Marist returns power-packed lineup, but Providence and Lincoln-Way East look to challenge.
Top 10 Teams
1. Marist (35-3): Junior Soleil Tate (Wisconsin) will be taking over as the staff ace for the RedHawks, who are looking to rebound from tough Class 4A supersectional loss. Headliners consist of junior catcher Lexi Kyros (Michigan), senior infielder Ellie Holmstrom (Saint Louis), junior infielders Mary Fortner (Northwestern), Layla Peters (Notre Dame) and Alia Rowles (Western Michigan) and sophomore outfielders Maddie Rogers and Layla Termunde.
2. Providence (26-12): The Celtics will match any team in the state experience-wise with nine returning starters. That list includes senior outfielder Angelina Cole (Western Michigan), senior infielder Bella Olszta, junior catcher/outfielder Mia Sanfratello, junior infielder/catcher Ava Misch, sophomore pitcher/infielder Macie Robbins and sophomore infielder Aleigh Hill.
3. Lincoln-Way East (27-7): The Griffins have a four-year starter in the circle with Audrey Bullock (Fairmont State). Behind her is some big-time talent in senior infielder/outfielder Mackenzie Bacha (Louisville), senior infielder Maddie Henry (Penn State) and senior infielder Cassidy Jagielski (Notre Dame).
4. Lincoln-Way West (23-12): The Warriors return their most experienced senior class since the birth of the program in 2009. Infielder Reese Rourke (North Carolina State) will be adding to records she has already established. Other key seniors include infielders Reese Cusack (Seton Hill) and Molly Finn (Valparaiso), catcher Reese Forsythe (St. Ambrose) and pitching ace Abby Brueggmann (St. Xavier).
5. Lockport (28-9): The Porters finished fourth last season in Class 4A. They’ll try again for state behind three key players — senior pitcher Bridget Faut (Maryville), senior infielder Alexis Vander Tuuk (West Alabama) and senior outfielder Taylor Lane. Senior catcher/infielder Olivia Picciola (Wayne State) is back after missing a season due to injury.
Lockport’s Taylor Lane (20) hits the ball to right field against Oak Park-River Forest in the Class 4A third-place game at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Rob Dicker / Daily Southtown)
6. Lincoln-Way Central (34-2): It’ll be tough to replace an impact player like Lisabella Dimitrijevic, the 2025 Daily Southtown Softball Player of the Year. The young arms in the circle will have plenty of talent behind them, however. They include senior infielder Ellie McLaughlin (Valparaiso), junior infielder Juno Lundquist and junior outfielders Mia Degliomini and Carly Karales.
7. St. Laurence (23-9): A strong core returns from last season’s run to a Class 3A fourth-place finish. That group features the pitching duo of seniors Maddie Misch and Breanna Cahue (Wisconsin-Oshkosh). Sophomore infielder Demi Lotus and senior infielder Vanessa Kates (Seton Hall) were both all-state.
8. Beecher (37-2): The Class 2A defending state champions are poised for another run, led by senior Taylor Norkus (Colgate), who pitched the final five innings of the state title game. Other key senior returnees include infielder Elena Kvasnicka and outfielders Makenzie Johnson (Northern Illinois) and Liliana Irwin (Millikin).
9. Richards (20-10): All-state pitcher Emily Chavosky returns for senior season. She’ll find support from senior infielder Mia Albon and senior infielder/outfielder Abbey Lichter. Piper Egan, a senior, can play both infield and outfield and will also help out sophomore Layla Kruse behind the plate.
10. Shepard (28-6): The senior leaders for the Astros are infielder Meghan Potenza (Illinois College) and outfielder Juliann Radz. Junior infielder Emma Gelecke and junior pitcher/outfielder Emrie Peterson are both tough outs, while sophomore infielder Carly Edmiston and junior catcher Grace Woolwine are impact players.
Shepard’s Meghan Potenza (8) throws to first base for an out against the host Vikings during the Class 4A Homewood-Flossmoor Regional semifinals in Flossmoor on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)
The 25 Players to Watch
• Samara Agredano, De La Salle, senior, infielder.
• Mackenzie Bacha, Lincoln-Way East, senior, outfielder/fielder.
• Emily Chavosky, Richards, senior, pitcher.
• Ana Cisek, Andrew, senior, infielder.
• Angelina Cole, Providence, senior, outfielder.
• Bridget Faut, Lockport, senior, pitcher.
• Reese Forsythe, Lincoln-Way West, senior, catcher.
• Molly Goyke, Evergreen Park, sophomore, outfielder.
• Maddie Henry, Lincoln-Way East, senior, infielder.
• Makenzie Johnson, Beecher, senior, outfielder.
• Vanessa Kates, St. Laurence, senior, infielder.
• Lexi Kyros, Marist, junior, catcher.
• Demi Lotus, St. Laurence, sophomore, infielder.
• Ellie McLaughlin, Lincoln-Way Central, senior, infielder.
• Taylor Norkus, Beecher, senior, pitcher.
• Bella Olszta, Providence, senior, infielder.
• Claire Podrebarac, Lemont, sophomore, pitcher/infielder.
• Meghan Potenza, Shepard, senior, infielder.
• Taylor Purchas, Homewood-Flossmoor, sophomore, outfielder.
• Morgan Reczkiewicz, Oak Forest, senior, infielder.
• Addison Rizzatto, Joliet Catholic, senior infielder.
• Maddie Rogers, Marist, sophomore, outfielder.
• Reese Rourke, Lincoln-Way West, senior, infielder.
• Soleil Tate, Marist, junior, pitcher/infielder.
• Zoe Trunk, Sandburg, senior, infielder.
Tony Baranek is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
