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Chicago Tribune
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Andrean's Sadie Drousias prepared for this. ‘I've never pitched as much as I did in the offseason.' It shows.
Andrean junior Sadie Drousias lived in pitcher's circles during the offseason. Every minute that Drousias had available was devoted to preparing to be the 59ers' top pitcher this season after ace Abbey Bond graduated last year. 'In my entire life, I've never pitched as much as I did in the offseason from my sophomore year to my junior year,' Drousias said. 'Pretty much every day it was just pitching, pitching, pitching.' It's a role Drousias owns for Andrean (10-6, 4-4), which is in third place in the Northwest Crossroads Conference and hopes to make a postseason run after its Class 2A sectional semifinal exit last year. She's 6-4 in 57 innings of work, having already surpassed her 55 1/3 innings as a sophomore and her 56 1/3 innings as a freshman. With Bond pitching for Purdue Northwest, Drousias has taken the reins. 'I know she worked super hard in the offseason, and I'm really proud of the progress she's made,' Andrean coach Miranda Elish said. 'I don't think she pitched all that much before she came here, but she knew that was a possibility down the road in her career, she prepared for it and she's ready for it.' Drousias has also been a key part of the 59ers' offense. She's hitting .444 with five doubles and two home runs, and she's in a three-way tie for the team lead with 18 RBIs. She said a more selective approach at the plate has helped fuel her success there. 'I'm looking for the pitch that I want to hit,' she said. 'Those other years, I'd just swing at the first thing I saw.' Drousias knows batters will make contact against her too. Her work in the circle is more about placement than power. She has struck out just 45 this season. 'Some people are going to hit the ball,' she said. 'But if my spots are on point, then we should be able to get the routine plays that we need so we can go far.' It took some time for that message to get through to Drousias, according to junior shortstop Aubrey Grasha. They play on the same travel team, and Grasha said Drousias had to be convinced that she didn't need to strike out all 21 batters every game. 'She's taken a step back and is realizing that she doesn't have to put so much pressure on herself,' Grasha said. 'She's not a strikeout pitcher, so she's going to put balls in play, and her defense is going to go to work for her. We're not going to leave her out there by herself.' But Drousias is a fiery competitor. She's the youngest of four siblings, and the other three have played sports in college. Her older brothers Colton and Caleb are wrestlers, and her older sister Cydney plays softball at Lewis. 'I'd say I do feel some pressure because I'd be the only one who didn't,' Drousias said. 'So of course I feel like I have to get up there.' Elish isn't surprised. 'You can tell she's the youngest of four kids,' Elish said. 'She just fights, man — like any youngest sibling would. She fights hard.' That will carry Drousias forward, even after the huge leaps she has already made as a pitcher. 'From where I was last year, I feel like I've improved a ton,' she said. 'But there's always something you can do better.'
