Evanston
Coach: Katie Perkins
2016 record: 18-11 (8-2 Central Suburban South); lost to Taft in the Class 4A regional semifinal
Key returners: Jr. P Grace Elwood, Jr. C Meg Eisfelder, Sr. OF Megan Chambers, Sr. OF Jaden Janzen
At the plate: After setting a school record for wins last year, the program grew from 26 to 44 players this year. With a bunch of returning players, the Wildkits have plenty of depth with a lot of options at DH. Eisfelder broke the school record for hits in a single season last year with 54. The previous high was 46. Eisfelder, senior Kaite Parcell, Chambers, sophomore Lucy Hart, freshman Molly Chambers and Janzen are all expected to be solid offensively, and they can all go long. “I think I’ll be strong with any nine-man lineup that I go with,” Perkins said.
In the circle: Freshman Molly Chambers, younger sister of Megan, “will see ample playing time from the mound,” Perkins said. The Wildkits will be four pitchers deep. In addition to Molly Chambers, Elwood is a returning all-conference pitcher who tossed the majority of conference games last season. Janzen put in a ton of work in the offseason in the circle, and senior Zoe Kurtzer will round out the rotation.
Extra innings: Perkins has created Sister Pods within the program, connecting each player to two, three or four other girls within the program. It’s a big sister-little sister concept, except with more girls. Every Monday the players check in with their sister pod about on- or off-field successes or struggles. “This is huge for the program aspect because my older kids are really, really helping to identify the proper paths for my younger kids,” Perkins said.
Glenbrook South
Coach: Dana Boehmer
2016 record: 10-16 (3-7 Central Suburban South); lost to Zion-Benton in Class 4A regional semifinal
Key returners: Sr. CF Carolyn Kuhn, So. P Sophie Stark, Jr. C Winnie Tomsheck
At the plate: Kuhn, a Titans captain, will look to ignite the team from her leadoff spot in the lineup. She’s a lefty who can both slap the ball and hit for power. The latter makes her dangerous when the bottom of Glenbrook South’s lineup gets on base. Tomsheck should be one of the Titans’ leading power hitters and is projected to bat in either the 3, 4 or 5 slot.
In the circle: Stark will be the starting Titans pitcher. She consistently locates her pitches around the plate and they have movement. Senior Brianna DeFrank is expected to be a solid No. 2 starter.
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Extra innings: Kuhn has signed to play at Indiana next year. In addition to her skills on the field, Kuhn was lauded by Boehmer for her commitment. Kuhn always hustles at whatever the team is doing, Boehmer said. In addition, Boehmer said Kuhn, who was unanimously voted team captain, makes the other players excited about showing up every day. Boehmer, who is in her first season as head coach, called Kuhn “a phenomenal teammate.”
Maine South
Coach: Emmy Pasier
2016 record: 17-10 (7-3 Central Suburban South); lost to Oak Park-River Forest in Class 4A regional final
Key returners: Sr. P Maddie Rog, Jr. CF Britney Richardson, Jr. C Sarah Hoffman, Sr. 2B Toni Tortorella
At the plate: The Hawks return three hitters who batted in the mid- to high-.300s in Hoffman (26 RBIs), Richardson (19 RBIs) and Rog. Plus, Tortorella batted nearly .300 last year. “Every one of those four love to have the bat in their hands,” Pasier said. “In my 10 years here, overall, this is probably our most aggressive team at the plate. We don’t preach whether to watch or not watch a strike. We preach being aggressive and hitting strikes and we’ve got some speed, some placement, a couple of true lefties — it’s a nice combination.”
In the circle: In her third varsity season, Rog is coming off a junior season in which she pitched almost 90 innings and posted an ERA below 2.40. “She’s been great for us in the circle. She’s a little pistol out there,” Pasier said. “She’s not very big, but she gets out there and goes at you.” Rog and catcher Hoffman were batterymates last year as well.
Extra innings: As a Maine South graduate, Pasier wants her girls to embrace school spirit and have an appreciation for the other athletes in the school. So every softball season, players attend at least one game for every spring sport played at Maine South. “We do those things after a game or a practice. It’s nice for the girls to support their friends, their school and sports that maybe they’ve never seen,” Pasier said.
