St. Charles North looks to defend Class 4A state title, but talented Oswego will push again.
Top 10 Teams
1. St. Charles North (26-6)
Pitcher Paige Murray, who went 19-5, and outfielder Mackenzie Patterson (Loyola) are fourth-year varsity players who will lead defending Class 4A state champion as seniors in North Stars’ bid for third title in four years. Shortstop Ginger Ritter and first baseman Abby Zawadzki (Mississippi) also return. Now juniors, Zawadzki smacked four homers and led the team in RBIs last spring, while Ringer hit three homers.
2. Oswego 29-10
Panthers won first sectional and made first trip to state, taking third in Class 4A. Six returning starters include three Division I recruits in senior catcher Kiyah Chavez (Iowa), senior third base/pitcher Aubriella Garza (Northern Illinois) and junior pitcher/infielder Jaelynn Anthony (Purdue). Senior first baseman Rikka Ludvigson (Milwaukee School of Engineering) also returns.
3. St. Charles East (21-13)
Power-hitting junior catcher Hayden Sujack (South Carolina) returns to lead Saints, who beat crosstown rival North Stars twice in regular season but lost to them in sectional final. Sujack hit .415 with 17 doubles, 11 homers and 39 RBIs. Senior shortstop Addison Wolf (Maryville) anchors infield defense. Junior pitchers Lexi Majkszak and Makayla Van Dinther, along with three newcomers, will be key.
4. South Elgin (22-11)
Eight returnees from last spring’s conference champs are led by Anna Kiel (Loyola), the Upstate Eight’s pitcher of year. Also back are all-conference selections in senior catcher/third baseman Adriana Jimenez and senior middle infielder Amber Gnutek.
5. Hampshire (21-13)
Senior shortstop Bria Riebel (South Dakota State), an all-state pick, returns to lead Whip-Purs, who will look to Lily Sippel (Maryland Eastern Shore) to bolster pitching staff. All-conference infielders include senior Chloe Van Horn (Wisconsin-Platteville) and junior Mia Robinson.
6. Yorkville (18-18)
Foxes have 10 returnees headlined by junior catcher Kayla Kersting (Iowa), who hit .442 with nine home runs and 30 RBIs last spring. Junior Ellie Fox and senior Peyton Levine should lead pitching staff.
7. Aurora Central Catholic (23-6)
Chargers have 11 players back, including seven seniors. Seniors Kate Gambro and Charlotte Brummel join junior Corina Miller to pace talented, deep pitching staff. Gambro, senior catcher Sophia Delgado and senior infielder Ashley Moore lead high-powered offense.
8. Bartlett (23-12)
Coach Jim Wolfsmith graduated two sets of twins who all hit over .400, but cupboard isn’t bare. Christina Stankus (Indianapolis) went 17-11 and returns as No. 1 pitcher. She also hit .396 with three homers and 31 RBIs. Senior shortstop/outfielder Emma Engels, who will wrestle in college, is a strong hitter.
9. West Aurora (14-17)
Blackhawks return to Upstate Eight after losing eight seniors to graduation. Only two seniors return, but they’re good ones — shortstop Sara Tarr (Ohio State) and center fielder Keira Hayton (Missouri-St. Louis). Coach Randy Hayslett, who has plenty of speed, will count on sophomores Bella Marzullo, Gracie Del Toro, Macie Spenny and Ally Lambert.
10. Metea Valley (16-13)
Mustangs need to replace offense of graduated Genevieve Gonzales (DePaul) and Reese Valha (Wisconsin-Parkside), who combined for 96 hits last spring. Senior ace Charlie Benesh (Salem State) went 15-6 and worked 121 innings. Senior infielder Claire Desrosiers (Concordia Chicago) and senior outfielder Grace Feeley, both all-conference picks, provide leadership.
The 25 Players to Watch
- Jaelynn Anthony, Oswego, junior, pitcher/infielder.
- Charlie Benesh, Metea Valley, senior, pitcher/utility.
- Kiyah Chavez, Oswego, senior, catcher.
- Lundin Cornelius, Oswego East, senior, outfielder.
- Sophia Delgado, Aurora Central Catholic, senior, catcher/infielder.
- Kate Gambro, Aurora Central Catholic, senior, pitcher.
- Aubriella Garza, Oswego, senior, pitcher/infielder.
- Sarah Gurley, St. Edward, sophomore, shortstop.
- Keira Hayton, West Aurora, senior, outfielder.
- Ella Heimbuch, St. Charles North, sophomore, utility.
- Kayla Kersting, Yorkville, junior, catcher.
- Anna Kiel, South Elgin, senior, pitcher/first base.
- Brooklyn Marks, Sandwich, senior, pitcher/infielder.
- Corina Miller, Aurora Central Catholic, junior, pitcher.
- Aislee Morgan, Waubonsie Valley, sophomore, infielder.
- Paige Murray, St. Charles North, senior pitcher.
- Mackenzie Patterson, St. Charles North, senior, outfielder.
- Bria Riebel, Hampshire, Hampshire, senior, infielder.
- Christina Stankus, Bartlett, senior, pitcher/infielder/outfielder.
- Hayden Sujack, St. Charles East, junior, outfielder/catcher.
- Sara Tarr, West Aurora, senior, shortstop.
- Kenya Ventura, Larkin, senior, infielder.
- Addison Wolf, St. Charles East, senior, infielder.
- Dottie Wood, Newark, senior, pitcher/first base.
- Brynn Woods, Kaneland, junior, pitcher/outfielder.