Chicago Tribune
11-04-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Munster's Mason Jarrett builds on relationships with brother and teammates to become a ‘special player'
Munster senior outfielder Mason Jarrett doesn't take too kindly to losing. That's not limited to baseball. It also applies to more than video games, card games and board games. It extends into areas not typically associated with keeping score. 'My competitive nature has always been there, since I was a little kid,' Jarrett said. 'I remember it started with me and my brother — who's the first one to close the door, who's the first one to put their seat belt on, who's the first one to eat — and that was like at 5, and it just kept going. It kept going in my mind that I needed to be first, that I always needed to do something better. 'I'm a very competitive person. I'm not going to sit here and lie.' Truth be told, that characteristic has served Jarrett well on the baseball field. After earning a call-up from the junior varsity team as a sophomore and securing a starting spot, he enjoyed a breakout season as a junior. The Triton commit hit .410 with a homer, a team-high 28 RBIs, a team-high 25 runs scored and 14 stolen bases. Jarrett is off to a flying start this season. He's 5-for-10 with five RBIs, eight runs and four stolen bases after the Mustangs (2-1, 1-1) lost their debut on their new turf field in a Northwest Crossroads Conference game against Hobart on Thursday. 'A lot of it's just been relaxing,' Jarrett said. 'Last year, I had a pretty good season, and just trying to re-create the same thing, just breathing, having some fun, smiling more. You may make an out, but it's like, 'So what?' Don't worry about it. Just go into the next at-bat like nothing happened. It's been fun.' Munster senior shortstop Zach Wright, a Purdue Northwest commit who is one of a program-high seven seniors committed to play in college, is a co-captain with Jarrett and appreciates his contributions. 'He's a special player who brings both offensive and defensive traits to our team that you don't see very often,' Wright said. 'As a teammate, he's always very motivational to all of our players, not even just our younger players, but also our seniors as well. He keeps us motivated throughout the season, helps bring everyone up, not bring anyone down.' Jarrett set a significant foundation as a sophomore, learning and drawing inspiration from the seniors at the time, including Kevin Hall Jr. and Denham Kozy. He continues to keep in touch with them. 'I love those two guys,' Jarrett said. 'Those two guys are like my brothers. I try to surround myself with people like that. When they were here, it was like, 'Oh, he's doing this good. I want to do it better.' I was always trying to be better than them.' Jarrett's brother Troy continues to be a source of motivation. 'A lot of it's based on my brother, making him proud,' Mason Jarrett said. 'I always want to make sure he says, 'That's my brother right there. He's just great.'' Troy Jarrett started as a sophomore on the Munster boys basketball team this past season. He's also a talented baseball player, but Mason Jarrett couldn't convince him to continue on that path too. 'I tried,' Mason Jarrett said. 'I really did. I really did. I had a conversation with him, but he couldn't.' In the meantime, Mason Jarrett continued to develop his baseball skills. 'I've gotten a lot faster this year,' he said. 'Hitting-wise, I've tried to open up my game. Last year, I lived a lot in left-center. This year, I've really opened up my game more to right field. That's helped me a lot also. 'I'm a quick guy. I realized I should use it and go the opposite way.' Munster coach Mike Mikolajczyk realizes what he has in Jarrett. 'Mason knows that I love him,' Mikolajczyk said. 'He's a special player, no doubt about it. He's basically a five-tool player. … He has all the tools.' Jarrett has made an impact both on and off the field. He helps out at the South Holland Church of Christ, which his grandparents operate. He has also developed an affinity and eye for sports photography, particularly taking pictures of Mundelein football and basketball games this school year. Jarrett plans to pursue a career as a special education teacher. He has already gained insight in that area by participating in Munster's ASPIRE program. 'He's just a great kid, comes from a great family,' Mikolajczyk said. 'I just love that kid. He's a great leader for our program and has been a great player for us for three years, and he's probably an even better person. He's going to be missed after this year, for sure.'
Chicago Tribune
04-04-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Munster's Caroline Wendlinger decides to ‘stick to cleats.' But the versatile sophomore is no one-trick pony.
