Who are the Springfield area's top softball teams to follow in the 2023 playoffs?
This high school softball season has seen a number of freshmen not only contribute but also vault their teams among the best in the Springfield area.
Chatham Glenwood’s dominance has been anything but surprising in Class 3A. A couple of freshmen, however, have further replenished the Titans to a glistening 22-1-1 overall and 16-0 Central State Eight Conference record. That includes leadoff hitter Ryleigh Kiel and starting pitcher Irie Lohrenz.
More: How Mount Pulaski’s arrival has been a blessing for the Buffalo Tri-City softball team
Other freshmen stars have cropped up at Buffalo Tri-City/Niantic Sangamon Valley (pitcher Lily Woodworth and catcher Lexi Patton), Gillespie (shortstop Ava Parish and utility player Sadie Sholtis) and Rushville-Industry (Italee Ford).
They will now make their postseason debut.
Here are the Springfield area’s top teams to follow in the IHSA playoffs that kick off with Class 1A and 2A this Monday, followed by 3A on Monday, May 22.
CLASS 1A
Havana
The Ducks will seek a third straight regional title as the No. 2 seed in the Concord Triopia Regional. They have had to cope without one of their top hitters, Kaity Robison, throughout the season due to a basketball injury but still bristle with firepower. Senior outfielder Liz Waymire leads the team with 11 home runs after rebounding from a torn ACL that derailed her sophomore year. She also has a second-best .452 batting average behind only junior infielder Lauren Herbst (.457 average with 21 RBIs and 44 runs). Senior pitcher Taryn Wickman, who’s committed to Spoon River Community College, has a 2.33 ERA with 89 strikeouts on top of a .433 hitting average. Perhaps they can duplicate the same postseason magic as the girls basketball team that reached as far as the Elite Eight.
CLASS 2A
Gillespie
The Miners received no favors despite a strong a 22-3 overall record to go along with a third straight South Central Conference title at 9-0. They picked up the No. 3 seed in the Greenville Regional and may likely square off against No. 5 Staunton (16-8) in the regional semifinals and No. 2 Salem (20-5) in the final. Freeburg, which nicked Gillespie in last year’s sectional final, may also loom as the host team in the sectional semifinals. Gillespie, though, is more than capable to meet the challenge. It starts with junior pitcher Emma Gipson, of course. The 2022 State Journal-Register Small School Softball Player of the Year is 15-0 with a 1.74 ERA and has chalked up 208 strikeouts. She also leads the offense with a .457 average and seven home runs. Ava Parish is second on the team with a .400 average and two home runs.
Buffalo Tri-City/Niantic Sangamon Valley
The Storm also face a potential formidable roadblock out of the gate in its home regional. They earned the No. 4 seed despite a 17-3 overall mark and is grouped with top-seed and Sangamo Conference co-champion Stanford Olympia (20-6). Junior infielders Scout Tschantz (.589) and Kamryn Sturdy (.508) form a strong top order, along with Lexi Patton (.532). Fellow freshman Lily Woodworth has surfaced as a premier pitcher at 13-3 with a 3.07 ERA.
Auburn
The Trojans repeated as the Sangamo Conference co-champions after grabbing their first conference title last season. They also added to its growing luster with a school record for most wins in a season at 22-7 overall. The new coop with Lutheran has supplied added fuel with sophomore twins Meena and Piper Taylor. Meena leads the team with a .582 batting average while senior Shelby Seiler is second with a .455 average. The former also touts a 10-2 record and 1.02 ERA with 174 strikeouts. No. 3 seed regional host Williamsville could play spoiler.
More: Why the nascent Auburn softball team is buzzing about the future
CLASS 3A
Chatham Glenwood
The Titans could be headed to a second straight unbeaten Central State Eight Conference record but still has Springfield High (22-3 overall, 14-2 CS8) looming on Tuesday and Wednesday ahead of the playoffs. Senior infielder Claire Black, who’s committed to Parkland College, has been spectacular with a .582 batting average and five home runs. Freshman outfielder Ryleigh Kiel (.578) and sophomore catcher Taryn Griffith (.507) also star for the Titans, along with sophomore twins Kate (.368) and Cassie (.462) Feld. Cassie leads the team with seven home runs. Freshman Irie Lohrenz (10-0, 2.47 ERA) will be a force for years to come and totaled 13 Ks in a 5-0 nonconference win over Quincy Notre Dame. Black and Cassie additionally buoy the rotation.
Passing the torch: Pitching duo is present and future for Springfield High softball
Springfield High
Sophomore ace Mia Volpert has helped turn the Senators into a bona fide contender in 3A after the program clinched its first regional title since 1992 last season. Volpert is 17-1 with a 0.59 ERA and 194 strikeouts. She also leads the team at the plate and hits .556 with 39 RBIs and 55 runs -- not to mention nine home runs. Junior catcher Kendall Kanuer has supplied a .437 average, followed by juniors Megan Bullock (.395) and Emma Scheffler (.367). The Senators garnered the No. 2 seed in the Rochester Regional. Perhaps SHS and Glenwood may meet again in the Chatham Glenwood Sectional final.
Contact Bill Welt: 788-1545, bill.welt@sj-r.com, Twitter.com/BillWelt
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: IHSA softball: What Springfield teams to watch for 2023 playoffs
