Scouting Fox softball
In case you missed the bulletin, the Fox Valley area is replete with high-quality high school softball teams this spring.
Where to start?
How about with the team that finished third in Class 4A in 2021. Huntley, under the direction of 19th-year head coach Mark Petryniec (16 wins shy of 400 for his career), went 35-7, won the Fox Valley Conference title and lugged that state trophy back to Harmony Road.
The bad news for opponents is the Red Raiders have nine players back from that team, including college signees Reese Hunkins (SS, Illinois), Jori Heard (P, Valpo), Zoe Doherty (OF-IF, Cardinal Stritch) and Katie Mitchell (OF, junior committed to Loyola). Also back are senior Lauren Ryan (OF), juniors Clara Hudgens (CF), Madison Smith (3B0 and Alyssa Ekstrom (OF) along with sophomore catcher Meghan Ryan.
"We will rely on our experience to achieve or goals this year," Petryniec said. "We have put together a very competitive schedule and look forward to playing against some of the top teams in the state."
To the immediate north, Jacobs won 23 games, was second in the loop to Huntley and won a regional in 2021. The Golden Eagles are led by returning all-conference players CiCi DiSilvio (SS-P, junior) and Kaitlyn Wysong (1B-OF, junior).
"We ae returning the majority of our regional championship team and are looking to build on last season's successes," Jacobs coach Katie O'Brien said. "We are still a very young group with only one senior, so I am very excited for the next few years with this team."
Crystal Lake South has all-FVC selections Alexis Pupillo (C-3B) and Kennedy Grippo (P-SS) back from a team that won 16 games and a regional title.
Burlington Central seniors Rylie Duval (SS), Lauren Knief (3B), Savannah L'Huillier (LF) and Alyssa Becker (CF) along with sophomore second baseman Anna Sanders will lead the way for coach Scott Richman's squad.
"This is the Fox Valley Conference where quite a few teams will contend for top honors and not one team can be taken for granted," Richman pointed out.
Cary-Grove is led by senior Gwen Moran (OF-3B) and junior right fielder Allison Garski, but also has five sophomores returning with varsity experience, plus welcomes another sophomore and a freshman into the fold.
Dundee-Crown should be improved with McKayla Anderson (P, sophomore), Kendall Brents (1B, junior), Annabelle Pederson (SS, sophomore) and Kailyn Wiebe (3B, senior) back.
Hampshire returns senior pitcher Noelle Scott and sophomore infielder Abby Lentz.
Over in the DuKane Conference, all signs point to defending champion St. Charles East as the favorites. The 2021 regional-champion Saints return all-state third-team selections in senior Izzy Howe (P) and junior Nikki Johnston (utility). Howe struck out 139 in 92 innings, while Johnston hit .405. Sophomore Sam Gaca hit .347 with 12 extra-base hits (3 HR, 28 RBI). Sophomore Grace Hautzinger and freshman Holly Smith will also help in the circle. "With great pitching, we will also bring our most athletic team ever and be able to put pressure on opposing defenses," East coach Jarod Guetsha said. "We will continue to play in one of the best softball conferences in the state and play an extremely competitive nonconference schedule to prepare us for another postseason run."
St. Charles North won a sectional title last year and returns the likes of Butler signee Ashlee Chantos (OF, .390, 4 HR, 19 RBI), junior Winona State commit Leigh VandeHei (OF, .415, 5 triples, 19 SB) and junior catcher-first baseman Megan Bauwens (.400, 11 RBI)- the three earned all-DuKane honors with VandeHei an all-state third-team pick. Junior Julia Larsen is committed to Illinois State. "We have a mix of speed and power up and down the lineup, depth and versatility defensively," North coach Tom Poulin said. "I am pumped about the hunger this group has to get back to and beyond where we were last postseason."
Geneva returns senior Bre Venditti (SS), along with junior outfielders Rachel Carlson and Emma Levin, as well as sophomore outfielder Ally Ward.
Shifting gears to the Upstate Eight, South Elgin (19-5, 18-1 UEC a year ago) is again considered one of the loop favorites with returning conference player of the year Sammy Jimenez (C-3B), conference pitcher of the year CeCe Bell (now a junior) and all-UEC picks Cara Cruthers (C-SS) and junior Hannah Harms (OF) back. South Elgin heads to the Southern Warrior Classic in Murfreesboro, Tennessee March 23.