Munster sophomore Caroline Wendlinger may be showing the full range of her abilities this season. As the Mustangs' catcher last year, she was a key cog in their Northwest Crossroads Conference championship run. But in the early stages of this season, Wendlinger has played not only behind the plate but also first base, second base and third base. 'Last year, she only caught,' Munster coach Jill Perez said. 'I never let her play anywhere else because she's such a phenomenal catcher. To allow her some reins to go out on the field and see what she's got, as soon as we put her out there, I was like, 'Whoa, she's good.' 'She's good everywhere.' Perez has appreciated Wendlinger's willingness to move around. 'She really stepped up,' Perez said. 'Now it's like, 'Hey, you play first base?' And she's like, 'Sure, I play first base.' For her to be so open and willing to do all of that even though she loves catching, she loves playing third, it's great. … She's been super flexible. She's putting the team first.' Meanwhile, Wendlinger is also mentoring freshman catcher Cali Rybicki. 'She's working with the younger catcher,' Perez said of Wendlinger. 'She might also know, 'If I work with my younger catcher, I can get out on the field more.' But it's just making her feel confident in everything she does. 'At the plate, she's doing awesome. Her offensive game is making her defensive game better, and her defensive game is making her offensive game better. That's just a win-win for everybody.' Wendlinger, who was hitting .419 with three homers and 12 RBIs through nine games for the Mustangs (7-2), has embraced her versatility. 'I've been playing in multiple positions, so what's been working for me best is staying calm, staying relaxed and making sure I'm ready no matter where coach Perez decides to put me,' Wendlinger said. 'That's really important for me right now. 'I'm just making sure I'm ready to play anywhere she puts me. That's my biggest goal. I just want to be helpful anywhere, so wherever coach Perez decides to put me, I'm ready to go.' Wendlinger was ready to go at the outset of her high school career. She is part of a talented class that also includes pitcher/third baseman Ally Compton, who set a program record with 15 homers last season, and pitcher/third baseman Kaylee O'Connell. Wendlinger hit .330 with three homers and 27 RBIs last season. 'She had a great freshman year, really great,' Perez said. 'I have this group of freshmen that came out last year that are now sophomores, and it's just so cool because they grew up together, they're super tight friends and they push each other. Once the first one hits a home run, they're like, 'I'm going to hit the home run next.' They're pushing each other, but never in a way like, 'I'm better than you,' which is cool. 'Caroline for us this year has just matured in every sense of the game and of her life — just everything.' Wendlinger said she actually was 'scared' at first as a freshman catcher, particularly with then-senior standout Emily Siurek as Mundelein's primary pitcher. But Wendlinger credited Siurek, who is a freshman at South Dakota State, as well as other older teammates for aiding her transition. 'Last year, being a freshman coming in, catching all of those games was helpful,' Wendlinger said. 'What was also helpful was Emily. Emily helped so much. I called all of the games. Every single pitch, I called. Her being able to guide me through that helped me get more knowledge throughout the game and helped my game grow. 'Now I'm working with Cali. She's a freshman, and her and I working together is so great. I'm helping her with things that Emily helped me with, which is great.' Wendlinger has impressed senior shortstop CeCe Mason. 'She came in hot as a freshman,' Mason said. 'Coming in as a third-year starter, I wasn't expecting a bunch of freshmen to be great like them. But she's a great addition to the team. She's a very vocal leader. She stepped up as a catcher right away, so she had to be. But she really stepped up in that aspect. 'Also as a hitter, she's usually our two hitter, and she's a great hitter. She gets our offense going. I know people always talk about Ally hitting bombs, but she's usually the person on base when Ally's hitting a bomb.' Compton has long had an appreciation for her close friend. 'The bond that me and Caroline have is something so special,' Compton said. 'We've played softball together since we were 6 and play on the same travel team. We've been through it all together, and I think that's why we work so well. 'When she's behind the plate, there's no stopping her. She's always so locked in, and she leads the whole field to success. I love when she catches me because she knows me more than I know myself and always calls the right pitch. I know she'd run through a wall for me, and I do the same for her. Wherever I get flustered on the mound, she always knows what to say to snap me out of it.' Perez said Wendlinger has grown into a leader for the team. 