TOP 10 TEAMS
1. Lake Central (31-2): After a state runner-up finish in Class 4A last year, coach Jeff Sherman calls this team one of the most experienced in his 13 seasons. Senior pitcher/outfielder Amanda Aardema (North Florida) should get her turn after waiting behind several pitchers, including 2021 Miss Softball Peyton Pepkowski. Senior outfielder Kiley Conner (Northern Illinois); senior outfielder Bree Mitchell (Wisconsin); senior shortstop Sydney Doloszycki (Michigan State), who has been rehabbing from a knee injury; and sophomore outfielder Jolie Adams also return.
2. Crown Point (28-4): Senior pitcher Brinkley Kita (Lipscomb) leads the way. Junior Emily Phillips also is a key player, expected to shift to shortstop from third base. Coach Angie Richwalski said Crown Point has a nice mix of seniors and sophomores.
3. Munster (25-7): Jill Perez, the erstwhile junior varsity coach and varsity assistant, succeeds Beth Raspopovich, now the assistant athletic director. Senior outfielder Paige Vukadinovich (Georgia Tech) and junior third baseman Char Lorenz (Louisville) are top players. Sophomore Emily Siurek and junior Mady Kindy are promising pitchers, and sophomore middle infielder Kylie Madura also is back.
4. Valparaiso (16-8): The Vikings have an experienced team, with senior pitcher Charlotte Dombrowski, senior catcher Paiton Iliff, senior outfielder Marley Nagy (North Florida) and senior shortstop Hannah Welch (Indiana State) highlighting the core group.
5. Boone Grove (20-6): The Wolves have significant talent back from the 2021 team that lost 2-1 to eventual Class 2A state champion Pioneer in a sectional semifinal. First baseman/pitcher Jamie Botma, catcher Kailyn Coates, shortstop Erica Hoffman, third baseman Kylie Wertz and outfielder Marianna Broton — all seniors — are returning starters. Senior outfielder Caitlin Dziewicki is back after suffering an injury last season. Pitcher Natalee Meinert, outfielder Emily Veschak and middle infielder Mariah Atteberry — all sophomores — also are returning starters.
6. Kankakee Valley (17-11): The Kougars seem poised for more success following a trip to a Class 3A semistate final last season. Senior pitcher/outfielder Carmen Rosado, sophomore second baseman/catcher JoJo Short, sophomore pitcher/first baseman Elyse Starr, junior catcher Abbi Wilhelm and senior outfielder Mady Peterson are returning starters. Junior Jilly Swart is slated to play shortstop after missing last season with a foot injury.
7. Wheeler (20-8): The Bearcats look to build off 2021 conference and sectional titles. Senior catcher Kyla Chevalier and sophomore pitcher Clara Phariss headline the group. Others returning include senior shortstop Averi Wagoner, junior third baseman Faith Lewin and sophomore outfielders Megan Vincent and Elise Byers.
8. Illiana Christian (14-11): The Vikings return seven seniors, including shortstop Amanda DeBoer, first baseman Taylor Oppenhuis, outfielder/first baseman/pitcher Payton Skrezyna and catcher/third baseman Kylie Martin. Pitcher Mikayla Derks, shortstop/second baseman/outfielder Maya Wondaal and outfielder Avery Martin — all sophomores — also return.
9. Hanover Central (17-9): Shortstop Gabi Comia is an elite prospect in the sophomore class. Senior outfielder Allison Holtcamp, junior outfielder Claudia McMahon, senior infielder Hannah Pierson, senior catcher/outfielder Chloe Reitsma, junior catcher Cyd Drousias and sophomore pitcher Payton Antkiewicz are among the top players.
10. Andrean (17-13): The 59ers hope playing numerous underclassmen last season pays dividends. Junior catcher Valerie Sojka is back, as are sophomore pitcher/shortstop Abbey Bond and sophomore first baseman Libby Voliva. Senior pitcher/outfielder Caleigh Doffin returns after missing most of last season with an injury, and senior second baseman Cailey Anderson also returns after missing last season with an injury.
25 PLAYERS TO WATCH
Amanda Aardema, Lake Central, senior, pitcher/outfielder; Jolie Adams, Lake Central, sophomore, outfielder; Kyla Chevalier, Wheeler, senior, catcher; Keirys Click, Hobart, sophomore, shortstop/catcher; Gabi Comia, Hanover Central, sophomore, shortstop; Kiley Conner, Lake Central, senior, outfielder; Brooke Cunningham, Hebron, sophomore, pitcher; Amanda DeBoer, Illiana Christian, senior, shortstop; Sydney Doloszycki, Lake Central, senior, shortstop; Charlotte Dombrowski, Valparaiso, senior, pitcher; Erica Hoffman, Boone Grove, senior, shortstop; Paiton Iliff, Valparaiso, senior, catcher; Brinkley Kita, Crown Point, senior, pitcher; Char Lorenz, Munster, junior, third baseman; Natalee Meinert, Boone Grove, sophomore, pitcher; Bree Mitchell, Lake Central, senior, outfielder; Marley Nagy, Valparaiso, senior, outfielder; Clara Phariss, Wheeler, sophomore, pitcher; Emily Phillips, Crown Point, junior, shortstop; Carmen Rosado, Kankakee Valley, senior, pitcher/outfielder; Valerie Sojka, Andrean, junior, catcher; Emily Veschak, Boone Grove, sophomore, outfielder; Paige Vukadinovich, Munster, senior, outfielder; Carlye Walter, Lowell, senior, pitcher/shortstop; Hannah Welch, Valparaiso, senior, shortstop.
