Softball Preview: Ace in control
By KEVIN DRULEY
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kdruley@kcchronicle.com
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| Senior pitcher Mallory Huml had a 17-4 record and earned All-Western Sun Conference honors last year, her first anchoring the Kaneland pitching staff. (Rob Winner – rwinner@kcchronicle.com) |
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Loren Cihlar
St. Charles North, So., OF
Cihlar puts the left side of any opposing infield on its toes with her explosiveness out of the left-handed batter's box. She keeps teams guessing with power, too.
Nikki Davis
Geneva, Sr., LF
Catch her if you can. Geneva's speedy left fielder stole 12 bases in as many attempts last year while leading the team with a .391 average.
Amanda Engel
St. Charles North, Jr., P
Half of "the Amandas," North's nickname for its pitching staff, Engel is looking to team with sophomore Amanda Ciran for success in the circle.
Mallory Huml
Kaneland, Sr., P
Huml says she wants to "kick butt" in her senior season while hopefully helping the Knights to a Western Sun Conference title.
Gabriella Moe
St. Charles East, Jr., P
Moe anchors a staff of three right-handers. Or does she? Saints first-year coach Kelly Barnett still stands the top spot on the depth chart is up for grabs.
Brooke Nelson
Batavia, So., P
Confidence propelled Nelson to a strong varsity debut as a freshman. She brings even more into her sophomore year.
Rebecca Reinbold
St. Charles East, Sr., SS
One of 11 returning Saints, Reinbold's experience at short should help East's quest to rebuild the program under Kelly Barnett.
Sara Rose
Kaneland, Sr., 3B/SS
Rose brought energy to the Knights attack as a junior, batting .398 with four home runs and 31 RBIs. Her defense at third base was just as good.
Kristyn Ruitenberg
Geneva, Jr., P
Ruitenberg returned late in the season after breaking her hand in the second game. The Vikings are excited to see her return to form.
Alexa Schofield
Batavia, Sr., SS
Batavia's renewed emphasis on defense has a strong example and believer in Schofield, who has bolstered the team's morale with a positive attitude.
MAPLE PARK – If ever she wanted an escape from softball or sports, Mallory Huml would not have the luxury of gazing out her back window.
There, in the family's backyard, sits a pitcher's mound, courtesy of her diligent father, Dan.
"Think of it as a circle of dirt, and then my dad built a rubber out of wood and he set up a backstop and a home plate," Huml said. "Kind of like a one-day project. I came home one day from school, [and he said] 'Look at the backyard, it's so cool!' And I was like, 'You're such a loser.' "
Huml, a Kaneland freshman then, has gotten plenty of mileage out of her own personal circle in the years since. Whenever she likes, the Knights senior can fire away – her old man crouched behind the plate – and feel in command.
There are no hitters standing in, but that's how Huml approaches pitching anyway.
"Not necessarily the power," she said, "but the fact that I have control of the game. I know the batter's only going to get on if it's me doing it."
Huml's outlook helped her to a 17-4 record and All-Western Sun Conference honors last year, her first anchoring the Kaneland pitching staff. In the event her opponents got the better of their at-bats, the right-hander left things to her defense and the most potent attack Knights coach Dennis Hansen has seen in 11 seasons with the program.
Kaneland batted over .300 as a team in 2008 while averaging nearly seven runs a game.
Although much of that nucleus has graduated, Huml feels confident her teammates can pick up the slack. The Knights started the spring strongly enough, smacking 11 hits in Tuesday's 13-5 home victory against St. Edward.
On Wednesday, Huml scratched her head when Hansen told her she hadn't picked up the win in the season opener. The distinction instead belonged to freshman Delaney Vest, who closed the game after relieving Huml with the Knights ahead, 8-4, in the fourth inning.
Vest spent the first three innings in right field, noting how Huml handled different situations and counts.
"I know that she's someone that I can look up to," Vest said.
Huml figures to get most of the starts this season, with Vest serving as a capable reliever or fill-in starter. Vest's sister, sophomore Rilee, played the same role behind the plate last year, spelling graduated catcher Lindsay Hansen for most Saturday doubleheaders.
Stamina shouldn't be a problem across the board for any member of Kaneland's battery. Huml, who also played basketball during the winter, kept in softball shape by practicing with her summer travel team, the Aurora Raiders, on Sundays.
The Vest sisters threw together, too, although they usually had to venture away from their property.
"We don't have a big backyard," Rilee Vest said, "but we always find places to go whether it's the elementary school or open gyms or wherever."
Huml occasionally pitched to her dad at open gyms, as well, on nights she didn't have basketball games.
It wasn't quite home, but it felt that way.