'She's just taking charge,' Perez said. 'The inning switch, she's calling whatever the team cheer is. She's just letting everyone know what's going on. She has such a high softball IQ. Even if she's never played first base before, she can say, 'Hey, on that play, go to the right, go to the left.' 'She's able to provide feedback for kids who aren't playing at that high-level travel, who aren't looking to play in college and are just part of our team. Especially because we have so many seniors, she's doing it in a way where she's not stepping on anyone's toes. She can just share advice that's going to make us all better.' Wendlinger has made a concerted effort to stand at the forefront. 'Trying to support my teammates no matter what, being the leader they need me to be on the field, that has been a big focus for me,' she said. 'I'm always trying to be the person anyone can come to if they have a question about their swing or if they have a question about their mental game. 'Even when I have a problem, I know I can go to my teammates and be like, 'Hey, I need some advice. What can I do? What am I doing wrong?' So just trying to be a leader and helping my teammates and relying on them has been one of the things I've been focusing on.' Wendlinger has also narrowed her focus after playing basketball as a freshman. 'Softball is very important to me,' she said. 'I want to play in college. Not playing basketball this year has really helped my game grow. Last year I got injured a lot with little stuff. I just wanted to make sure I was fully ready for softball. 'I was a basketball manager this year, so I was still with the team. A lot of my friends play, so that's why I played. But this year I really focused on softball, and I can see the drastic difference it has made to put my shoes up and just stick to cleats.' Wendlinger is eager to make her college decision, possibly in the fall. 'The dream would be to go Power Four,' she said. 'But I'm open to any school that wants me. Playing college softball anywhere is a blessing, really.' Not that Wendlinger is anxious for her time with the Mustangs to end. 'I'm really grateful to be in this position,' she said. 'I'm really grateful my coaches for Munster have set me up with such a great facility and environment and culture for me to be a part of. I'm grateful for all of the coaches who have helped me along the way, my parents who have always had my back no matter what. 'I'm grateful to be playing for Munster. It's really cool because Ally and I have always been like, 'Let's go play high school softball.' It's kind of surreal to be playing with Ally and Kaylee and all of those kids I grew up playing softball with. I'm really excited for the season and the next two years.'
Chicago Tribune
27-03-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Michael Osipoff's top 10 softball teams and 25 players to watch in Northwest Indiana for the 2025 season
Defending conference champions Lake Central, Munster, Boone Grove and Illiana Christian have the talent to win again. TOP 10 TEAMS 1. Lake Central (32-2): The Indians are loaded with talent and experience. Of the 14 players on the roster, 13 were part of the team that went undefeated in the Duneland Athletic Conference and reached a semistate semifinal last year. Nine players are college commits, including seven at the Division I level. They have two stellar pitchers with senior Sofia Calderaro and sophomore Maddie Such. Returnees also include senior third baseman Kate Renschen (Northwestern), senior shortstop Taylor Schafer (Appalachian State), junior second baseman MaKayla Van Vossen (DePaul), junior outfielder/infielder Lexi Iwema (Indiana), senior catcher Izzy Calinski (Dayton), sophomore catcher Madison Wainwright, junior infielder Tegan Tripp (Virginia Tech), senior outfielder Moira Falli (Saint Louis), senior outfielder Jessy Del Toro (Purdue Northwest) and senior first baseman Madi Bickell (Augustana). Coach Yvette Tovar said the 'goal is to be undefeated for the regular season' — the only regular-season loss in 2024 came to Illinois power Marist — and 'to take a ride to Purdue to compete for the state championship.' 2. Crown Point (21-7): Junior corner infielder Ashlyn Kita (DePaul) and junior outfielder Scarlette Tegtman (Providence) headline the Bulldogs' outstanding roster. They also have a dynamic pitching duo with senior Lexi Smith (Marian) and junior Paige Liezert (Illinois-Chicago). Coach Angie Richwalski said Crown Point has a promising freshman class that includes shortstop Lulu Johnston and catcher Hayden Brock. 