Spring sports are here and in this post we look at softball. Here’s what the city’s coaches had to say about their teams.
School name: Juarez
Last season’s record: 7-7
Top returning players:
Class of 2024:
Rosa Patino, SS, CF, LF, P
Juliet Ruiz, C, 1B
Class of 2025:
Martha Patino, C, SS, 3B
Coach’s season outlook: We’ll finish 1st place in our conference but I think our team still has room to develop in order to be competitive in City and State.
School name: Payton
Last season’s record: 10-19
Top returning players:
Class of 2024:
Lilia Tanabe, C-IF; 2023 stats: 29 GP .506 BA, 23 RBI, 8 2B, 3 3B and 5 HR and 1.400 OPS.
Ava Manrique, CF; 2023 stats: 26 GP .301 BA, 22 R, .420 OBP and16 SB.
Class of 2025:
Tessa McGuire, SS; 2023 stats: 28 GP, .405 BA, 25 R, 20 RBI, 5 2B, 3 3B, 2 HR and 1.115 OPS
Class of 2026:
Maren Theyssen, OF
Class of 2027:
Sophia Hernandez, P-UT
Jacqueline Madda, P-OF
Coach’s season outlook: Walter Payton College Prep will return 8 varsity players including seven seniors along with 4 starters. The team should also include some solid newcomers in what could be the best freshman class in the last decade. The team will be challenged on the pitcher’s mound after losing two 2023 graduates that threw 83% of the team’s innings. 2024’s pitching staff will be young but ready for the season. The Payton club will play close to the IHSA maximum number of games with quite a few against the team’s 3A state opponents. Our goal is to stay above .500 in both the rugged CPL Red Conference and non-conference play but have a winning record against our 3A opponents.
School name: Simeon
Top returning players:
Class of 2024:
Slyvia Harrison, Pitcher/Captain
Denver Johnson, Pitcher/2nd Base
Class of 2025:
Mia Holcombe, Utility Player
Jaliyah Morgan, 1st and 3rd base
Class of 2026:
Amirah Manson, 2nd base and Shortstop
Class of 2027:
Ariyah Black, Utility Player
LaNiyah Monclie, Outfield
Coach’s season outlook: Rebuild the program stronger
School name: Von Steuben
Last season’s record: 4-12
Top returning players:
Class of 2024:
Destiny Nino, C
Class of 2025:
Abby Land, P
Class of 2026:
Cindy Gutierrez, IF, OF
Sophia Hernandez, P
Class of 2027:
Jayla Penaloza, 1B, OF & P
Tiana Miller, OF
Coach’s season outlook: We are a very young developing team with only 2 Seniors and 2 Juniors and the others are Sophomores & Freshmen. We are learning the game this season and are looking to be competitive in the next couple seasons.
School name: Young
Last season record: 20-16
Top players returning:
Class of 2024:
Gigi Martinez – 3B – ICA 2nd Team All State 2023 – 15th in IL with 14 HR – 6th in IL with 64 RBI
Sydney Gilbert – Centerfield, Miami of Ohio Commit, All City as FR, SO, JR, All State 3rd Team 2023 – 21st in IL in R with 55
Class of 2025:
Chiqui Vazquez, SS, DePaul Commit
Class of 2026:
Natalie Nieves, Catcher-3B-Util; All City as a Freshman, 40 H’s as a Freshman
Emily Rodriguez, P
Class of 2027:
Itzel Jaime, Utility
Liani Delgado, P/1B
Coach’s season outlook: I feel we will finish competing for the City Championship, and we should be very competitive in the State Tournament. I’ve been around a while and it would not surprise me if this team made a run at the super-sectional and beyond.
