Following its dramatic come-from-behind victory over DePaul Prep in the regional final, the Oak Park and River Forest High School softball team entered last week’s IHSA Class 4A Whitney Young Sectional semifinal versus Lane Tech with a ton of confidence.
But in another example of how strong pitching often shuts down strong hitting in the playoffs, the third-seeded Champions defeated the second-seeded Huskies 5-0, May 26. OPRF (26-12) managed only three hits against two Lane pitchers.
“We struggled with their spin on the curveballs and didn’t make solid enough contact,” said OPRF coach J.P. Coughlin. “We had our chances, but (Lane) was the better team and deserved to win.”
Carolyn Rainey started in the circle for the Huskies and allowed three hits plus six walks in four innings. But she was able to get key outs when needed to keep the game scoreless.
“It was hot, but Carolyn kept getting us out of jams,” Coughlin said.
Zoe Daly entered in relief to start the fifth and gave up a solo home run to Olivia Segura, giving Lane a 1-0 lead. The Champions, eventual sectional winners, tacked on another run in the sixth, then put things away with three more runs in the seventh.
Senior Leia Hammerschmidt and freshmen Lily Maas and Maya Mendell each had a hit for OPRF.
“I’m happy with how we did,” said Coughlin of the season. “We won (the West Suburban Conference Silver Division) title, we won the regional. Getting back to Peoria wasn’t meant to be, but it was still a great season.”
OPRF loses eight players to graduation, including Hammerschmidt and Rainey. Hammerschmidt, Mendell, Rainey, senior Julia Henderson, freshman Sienna Staszak, and sophomore Charlie Terry made All-Conference in the WSC Silver. Daly, Maas, Mendell, Staszak, and Terry are among 13 potential returnees for the Huskies next year.
“We had four freshmen and three sophomores contributing for us this year. I’m pretty confident these underclassmen will work really hard, and I’m optimistic about next spring,” Coughlin said.
OPRF girls soccer
OPRF came into the 3A Downers Grove South Sectional semifinal, May 26, feeling confident after upsetting York in the regional final. The seventh-seeded Huskies hoped to atone for a regular-season defeat to Lyons Township, but instead, the second-seeded Lions notched a 3-0 shutout to end the season for OPRF (10-8-2).
“It was hard to get into (offensive) rhythm, the momentum was difficult to get going,” said OPRF coach Lauren Zallis. “It was a tough one; LT’s a great team.”
Considering OPRF had lost 14 players from last year’s squad to graduation, this year can be deemed a success. The Huskies won a regional title for the second consecutive year and gradually improved.
Lyons Township’s Carolina Capizzi (8) tries to get past Oak Park and River Forest’s Ana Sofia Mrotzek (10) during the Class 3A Downers Grove South Sectional semifinal Tuesday, May 26, 2026 in Downers Grove, IL. (Steve Johnston/Wednesday Journal) 
Oak Park and River Forest’s Daphne Mason (19) and Lyons Township’s Claire Mortonson (9) chase down a loose ball during the Class 3A Downers Grove South Sectional semifinal Tuesday, May 26, 2026 in Downers Grove, IL. (Steve Johnston/Wednesday Journal) 
Lyons Township’s Zibby Michaelson (15) and Oak Park and River Forest’s Veronika Chiprich (6) battle for control of the ball during the Class 3A Downers Grove South Sectional semifinal Tuesday, May 26, 2026 in Downers Grove, IL. (Steve Johnston/Wednesday Journal)
“We had some mountains to climb during the season and I do think overall our on-field connection improved,” Zallis said. “We integrated a big junior class into our style of play and that’s going to be important next year.”
OPRF loses eight players to graduation, including Division I signees Ana Sofia Mrotzek (Loyola) and Lola Zarate (Northern Illinois). Mrotzek, Zarate, and Maisie Champaneri (Macalester) made All-Conference in the WSC Silver. But Zallis feels the Huskies are going in the right direction, and she’ll have 12 potential returnees to keep things that way.
“They’re the future of this program and they got some valuable experience,” Zallis said.
Trinity soccer
Coming off their first regional title victory in 10 years, Trinity anticipated keeping the good vibes going heading into its 1A Timothy Christian sub-sectional final against F.W. Parker, May 26. But the top-seeded Colonels ended the Blazers’ season with a 2-0 shutout. Senior goalkeeper Maggie Stumbris made six saves for Trinity (10-6-2) in defeat.
“We gave up two soft goals,” said Trinity coach Robert Fowler, “but at the same time we had problems putting pressure on (F.W. Parker). They did a good job shutting down our best offensive options.”
Still, Fowler deemed his debut season a success. He felt the chemistry and teamwork the Blazers developed this spring in addition to buying into his coaching allowed for the good results.
Trinity loses just three to graduation, but they’re important ones: Stumbris, Natalie Linares, and Grace Ramel – all captains and three-year varsity players. Ramel, who had 38 goals this season and 115 for her career, and Stumbris made All-Conference in the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference White Division.
However, with 11 potential returnees, Fowler is confident the Blazers can keep improving provided they put in the necessary work.
“Our returning players need to continue playing soccer in the offseason,” he said.