3. Munster (22-11): Sophomore third baseman/pitcher Ally Compton set a program record with 15 homers last season as the Mustangs, the Northwest Crossroads Conference champions, also set a program record as a team. Senior shortstop CeCe Mason is a fourth-year starter. Sophomore pitcher/third baseman Kaylee O'Connell and sophomore catcher Caroline Wendlinger also return. Coach Jill Perez said she's 'optimistic' about the season. 4. Boone Grove (20-7): Senior first baseman Mercedes Szakacs and senior center fielder Maria Otero are fourth-year starters for the Wolves, who won both the Porter County Conference round-robin and tournament titles last year. They also won their first sectional title since 2019 and have moved back down to 2A this season. Senior catcher Madison Kaufman and junior second baseman Chayse Duerr are third-year starters. Coach Ron Saunders said pitching should be strong with sophomores Jordyn Botma and Zoey Powell. 5. Hanover Central (14-10): Junior catcher Sienna Stilley (Jacksonville State) and senior infielder Sienna Antkiewicz (St. Xavier) should lead the way for the Wildcats after the graduation of star shortstop Gabi Comia, who plays at Florida. Senior pitcher Elle Mowry and senior first baseman/outfielder Abbie Casten also return. Coach Sam Antkiewicz said he hopes Hanover can 'compete better' in the NCC after going .500 in its debut last season. 6. Illiana Christian (19-5): The Vikings, who went undefeated in the Greater South Shore Conference last season, graduated an accomplished class. But they have a strong returning group and add 13 freshmen as they move up to 3A. Among those players are senior middle infielder Lydia VanderWoude (Belmont), senior outfielder Adeline Mulder, senior third baseman Lauren Sherwood and junior outfielder Cayden Petersen, who is expected to pick up the pitching load. Coach Nicole Terpstra-Wondaal said sophomore Mya VanderWoude is slated to move to catcher from first base. 7. Andrean (22-6): Senior infielder Maggie Voliva (St. Mary's) and junior pitcher Sadie Drousias are back for the 59ers, who must replace ace Abbey Bond after finishing second in the NCC last season. Bond, who plays at Purdue Northwest, led Andrean to the 2A state championship game in 2023. Senior infielder Micah Snider and junior infielder Aubrey Grasha also return. 8. Hebron (18-10): Versatile senior Addison Toczek (Pittsburgh) highlights the Hawks, who won their first regional title since 2011 and reached a semistate final last year. Senior infielder/pitcher Macey Siminski and senior infielder/catcher Addison Dujmovich also return. Coach Craig Doelling said Hebron 'will begin a rebuilding phase' after six four-year starters graduated but has 'a good core group.' 9. Hobart (19-8): Josh Coons takes over as coach of the Brickies, who won a sectional title last season for the first time since 2016. Top returnees include senior catcher Emili Knestrict, senior first baseman/outfielder Taylor Lopez and junior corner infielder Riley Weber. Star shortstop Keirys Click graduated and plays at Illinois, but Coons said Hobart has a 'really deep roster.' 10. Lowell (12-14): Senior pitcher Olivia Fuentes returns for the Red Devils, who move down to 3A. Senior outfielder Ashlee Evans and junior infielder Preslee Hill are among the other players back. Coach Mike McLindon said the Red Devils will try to 'to reclaim their position as one of the top programs in the area.' 25 PLAYERS TO WATCH Sienna Antkiewicz, Hanover Central, senior, infielder Sofia Calderaro, Lake Central, senior, pitcher Ally Compton, Munster, sophomore, third baseman/pitcher Olivia Fuentes, Lowell, senior, pitcher Delilah Kincaid, Valparaiso, sophomore, third baseman Ashlyn Kita, Crown Point, junior, infielder Emili Knestrict, Hobart, senior, catcher Paige Liezert, Crown Point, junior, pitcher Isa Lira, Wheeler, senior, catcher Taylor Lopez, Hobart, senior, first baseman/outfielder CeCe Mason, Munster, senior, shortstop Maddie Queen, Bishop Noll, senior, first baseman/pitcher Kate Renschen, Lake Central, senior, third baseman Mallorie Rose, Kankakee Valley, sophomore, outfielder/pitcher Taylor Schafer, Lake Central, senior, shortstop Lexi Smith, Crown Point, senior, pitcher Sienna Stilley, Hanover Central, junior, catcher Maddie Such, Lake Central, sophomore, pitcher Mercedes Szakacs, Boone Grove, senior, first baseman Scarlette Tegtman, Crown Point, junior, outfielder Hailey Thomas, Highland, sophomore, outfielder Addison Toczek, Hebron, senior, outfielder/infielder/pitcher Lydia VanderWoude, Illiana Christian, senior, infielder
Chicago Tribune
07-02-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Crown Point transfer Tiaan Coetzee is different player for Andrean. Growing 8 inches in 2 years will do that.