New Trier
Coach: John Cadwell
2016 record: 16-16 (8-2 Central Suburban South); lost to Zion-Benton in Class 4A regional final
Key returners: Sr. OF Caroline Kelly, Sr. OF Laura Vita, Sr. SS Gillian Gossard, Sr. P Alicia Bagan, Jr. P Eloise Trout
At the plate: Kelly, Vita and Gossard can all hit for power, Cadwell said. “They are great contributors,” Cadwell said. “They all help produce runs. They were the top RBI producers on the team (last year). They are effective, efficient and make good use of their at-bats.”
In the circle: Bagan is expected to carry the pitching load for the Trevians, who shared the conference title a season ago with Evanston. Cadwell said she was the ace of the staff a year ago and he expects more from here this season. “She is real strong with her location and hitting her spots,” Cadwell said. “She’s not going to overpower people, but she is effective because she has command of all the pitches she throws.”
Extra innings: Cadwell said the Trevians spend a lot of time together off the field, sharing meals and hanging out together. “They view each other as friends,” Cadwell said. “They are very unselfish and they support each other.”
Niles North
Interim coach: Heather Joyce
2016 record: 18-8 (10-0 Central Suburban North); lost to Fenton in Class 4A regional semifinal
Key returners: Sr. SS Gina Loy, Sr. P Isabella Rolon, Jr. CF Alyssa Aragon
At the plate: Niles North returns 12 players from last year’s team, which won its second consecutive CSL North title. Loy is a four-year varsity player and was named third-team all-state in 2016 by the Illinois Coaches Association – Softball. Joyce is still learning the team since she took over earlier this month, but she expects the Vikings to be aggressive in the batter’s box. “In the cage we have been working hard on making solid contact, bunting and seeing pitches in the strike zone,” Joyce said. “We want our girls to step in the box every time with the mentality that they are going to hit the first strike that they see.”
On the mound: Graduation left Rolon as the lone returning pitcher for the Vikings. When she isn’t in the circle, it will be freshman Madison Precht. “Both young ladies have worked incredibly hard in the preseason to gain control over their pitches and the location of their pitches,” Joyce said.
Big question: Despite winning conference last season, the Vikings lost their first playoff game. They have the returning talent for a playoff run if it all clicks. Joyce said the team is working on the details of the game every day, and that team communication is a big focus. “Our X-factor is going to be communication,” she said. “We have been working on it since Day 1, and will continue to work on it all season.”
Niles West
Coach: Nicole Reynolds
2016 record: 8-21 (3-7 Central Suburban South); lost to Trinity in Class 4A regional semifinal
Key returners: Sr. P Hope Cherian, Sr. SS Gianna Mahoney, Jr. Hannah Johnson, So. Grace Bencivenga
At the plate: The Wolves are going to be a young team, but their lineup features Mahoney, who earned all-conference honors a year ago. She had elbow surgery in the offseason, but is healthy to start the year, Reynolds said. As the Wolves’ leadoff hitter, Mahoney is key to sparking the offense. “She always makes plays for us,” Reynolds said. Niles West expects to play three freshmen this season: outfielders Alana Mras and Katie Trail, and utility player Julia Ruth. Reynolds said all three will be used in various defensive roles. “Alana offensively will give us the most (of the freshmen),” Reynolds said.
In the circle: In 2016, Niles West felt the effects of being without its No. 1 pitcher, Cherian, who had a hip injury, according to Reynolds. Cherian is back to full health and working to fully regain her stamina. “She’s a presence, she’s a tall kid,” Reynolds said of the 5-foot-10 Cherian. “She’s vocal, she’s our captain. … What we were lacking last year was a No. 1 starter.”
Extra innings: Each season the Wolves players volunteer at the end of April for Misericordia’s Candy Days. They work in Lincolnwood passing out Jelly Belly candy and informational tags in exchange for donations. Located in Chicago, Misericordia is home to 600 children and adults with mental and physical disabilities.
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Heather Rule, Mark Perlman, Gary Larsen, Steve Sadin and Jakub Rudnik are freelance reporters for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press