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IHSA softball playoffs 2023: Predicting the Class 3A and 4A Illinois state finals

adam duvall, journal star
·4 min read

The 2023 Illinois High School Association Class 3A and 4A softball state finals are scheduled for June 9-10 at Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria.

Here is information about each matchup, including top players and predictions on which teams will make it to the championship games and who is going to leave Peoria with a state title.

Tickets, matchups, directions: Class 3A and 4A softball state finals in Peoria

CLASS 3A

Lemont vs. Lisle Benet

  • First pitch: 10 a.m. Friday

  • Records: Lemont (33-1); Lisle Benet (24-11)

  • State finals appearances: Lemont 2022 (1st, 3A), 2021 (2nd, 3A), 1989 (3rd, A), 1988 (2nd, A), 1985 (A); Benet 2011 (3rd, 4A).

  • Top Lemont players: Sr. P Sage Mardjetko (21-0 W-L, 303 Ks, 0.00 ERA, 125 IP; .386, 16 RBIs, 5 HRs), Jr. INF Raegan Duncan (.425, 34 RBIs, 12 2Bs, 3 HRs), Sr. C-INF Frankie Rita (.591, 23 RBIs, 8 2Bs), Jr. P-INF Avaree Taylor (.543, 23 RBIs, 9 2Bs).

  • Top Benet players: Jr. P Alex O'Rourke (9-3 W-L, 39 Ks, 2.45 ERA, 83 IP), So. SS Angela Horejs (.353, 31 RBIs, 4 2Bs, 3 3Bs, 9 HRs), Jr. 3B Bridget Chapman (.395, 27 RBIs, 7 2Bs, 7 HRs), Jr. C Grace Babich (.276, 21 RBIs, 3 2B, 1 3B).

  • Semifinal prediction: Lemont 7, Benet 0

Antioch vs. Charleston

  • First pitch: 12:30 p.m. Friday

  • Records: Antioch (33-1); Charleston (28-5)

  • State finals appearances: Antioch 2022 (3rd, 3A), 2010 (3rd, 3A); Charleston none.

  • Top Antioch players: Jr. P-OF Jacey Schuler (18-1 W-L, 0.92 ERA, 251 Ks, 129 IPs; .564, 63 RBIs, 10 2Bs, 3 3Bs, 9 HRs), Sr. CF Eden Echevarria (.517, 36 RBIs, 11 2Bs, 2 3Bs, 11 HRs), Sr. 2B-3B Emily Brecht (.474, 36 RBIs, 8 2Bs, 7 HRs), Fr. SS Claire Schulyler (.371, 34 RBIs, 5 2Bs, 3 3Bs, 5 HRs).

  • Top Charleston players: Sr. P-1B Karah Moore (12-4 W-L, 3.50 ERA, 85 Ks, 100 IPs; .483, 66 RBIs, 17 2Bs, 2 3Bs, 8 HRs), Sr. OF Kailyn Wilson (.523, 43 RBIs, 13 2Bs, 2 3Bs, 9 HRs), Sr. C Erin Blair (.389, 34 RBIs, 13 2Bs, 4 HRs), Sr. OF Clara Cox (.420, 37 RBIs, 10 2Bs, 2 HRs).

  • Semifinal prediction: Antioch 11, Charleston 2

  • Championship prediction: Lemont 4, Antioch 0

IHSA softball: The 334 players named Class 1A and 2A all-state by the Illinois Coaches Association

CLASS 4A

Oak Park-River Forest vs. Yorkville

  • First pitch: 3 p.m. Friday

  • Records: OP-RF (30-7); Yorkville (35-2).

  • State finals appearances: OPRF 2017 (1st, 4A), 2016 (1st, 4A), 2015 (3rd, 4A), 2007 (AA), 2006 (AA), 2005 (1st, AA), 2004 (2nd, AA), 2003 (3rd, AA), 2002 (AA), 2000 (AA), 1995 (AA), 1993 (AA), 1991 (AA); Yorkville none.

  • Top OPRF players: Sr. P Bella Morales (12-4 W-L, 97 Ks, 2.26 ERA, 99 IPs), Jr. SS Elyssa Hasapis (.583, 45 RBIs, 18 2Bs, 4 3Bs, 14 HRs), So. INF Maura Carmody (.321, 32 RBIs, 4 2Bs, 2 3Bs, 6 HRs), Jr. RF-P Jordan Alioto (.466, 23 RBIs, 6 2Bs, 3 HRs).

  • Top Yorkville players: Sr. P Madi Reeves (24-1 W-L, 326 Ks, 0.61 ERA, 161 IPs), Sr. SS Sara Ebner (.509, 45 RBIs, 14 2Bs, 7 HRs), Fr. C Kayla Kersting (.472, 37 RBIs, 10 2Bs, 3 3Bs, 6 HRs), Sr. OF Kaitlyn Roberts (.385, 31 RBIs, 9 2Bs, 4 3Bs, 5 HRs).

  • Semifinal prediction: OPRF 6, Yorkville 4

Peoria scores: 2023 IHSA softball state tournament bracket, schedule, scores, pairings

Chicago Marist vs. Barrington

  • First pitch: 5:30 p.m. Friday

  • Records: Marist (35-2); Barrington (35-5)

  • State finals appearances: Marist 2022 (2nd, 4A), 2021 (1st, 4A), 2019 (4th, 4A), 2017 (4th, 4A), 2015 (1st, 4A), 2012 (1st, 4A); Barrington 2022 (4th, 4A), 2017 (3rd, 4A), 2015 (4th, 4A), 2013 (3rd, 4A), 2008 (2nd, 4A), 2007 (2nd, AA), 2006 (AA), 2005 (3rd, AA), 2004 (3rd, AA), 1993 (4th, AA), 1976 (single class).

  • Top Marist players: So. P Gianna Hillegonds (25-1 W-L, 153 Ks, 1.05 ERA, 147 IPs), Sr. CF Isabel Cunnea (.491, 70 RBIs, 13 2Bs, 22 HRs), So. 3B Gabriella Novickas (.462, 51 RBIs, 5 2Bs, 18 HRs), So. RF Breanna Hanik (.412, 39 RBIs, 7 2Bs, 13 HRs).

  • Top Barrington players: Sr. P Allie Goodwin (23-5 W-L, 170 Ks, 2.52 ERA, 178 IPs; .496, 42 RBIs, 17 2Bs, 12 HRs), Jr. C Emma Kavanagh (.462, 49 RBIs, 12 2Bs, 12 HRs), Sr. INF-C Ainsley Muno (.462, 58 RBIs, 13 2Bs, 11 HRs), So. INF Lexi Thomas (.347, 45 RBIs, 12 2Bs, 3 3Bs, 7 HRs).

  • Semifinal prediction: Marist 4, Barrington 3

  • Championship prediction: Oak Park-River Forest 5, Chicago Marist 2

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: IHSA Class 3A, 4A softball brackets: state finals predictions, preview