Top 10 teams and 25 players to watch
By Tony Baranek Daily Southtown
TOP 10 TEAMS
1. Marist (38-1): The defending Class 4A state champions are far from high and dry after graduating ace pitcher Abby Dunning (Boston College). Brooke McNichols (Florida International), the RedHawks’ new No. 1 pitcher, went 9-0 last season. Power circulates throughout the lineup behind senior catcher Emily Bojan (Wisconsin), senior outfielder Sierra Sass (Loyola), senior infielders Gianna Richy (IllinoisChicago) and Kaitlin Wright (St. Xavier), junior outfielder Isabel Cunnea (Northwestern) and junior infielder Eileen Donahue (Illinois).
2. Lincoln-Way East (24-5): Power, power and more power. Griffins will be difficult to outscore. Seniors Chloe Geijer (Indiana), Danielle Stewart (Northern Illinois), Katie Stewart (Texas), Madison Pomykalski (Texas) and Mackenzie Gallagher combined for 60 home runs. Danielle Stewart will share pitching duties with Madeline Hickey.
3. Lincoln-Way Central (30-4): Knights came oh-so-close to tripping up Marist in the state championship game. They return three starters, including senior pitcher/infielder Lyndsey Grein (Virginia Tech), senior infielder McKenzie Murdock (Lewis) and senior infielder Jamie Widule (Missouri-St. Louis).
4. Lemont (28-5): Five starters return from last season’s Class 3A state runner-up. Junior pitcher/oufielder Sage Mardjetko (South Carolina) is a strikeout machine, while junior catcher Frankie Rita (Bowling Green) ranked among the Southland’s top hitters. Sophomore infielders Avaree Taylor, Allison Pawlowicz and Raegan Duncan bring back state experience.
5. Joliet Catholic (23-9): Sophomore infielder/catcher Wrigley Fanter had a phenomenal freshman season, leading the Angels in RBIs. She had two hits during a 4-0 loss to Rockridge in the Class 2A state championship game. Senior catcher/infielder Morgan Bruno (Trinity International) was all-state last season. A junior to watch is infielder Mack Brow.
6.Shepard (19-7): Senior pitcher Kelly Greene (Green Bay) is a .400 hitter who can play both infield and outfield. Infielder Abby Horton (Illinois State) and pitcher/infielder Taylor Becker (St. Xavier) are both four-year starters.
7. Providence (17-20): Celtics improved as last season went on and won a regional title. They return three-year varsity starters in senior infielder Gianna Russo (Abilene Christian) and senior outfielder Nicole Magdziasz (St. Leo). Junior infielder/catcher Ava Jeziorski adds another solid bat to the order.
8. Beecher (21-5): Perennial conference champs and Class 2A state title contenders, the Bobcats are headed by catcher/infielder Alyssa Oldenburg (Olivet Nazarene), senior pitcher/infielder Abby Shepard and senior outfielder Cheyanna Stluka.
9. Lincoln-Way West (16-1): Warriors graduated nine seniors, but return an effective battery in senior pitcher Allie Wondrasek (Lewis) and senior catcher Abbie Gregus (Loyola). Big things are expected from sophomore infielder Cameron Ball.
10. Richards (17-9): Bulldogs have big power and average at the top of the hitting chart in senior catcher Abby Mallo (Saint Louis), who was the team leader last season in seven categories. Infielder Mary Jane Goodman (Grand Valley State) also brings back a bat that hit .400-plus.
TOP 25 PLAYERS TO WATCH
Emily Bojan, Marist, senior, catcher; Morgan Bruno, Joliet Catholic, senior, catcher/infielder; Fiona Crane, Mother McAuley, senior, infielder; Isabel Cunnea, Marist, junior, outfielder; Wrigley Fanter, Joliet Catholic, sophomore, catcher/infielder; Chloe Geijer, Lincoln-Way East, senior, infielder; Kelly Greene, Shepard, senior, pitcher/utility; Abbie Gregus, Lincoln-Way West, senior, catcher; Lyndsey Grein, Lincoln-Way Central, senior, pitcher/outfielder; Stephanie Hayes, Lockport, senior, infielder; Abby Horton, Shepard, senior, infielder; Emma Lotus, St. Laurence, junior, outfielder; Abby Mallo, Richards, senior, catcher/infielder; Sage Mardjetko, Lemont, junior, pitcher/outfielder; Hailey Morsovillo, Andrew, senior, infielder; McKenzie Murdock, Lincoln-Way Central, senior, infielder; Alyssa Oldenburg, Beecher, senior catcher/infielder; Kerry O’Sullivan, Sandburg, senior, infielder; Gianna Richy, Marist, senior, infielder; Frankie Rita, Lemont, junior, catcher; Gianna Russo, Providence, senior, infielder; Sierra Sass, Marist, senior, outfielder; Liz Sedakis, Chicago Christian, junior, infielder; Danielle Stewart, LincolnWay East, senior, pitcher/infielder; Allie Wondrasek, Lincoln-Way West, senior, pitcher.