Top 10 Teams
1. Lemont (34-6): Is a third straight trip to state possible? Call it probable. Lemont returns core of 2022 Class 3A state championship team, including senior pitcher Sage Mardjetko (South Carolina) and senior catcher Frankie Rita (Drake). More returning offense comes from junior infielders Allison Pawlowicz (Loyola) and Raegan Duncan (SIU Edwardsville).
2. Marist (31-6): RedHawks may very well lead area in runs scored. Senior outfielder Isabel Cunnea (Northwestern) and senior first baseman Eileen Donahue (Illinois) provide big power. Senior Maia Pietrzak (Ball State) is smooth at shortstop, while junior Caroline O’Brien (Notre Dame) will take over behind plate.
3. Lincoln-Way East (27-3): Senior shortstop Katie Stewart (Texas) is in fourth year on varsity. She will be looking to top a whopping 15 home runs from last season. Senior pitcher Maddy Hickey (Loyola) averaged more than a strikeout an inning, while junior outfielder Averi Vander Woude has speed both defensively and on bases.
4. Lockport (29-6): Senior middle infielder Addison Foster earned all-state honors last season with average well into .400s. Sophomore pitchers Alaina Peetz and Kelcie McGraw impressed on varsity as freshmen. Coach Marissa Chovanec has huge class of 11 juniors.
5. Evergreen Park (23-4-1): Mustangs should go far in Class 3A behind senior pitcher Lily Strand (Saint Louis), who struck out 205 in 102 innings. She also hit .541, earning player of the year honors in South Suburban Red. Senior Nicole Reynolds (Roosevelt), the other half of the pitching combo, also plays a solid third base.
6. Lincoln-Way Central (24-5-1): Sophomore pitcher Lisabella Dimitrijevic is ready to take over as ace of the pitching staff. Last season, she struck out 138 in just 68 2/3 innings. Junior catcher/outfielder Lucy Cameron (Wofford) and junior outfielder Kendall Pearson provide more experience.
7. Providence (23-10): Celtics hope to defend conference title behind senior pitcher Kaylinn Kundrat (College of Lake County). Junior outfielder/pitcher Grace Golebiowski and junior shortstop/pitcher Abby Johnson are team leaders. Keep an eye on junior infielder Sophia Thormeyer (UMass), who is fully recovered from injury.
8. Andrew (13-11): Thunderbolts feature one of Southland’s most effective batteries in senior pitcher Kathleen Hester (Bowdoin) and junior catcher Madison Vrastil (Valparaiso). Hester had 151 strikeouts in 118 innings, while Vrastil hit .476 and stole 24 bases. Junior infielder Madison Hanik and senior infielder Megan Kirnbauer are two steady returnees.
9. St. Laurence (22-11): Vikings have nine seniors, an all-time high for the program. Offensive leaders are outfielder Emma Lotus (Central Michigan) and infielder/pitcher Sophia Sanchez (Western Illinois). Sarah Klonowski is back in circle for team looking to make Elite Eight return.
10. Oak Forest (20-9): Bengals have solid one-two pitching combination in senior Hailey Wesner (St. Xavier) and sophomore Melanie Andrysiak. Both can swing a powerful bat. Infielder Keira Clancy and outfielder Mia Delisi are among leaders of strong junior class.
25 Players to Watch
Lucy Cameron, Lincoln-Way Central, junior, catcher/outfielder; Kylie Cook, Beecher, senior, infielder; Isabel Cunnea, Marist, senior, outfielder; Lisabella Dimitrijevic, Lincoln-Way Central, sophomore, pitcher; Eileen Donahue, Marist, senior, infielder; Raegan Duncan, Lemont, junior, infielder; Addison Foster, Lockport, senior, infielder; Maddy Hickey, Lincoln-Way East, senior, pitcher; Kathleen Hester, Andrew, senior, pitcher; Sarah Kreamalmeyer, Shepard, junior, infielder/pitcher; Kaylinn Kundrat, Providence, senior, pitcher; Emma Lotus, St. Laurence, senior, outfielder; Sage Mardjetko, Lemont, senior, pitcher; Alaina Peetz, Lockport, sophomore, pitcher; Katie Pollock, Marian Catholic, senior, pitcher; Megan Piotrowski, Tinley Park, sophomore, outfielder; Frankie Rita, Lemont, senior, catcher; Reese Rourke, Lincoln-Way West, freshman, pitcher/infielder; Alina Schlageter, Joliet Catholic, senior, outfielder; Lizzie Sedakis, Chicago Christian, senior, infielder; Katie Stewart, Lincoln-Way East, senior, infielder; Lily Strand, Evergreen Park, senior, pitcher/utility; Madison Vrastil, Andrew, junior, catcher; Bridget Walsh, Richards, junior, pitcher; Hailey Wesner, Oak Forest, senior, pitcher.
