The spring weather may have finally turned for the better, but senior first baseman Addison Koth has been on fire all season for Bartlett.
The NCAA Division II Maryville recruit, who has been hitting a ton, carries a .587 batting average for the Hawks (24-7) into a 4:30 p.m. Wednesday game in the Lake Park Regional.
Bartlett, seeded seventh in the Class 4A St. Charles North Sectional, will go up against ninth-seeded Addison Trail (20-8).
“Addison Koth is having a historic season,” Bartlett coach Jim Wolfsmith said.
Koth is hitting .587 with a program-record 19 home runs this season, which breaks the mark of 16 she set last year. Koth also has the program record for career homers with 50.
“During travel, I stopped pitching as much, which seemed to help my hitting,” Koth said. “This past winter I began focusing a lot on hitting and putting a lot of work into mental approach and swing with my hitting coach, Mark Mantucca, and on my own at the Bo Dome.
“I never expected to hit that many homers, especially after losing my freshman season to COVID. Right before sophomore season, I began working with Mark, who had a big impact.”
A returning all-state choice, Koth has 15 doubles and two triples. She has scored 63 runs and driven in 82.
“Her career numbers are staggering,” Wolfsmith said. “On top of that, she is a great kid, student and tremendous leader. And the most humble stud athlete I have ever coached.
“She literally lifts all the time, hits all the time. They should have a wing for her in the Rosemont facility where she works out.”
Koth has also been walked 25 times. Five of those walks — four intentional — came last week in a 5-4 loss to Glenbard South.
She followed with a home run in a 14-4 win over Fenton and another in a 15-5 win over Burlington Central, when she was intentionally walked twice.
“That’s not in my control,” Koth said. “My focus is on doing what I can to help my team win.”
Changing it up: Newark continues to roll along, topping Yorkville Christian 11-1 and Little Ten Conference rival Indian Creek 19-2 to win the regional it hosted.
The Norsemen advance to Tuesday’s Class 1A Walther Christian Sectional, playing Streator Woodland (19-10) following the opening semifinal at 4:30 p.m. between Serena and Ottawa Marquette. The championship game is at 11 a.m. Saturday.
All three games have been moved to Triton College in River Grove.
“It’s a better situation than playing at the original location, which doesn’t have a good parking situation,” Newark coach Tim Schofield said. “Our graduation is on Friday. That’s why the title game was moved.”
Triton also has a turf field and lights.
“We were able to get a game in May 13 at Sterling, which has a new turf infield,” said Schofield, whose team played twice on the turf last season at the state finals in Peoria.
Newark has played all the other teams in its sectional, beating Streator Woodland 10-0 in the season opener and Ottawa Marquette 8-6 in the second game and sweeping conference rival Serena 14-0 and 10-0.
“It’s nice to have a little info on them, but Woodland and Marquette were very early in the season,” Schofield said. “A lot of things can change.”
Change of scenery: West Aurora, seeded 13th in the Class 4A Oswego Sectional, is hosting a regional this week. It also has been moved.
All three games will be played at Aurora University’s Spartan Athletic Park in Aurora. The facility has turf and lights.
Third-seeded Oswego will meet the Blackhawks at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, followed by sixth-seeded Wheaton Warrenville South against Naperville Central.
The championship game is at 4:30 p.m. Friday.