Last year, the Oak Park and River Forest High School softball team finished third in the IHSA Class 4A state tournament with a 30-9 record. This season could see a slower than usual start as the Huskies lost eight players to graduation and while there is an influx of good talent, the vast majority of the players are young and inexperienced.
OPRF coach J.P. Coughlin knows there will likely be ups and downs in the early going but remains optimistic about the season.
“It’s an adjustment from our senior-dominated group last year,” he said. “These kids work and practice hard. They’ll be alright.”
OPRF entered this week 1-1. The Huskies defeated West Aurora in the season opener, March 14, 14-11. Senior Leia Hammerschmidt, one of four returning starters, drove in six runs, including a go-ahead three-run homer in the eighth. Freshman Zoe Daly got the win in relief.
On March 19, OPRF lost 8-1 to visiting Riverside-Brookfield at Ridgeland Common. The Huskies managed just two hits on the day.
Senior Julia Henderson and sophomores Charlie Terry and Harper Travis are OPRF’s other returning starters. The Huskies also bring back seniors Gabriella Chesney, Georgia Godellas, Avery Lane, Carolyn Rainey, and Isabella Saylor. Chesney and Rainey will be relied upon in the pitching circle.
Newcomers, besides Daly, are freshmen Lily Maas and Maya Mendell, sophomore Alessandra Gerut, juniors Lyla Austin and Lianna Ortiz, and senior Cecilia Piper.
As always, OPRF has a difficult schedule. Highlights include the annual spring break trip to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, March 30-April 1; the Rosemont Rumble Jamboree, May 1-2; and non-conference games with Fenwick, Marist, and Whitney Young.
Regarding this year’s West Suburban Silver title race, Coughlin believes it’s wide open. While he didn’t mention any specific goals for the season, he hopes OPRF will be playing at its best when the playoffs come around.
“We’re probably going to be inconsistent as young players can be,” Coughlin said. “We’ll learn along the way. I’m not anywhere close to panicking; I know it’ll take some time.”
Fenwick
The Friars started the season with two defeats last week: 9-2 to Amundsen, March 19, and 4-0 to Mother McAuley, March 20. But head coach Valerie Jisa remains confident.
“This group has a lot of potential,” she said. “We have the talent and work ethic. Our focus will be on bringing it together and competing at a high level.”
Fenwick returns five starters from last year’s 13-12 squad which won a regional title: sophomore pitcher/utility player Sofia Kateeb, sophomore catcher Ellie Brady, junior shortstop Bella Bigham, junior infielder Alex Purta, and senior second baseman Gianna Pescatore. Also, junior pitcher/first baseman Jordan Rossi returns after being on hiatus last season.
Senior Sophia Leonardi, who will play volleyball at DePauw University this fall, figures to be a key contributor for the Friars. Newcomers to keep an eye on are freshmen Ayanna Bourn and Hailey Smith-Young.
For the first time since 2019, Fenwick has a spring break trip. Like OPRF, the Friars will be in Pigeon Forge, and Jisa adds they’ll attend a Tennessee Volunteers’ softball game.
“Our goals this season are to put the team before the individual, play to our strengths, and keep the bigger picture in mind throughout a long season,” Jisa said. “This is a talented group and if we can consistently put the pieces together and compete the way we know we can, we’re excited about what this team is capable of.”
Trinity
The Blazers, 2-17 last season, started this year on a very good note, notching a 6-5 walk-off win over Aurora Central Catholic in nine innings at Triton College, March 19. Sophomore Gisella Corral’s single brought home Liv Trendel with the winning run. Freshman Jaida Escanio had an excellent debut, going 4-for-5.
“It was great. I’m really proud of them,” said Trinity coach Chardonnay Harris.
It’s been a struggle for Trinity the past two seasons as Harris, now in her third season, has gradually rebuilt the program from scratch. But the former OPRF star is optimistic about the Blazers, who returned 13 players, learning from the rough experiences and taking strides forward this spring.
“They’ve grown tremendously. What Trinity cultivates is sisterhood,” Harris said. “They’re more confident and talkative.”
Furthermore, Harris said her team is looking at Trinity basketball’s recent run to the IHSA Class 3A third-place trophy as inspiration.
“We actually went to their practice before they went downstate. Coach Kim [Coleman] invited us,” she said. “It’s nice to have girls for them to look at and a coach like Kim to use as a mentor.”