SOFTBALL TEAM PREVIEW CAPSULES
BATAVIA
Coach: Lee Pedraza, 2nd year
Last year's record, postseason advancement: 9-18, lost to Hoffman Estates in 4A regional opening round
Top returners: Kelly Coleman, Sr., 2B; Katie Luekens, Jr., CF/3B; Alexa Schofield, Sr., SS; Brooke Nelson, So., P
Top newcomers: Katie Coleman, Fr., P/OF; Emily Dorjath, So., C; Avery Vivian, Jr., 3B/LF
Season outlook: Long, drawn out innings were a recurring problem for the Bulldogs last year, so Pedraza has stressed defense from the beginning of practice. Kelly Coleman anchors the group behind Nelson with a strong glove, soft hands and speed at second base. Batavia also has worked on honing its offensive short game and figures to rely on slap hits and sacrifices more this season.
Quoting coach Pedraza: "The team definitely will be improved. The overall talent has gone up with the girls who are back and the ones we're bringing up."
GENEVA
Coach: Greg Dierks, 20th year
Last year's record, postseason advancement: 14-15, lost to St. Charles North in 4A regional semifinals
Top returners: Nikki Davis, Sr., LF; Danielle Caprile, Sr., CF; Melissa Barber, So., SS; Deirdre Phalon, Sr., C/3B
Top newcomer: Amy Hersheway, Sr., 2B
Season outlook: The Nos. 1-5 hitters are back for the Vikings along with the 1-2 pitching punch of junior Kristyn Ruitenberg and sophomore Kelly McCaffrey, prompting Dierks to say that he saw "no gaping holes" in his team. With that experience on board, Geneva is hoping to climb well over the .500 hump and be better than a scratch team within the Western Sun Conference.
Quoting coach Dierks: "We've got a real nice bunch of kids. I like our depth. We've got 14 girls on the roster, and they're all ready to contribute in some way."
KANELAND
Coach: Dennis Hansen, 12th year
Last year's record, postseason advancement: 23-7, lost to Burlington Central in 3A regional finals
Top returners: Mallory Huml, Sr., P; Brianna Hurst, Sr., 2B; Chassidy Mangers, Sr., OF; Sara Rose, Sr., 3B/SS
Top newcomers: Andrea Dimmig-Potts, So, C/3B; Delaney Vest, Fr., P/SS/OF; Rilee Vest, So., C
Season outlook: Although the Knights graduated several key seniors – including shortstop Maggie Yagen and right fielder Vickie Mathieu – Kaneland likes the team's overall depth. The defense behind Huml, an All-Western Sun Conference selection last year, is strong, especially up the middle with Hurst and Rose. Delaney Vest provides the rotation with a solid, young No. 2 pitcher.
Quoting coach Hansen: "We've got a good group of youngsters and a good group of returners. It's a nice combination to have."
ST. CHARLES EAST
Coach: Kelly Barnett, 1st year
Last year's record, postseason advancement: 15-15-1, lost to Glenbard North in 4A regional semifinals
Top returners: Claire Desrosiers, Jr., OF; Rachael Edwards, Sr., 3B/1B; Gabriella Moe, Jr., P; Cortney Morgan, Sr., 1B/C; Rebecca Reinbold, Sr., SS;
Top newcomers: Savannah Hope, Jr., OF/P; Pamela Sommer, Sr., OF; Katie Stengler, Jr., P/IF
Season outlook: Barnett, a Saints assistant for two seasons, takes over for Eric Ray, who stepped down last spring. From the start of tryouts and practices, she declared every starting spot was open in an effort to energize the Saints' 11 returners and five newcomers. The hands-on coach, a former player at Western Michigan, is stressing defense and a balanced offense.
Quoting coach Barnett: "We have a lot of real talented athletes and a good group of girls. It's real good to see."
ST. CHARLES NORTH
Coach: April Stary, 5th year
Last year's record, postseason advancement: 23-12, lost to West Chicago in 4A regional finals
Top returners: Loren Cihlar, So., OF; Amanda Ciran, So., P; Amanda Engel, Jr., P
Top newcomers: Annie Korth, So., C/IF/OF; Juliaclaire Plezbert, So., IF/OF; Ashley Seering, So., IF/OF
Season outlook: Open softball competition was the norm on St. Charles' north side, too, as Stary promoted higher-quality workouts by not setting starters at the beginning of practices. So far, she has found it to be beneficial. The young North Stars, who feature nine sophomores, three seniors and two juniors, enter the season eager to maintain that work ethic throughout the year.
Quoting coach Stary: "Keeping with our theme and goal of getting better year after year, they're really doing well to get on that pace."