"We have six returning starters from last year," said Storm coach Brad Reynard, who said Bartlett, Glenbard South, Fenton and West Chicago will be tough in the UEC. "I love our leadership."
Larkin and coach Anne Vogt will lean on junior all-conference selection Baylei Johnson (C-1B, .623 batting average, 3 HR, 28 RBI), Chelsea Herrick (P-3B, .372, 24 RBI) and Ariela Bermudez (P-OF, .326). Senior pitcher-outfielder Kailey Cronin returns after missing last year with a broken wrist.
"This has to the potential to be the strongest hitting team in my 12 years at Larkin," Vogt said. "We have lots of speed in the outfield and on the bases and three solid pitchers. We are still very young, but with that said, very experienced. This is a very hard-working team that will fight until the end to win a softball game."
Elsewhere, Aurora Central Catholic returns seniors Olivia Hernandez (C, Purdue Northwest commit) and Amanda Lohrey (P-1B, Columbia College-South Carolina commit), along with sophomores Natalie Sanchez (IF) and Amelia Lohrey (OF). Hernandez, a third-team all-state pick for the second time in three years, hit .474 with a 1.277 OPS and gunned down 15 runners trying to steal. Lohrey hit .403, while Sanchez batted .378 for the Chargers, who play in the Metro Suburban Blue where IC Catholic Prep, Riverside-Brookfield, Bishop McNamara and Ridgewood will be tough.
Rosary welcomes back the likes of All-Area and all-MSC Blue pick Emily Hurst (utility, .451, 6 HR), along with junior shortstop Kayla Montes (.320, 4 HR), junior catcher Brooke Pfeiffer (.360, threw out 70 percent of runners trying to steal), junior outfielder-pitcher Marissa Capparelli and pitcher-infielder Reagan Lightfoot.
West Aurora returns senior center fielder Callie Meinel, who hit .385 with 7 homers and 24 RBI en route to earning all-Southwest Prairie West honors last year. Pitcher-first baseman Alyssa Perkins hit .403 with 8 homers and 25 RBI, while Sara Archer (SS-3B) batted .382 with 3 homers and 10 RBI. Meinel will continue her career at Division I Evansville.
Fox softball outlook
Top teams: Huntley, Jacobs, St. Charles East, St. Charles North, South Elgin
Top players: Reese Hunkins (Huntley, Sr., SS), Jori Heard (Huntley, Sr., P), Zoe Doherty (Huntley, Sr., OF-IF), Katie Mitchell (Huntley, Jr., OF), CiCi DeSilivio (Jacobs, Jr., SS-P), Kaitlyn Wysong (Jacobs, Jr., 1B-OF), Alexis Pupillo (CL South, Sr., C-3B), Kennedy Grippo (CL South, Jr., P-SS), Rylie Duval (Burlington Central, Sr., SS), Izzy Howe (St. Charles East, Sr., P), Nikki Johnston (St. Charles East, Jr., utility), Ashlee Chantos (St. Charles North, Sr., OF), Leigh VandeHei (St. Charles North, Jr., OF), Megan Bauwens (St. Charles North, Jr., C-1B), Sammy Jimenez (South Elgin, Sr., C-3B), CeCe Bell (South Elgin, Jr., P), Cara Cruthers (South Elgin, Sr., C-SS), Hannah Harms (South Elgin, Jr., OF), Baylei Johnson (Larkin, Jr., C-1B), Olivia Hernandez (Aurora Central, Sr., C), Amanda Lohrey (Aurora Central, Sr., P-1B), Emily Hurst (Rosary, Sr., utility), Callie Meinel (West Aurora, Sr., CF).
Season skinny: Pretty simple here. Good softball won't be hard to find to go watch in the Fox Valley area this spring. The Fox Valley Conference is loaded with strong teams with Huntley, Jacobs, Crystal Lake South, McHenry and Burlington Central frequently in the top-tier conversations. The DuKane Conference, also regarded as one of the toughest in the state, features local toughies in St. Charles East and St. Charles North, while the Upstate Eight also is stocked with competitive programs, including South Elgin. Larkin coach Anne Vogt is excited about the improvement of her squad. Aurora Central and Rosary will navigate a competitive Metro Suburban Blue and West Aurora plays in the Southwest Prairie West that features standout Yorkville.