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Top 10 Teams

1. St. Charles North (27-4): Reigning Class 4A state champions return nine key contributors, including top two pitchers in senior Ava Goettel (15-2) and sophomore Paige Murray (12-2). All-state center fielder Leigh VandeHei (Butler), senior third baseman Julia Larson (Illinois State) and senior catcher Sophia Olman (Eastern Illinois) also are back.

2. Yorkville (28-6): Foxes feature four seniors who are third-year varsity players in pitcher Madi Reeves (Miami Ohio), catcher Sara Ebner (Green Bay), outfielder Kaitlyn Roberts (Wisconsin-Stevens Point) and outfielder Sam Davidowski (Benedictine).

3. St. Charles East (25-7): Saints lost ace pitcher Izzy Howe to graduation, but junior Grace Hautzinger (Rollins) was a strong No. 2 and is ready to step up. All position players return, led by senior all-state returnees Cici Wilson (Valparaiso) in the infield and Nicole Johnston (MIT) in the outfield.

4. West Aurora (18-15): Blackhawks made great postseason run behind surprising sophomore Katelyn Serafin, who likely will not pitch this season following elbow surgery. Senior pitcher/first baseman Alyssa Perkins, who hit eight home runs, will lead staff. Sophomore Sara Tarr, who hit .516 in 22 games before shoulder surgery, is back at shortstop. She leads seven returnees.

5. Oswego East (17-14): Senior outfielder Mia Corres (Rose State) earned all-state honors after hitting .443 with 10 homers. Senior catcher/utility May Pasqualini (Missouri-St. Louis), a four-year regular, hit .357 with 17 steals and will help lead offense. Senior Kenzie Gatz returns to lead potentially deep pitching staff.

West Aurora's Sara Tarr (5) celebrates her seventh inning home run with teammates during a nonconference game at St. Charles East on Wednesday, April 6, 2022.
West Aurora’s Sara Tarr (5) celebrates her seventh inning home run with teammates during a nonconference game at St. Charles East on Wednesday, April 6, 2022.

6. South Elgin (23-8): Storm graduated two Division I standouts but return entire pitching staff and six starters, led by senior center fielder Hannah Harms and junior catcher/third baseman Madison Hunt. Harms hit .489 with nine homers. Hunt hit. 457. Senior Cece Bell (11-5) and sophomore Anna Kiel

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(6-2) are back in circle.

7. Newark (31-5-1): Norsemen return seven starters from team that finished fourth in the state in Class 1A. Four who made all-state — senior Kaitlyn Schofield and juniors Kodi Rizzo, Danica Peshia and Ryan Williams — played multiple positions.

8. Bartlett (13-13): With speedy slappers Lauren Liguori and Julia Wilkens setting table for senior first baseman/pitcher Addison Koth (Maryville), who established program record with 16 homers and 57 RBIs, scoring won’t be problem. Hawks’ focus will be on defense behind Koth, Grace Wilkens and likely ace Christina Stankus, a sophomore.

9. Oswego (18-14): Top two pitchers return in hard-hitting sophomore Aubriella Garza (.429, program-record 16 doubles) and senior Zoe Precup (Wisconsin Lutheran). Senior catcher Corrin Kennedy (Jacksonville) is back after hitting .455, teaming with junior outfielder Marissa Moffett (Illinois State) to lead offense.

10. Aurora Central Catholic (18-7): Development will be key for young team with no seniors. Chargers should put up runs behind five returnees who all hit .370 or better, led by sophomore utility Sophia Delgado (.441), junior outfielder Amelia Lohrey (.426) and sophomore first baseman Ashley Moore (.425).

Yorkville's Sara Ebner connects for a two-run homer against Oswego East in the first inning of a Southwest Prairie Conference game on Tuesday, April 19, 2022.
Yorkville’s Sara Ebner connects for a two-run homer against Oswego East in the first inning of a Southwest Prairie Conference game on Tuesday, April 19, 2022.

25 Players to Watch

Mia Corres, Oswego East, senior, outfielder; Sara Ebner, Yorkville, senior, catcher/infielder; Aubriella Garza, Oswego, sophomore, pitcher/utility; Ava Goettel, St. Charles North, senior, pitcher; Hannah Harms, South Elgin, senior, outfielder; Grace Hautzinger, St. Charles East, junior, pitcher; Baylei Johnson, Larkin, senior, infielder; Nicole Johnston, St. Charles East, senior, outfielder; Corrin Kennedy, Oswego, senior, catcher/infielder; Addison Koth, Bartlett, senior, pitcher/infielder; Julia Larson, St. Charles North, senior, third baseman; Hannah Laub, Waubonsie Valley, junior, pitcher; Ashley Moore, Aurora Central Catholic, sophomore, infielder; Paige Murray, St. Charles North, sophomore, pitcher; Sophia Olman, St. Charles North, senior, catcher; Riley O’Neill, Metea Valley, junior, infielder; Alyssa Perkins, West Aurora, senior pitcher/infielder; Brooke Pfeiffer, Rosary, senior, infielder; Madi Reeves, Yorkville, senior, pitcher; Kodi Rizzo, Newark, junior, pitcher/infielder; Kaitlyn Roberts, Yorkville, senior, outfielder; Kaitlyn Schofield, Newark, senior, pitcher/outfielder; Sara Tarr, West Aurora, sophomore, infielder; Leigh VandeHei, St. Charles North, senior, outfielder; Cici Wilson, St. Charles East, senior, infielder.