Save the date: Hinsdale South at Downers South, April 30. The road to the West Suburban Gold title goes through Downers Grove. The last time the Mustangs lost a conference game was 2013.
The Hornets return four all-conference players in seniors Madison Kern, Ellie Fichtelberg, Marissa Marrera and Donna Stevens, so if there is ever a year to challenge for the title, this is it.
“They have had our number the last couple of years,” Hornets coach Kelly Van Hout said. “I personally think it is time for the tide to change a little bit here. … In the last couple of years, we have lost so many close games where it could have gone either way.”
Kern knows that it will be a tall task to take down the Mustangs.
“They are just overall a strong program,” said Kern, who plans to play softball at Carthage, a Division III program in Kenosha. “(We just have to) focus on the little things to make everything go right.”
Beyond the box score: Hinsdale South has seven seniors who have played together on the varsity since they were freshman.
“Not a lot of coaches can say that they have that kind of nucleus for four years,” Van Hout said.
Colleen Collins, Fichtelberg, Kern, Kaitlyn Little, Gina Marchetti, Marrera and Stevens are all four-year varsity players. Catcher Allison Early rounds out the senior class for Hinsdale South.
“I really have enjoyed it, and I feel like it helped us focus more on the future and build as a team the entire time,” said Kern, a pitcher who lives in Darien.
“I feel like the end (of the season) is going to be real emotional for everyone, because we have all been playing together for a really long time.”
#ThrowbackThursday: Junior Tara Mackey is not the first family member to wear a Leyden softball uniform. Both of her older sisters, Ciara and Brigid, played softball, plus she had two older brothers, Tim and Brian, who played baseball for the Eagles. “I grew up around (Leyden) baseball and softball,” said Tara Mackey, who lives in Rosemont. “Before I could even walk I was going to baseball games, and my sisters played for Coach (Kurt) Schuett, both at the same time.
“I have been a part of it (for so long), so I have always been looking forward to it being my turn to be able to play in a Leyden uniform.”
Tara Mackey has played on varsity since her freshman year, and is part of strong returning nucleus that includes seniors Erika Arroyo and Sara Cole, juniors Emma Bertsche, Kailey Kirkwood, Clarissa Messina and Meghan Fontanetta; and sophomore Elle Engelke.
On the rise: Leyden will rely heavily on Bertsche, a pitcher, after she finished strong for the Eagles as a sophomore. She was the winning pitcher when Leyden upset second-seeded Young in the Class 4A St. Ignatius Regional final. The Eagles then lost to Lane in the sectional semifinals.
“Emma is back as our top pitcher. She really finished strong last season,” Schuett said. “She has been working really hard to get better. She has been in the weight room a lot with her good friend, (catcher) Elle Engelke.
More Top Picks Photophobia In Children When To See A Doctor
“She has been doing a lot of squats, working on strengthening her legs, which is really important for a pitcher.”
Leyden will also use freshman Breanne Deutscher on the mound, along with Kirkwood, the starting shortstop.
Patrick Kelly is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press