, who led the Rockets for four seasons, winning regional titles in 2017, 2018 and 2021. ... R-B tied Johnsburg for the KRC championship, its second straight conference title, and beat Marengo, 11-9, for the Class 2A Richmond-Burton Regional title ... R-B was among the top hitting teams in the area, launching 40 homers as a unit. ... The Rockets graduated plenty of impact players, none bigger than All-Area first-team selections’ Jesse Klicker (.556 batting average, eight homers, 30 RBIs; 6-1, 4.90 ERA) and Rachel Baker (.486 batting average, seven homers, 25 runs, 29 RBIs). Both are now at D-III Wisconsin-Stevens Point. ... R-B also lost a big power bat in Carys De Lucia, who was an All-Area second-team pick. She hit eight homers and drove in 30. ... Spohr was an All-Area second-team choice, hitting .375 with nine home runs and 27 RBIs. In the circle, she finished 10-3 in 13 starts. ... Davison, an All-Area honorable mention pick, hit .349 with 14 extra-base hits and 20 RBIs. She already is committed to D-I Michigan State and Stanton expects a big year from the junior catcher. ... Regnier (NJCAA D-III Rock Valley College) hit .389 with 24 runs and seven steals, getting All-Area honorable mention honors. ... Spittler hit .349 and knocked in 17. ... Stanton also expects significant contributions from Holtz at starting pitcher.

Woodstock

Coach: Shandon Nixon (second season)

Last season’s record: 4-14, 2-8 KRC (fifth)

Top returners: Grace Karner, sr., P-2B; Abby Weber, sr., SS-C; Grace Topf, so., CF

Key newcomers: Jade Sanders, fr., C-SS; Ava Marsalla, jr., 3B; Anna Wickersheim, fr., 2B-P

Worth noting: Woodstock picked up one KRC win last year after going winless in 2020. ... The Blue Streaks lost five starters to graduation or injury, Nixon said. Woodstock’s top pitcher, Kiley Ryan, an All-Area second-team pick, won’t be back her senior year. She led the team last season in home runs and RBIs. ... The team will be young, with the possibility of six underclassmen starters. ... Karner and Weber will be counted on to lead the team, Nixon said. “We have a great group of girls who have brought a great work ethic and focus,” Nixon said. “I’m confident they will continue to show great improvement throughout the season. We will be developing a lot of young players. They will learn on the job, but I am confident they will make great strides and contribute in a very positive way.”

Woodstock North

Coach: Paul Sandall (third season)

Last season’s record: 15-7, 5-5 KRC (fourth)

Top returners: Alyssa Carlin, sr.; Norah Mungle, jr.; JoJo Vermett, so., P

Key newcomers: Krista Hermann, fr.; Hayden Benedict, fr.

Worth noting: The Thunder’s 15 wins tied the 2019 team for second most in program history. The 2018 team was 18-11. ... Vermett and Mungle both earned All-Area honorable mention selections last season. Vermett hit .429 and posted a 3.57 ERA with 72 strikeouts and 31 walks over 47 innings. Mungle, who is committed to D-III Wisconsin-Plateville, hit .468 with a team-leading 10 doubles, 28 RBIs, 26 runs and 11 steals. ... Carlin (D-III Dubuque) was the team’s top hitter with a .474 batting average. ... Carlin, Vermett and freshman Georgia Sedlack will make up the core of the team’s pitching rotation. ... “We will be strong at pitching and solid at catching,” Sandall said. “We will be young at middle infield but have some talented players at those positions. The conference is wide open and everyone has a shot at it this year.”

Northeastern Athletic Conference

Alden-Hebron

Coach: Brook Winkelman (third season)

Last season’s record: 5-11-1, 3-4-1 NAC

Top returners: Kohryn Geary, sr., C-1B; Corrine Elswick, sr., P-3B; Jessica Webber, so., CF-SS; Hannah Reiter, so., SS-P; Lizbeth Olmedo, so., LF-CF

Key newcomers: Jessica Wikman, sr., OF; Faith Higgins, so., 2B; Marissa Johnson, fr., 3B; Rileigh Gaddini, fr., 1B; Jadilet Castaneda, fr., OF

Worth noting: The Giants have small numbers this year, Winkelman said, with a lot of first-timers. Still, they expect to be competitive, with South Beloit as one of the NAC’s top contenders. ... A-H graduated its top hitter, Abby Wanderer, who led the Giants in batting average (.441), doubles (three), triples (two), homers (two) and RBIs (18). She also tossed the majority of innings for A-H. ... Geary was second on the team with a .346 batting average and added six stolen bases. Webber led the team with seven steals. ... “The girls have been working hard to improve,” Winkelman said. “Corrine will be stepping into the starting pitcher’s spot, while Korhyn is an experienced catcher.”