It's all about adjustments for Andrean junior forward Tiaan Coetzee. To a new frame. To a new school. Once a 5-foot-9 freshman at Crown Point, Coetzee has grown to 6-5 and transferred to Andrean before this school year. 'I originally came here because I like the smaller school and the more religion aspect,' Coetzee said. 'But obviously I've played basketball my whole life. Playing basketball from third grade AAU all the way to sophomore year with the same people and then switching over, it felt like a big transition. 'But I feel like I jelled well. I knew some of my teammates from AAU, so I was able to get to know them better and get to know their friends. I feel like I'm in the mix right now.' Coetzee, who was 6-1 when he played for Crown Point's junior varsity team last season, was averaging 8.0 points and 3.0 rebounds while shooting better than 50% from 3-point range before the 59ers (13-5, 4-0) defeated Lowell on Thursday night for their seventh straight victory and ninth in 10 games. Andrean remained undefeated along with perennial champion Munster in the Northwest Crossroads Conference and needs one more victory to match its total from last season. Coetzee began this season coming off the bench, moved into the starting lineup as teammates suffered injuries and has shifted back to the bench as they have returned. Regardless of his role, Coetzee has played significant minutes. 'I'm not really worried if I'm starting or not,' he said. 'I feel like I'm playing well either way. I know my time's coming.' With his low-key personality, Coetzee has needed a little prodding along the way, according to Andrean coach Aaron Austin. 'He's a really quiet kid,' Austin said. 'There's probably 3,500 kids at Crown Point, 450 here. The setting is so much different, and I think he really enjoys it. He misses some of his friends at Crown Point, but he's been awesome. 'As quiet as he is, you have to push him. He's super athletic. I don't think he even knows that. He's super coachable, and he wants to get better. Sometimes you just have to yell, see his response, see what you can get out of him. One game, I got on him: 'You have to be better!' He went back in, and he got a steal, got a layup, got a three. I said, 'See, you can do it.' You just have to get it out of him. But he's a great kid, great family. He's a huge pickup for us.' Coetzee showed an example of his ability when he scored 21 points on 6-of-6 shooting from 3-point range during Andrean's Catholic Cup victory against Marquette on Feb. 1. 'He's a great shooter — great shooter,' Andrean senior guard/forward Paul Gilvydis said. 'He's always confident. He just helps the team a lot. He's been great for us.' Such a performance from Coetzee didn't necessarily surprise Austin. 'His shooting has been great,' Austin said. 'When he shoots, it's like, 'OK, go the other way.' One game, I was yelling, 'Patience!' Before I could even get it out, he was shooting the ball, and it was all net. I just looked at the coaches and just shrugged. I'll let him do that. 'Him being 6-4, 6-5, his 3-point attempts aren't going to be contested the same way as the twins (Aiden and Alex Austin) last year — they're tiny guys. It's been a lot easier for him to get his shot off. And he's just a junior, so we're going to get another year with him too. We're looking forward to it.' Coetzee, who turned 17 on Tuesday, had to get accustomed to being 6-5 and is still growing. 'I was a little guy before, but now I can play every position, I feel like,' he said. 'I've been a shooter my whole life. Then I just grew a lot. That just adds another element, and that's helped this year. 'I always used to play small. I couldn't really hit people or be too aggressive because I would just get pushed around. Now that I'm bigger, I have to get used to playing more aggressive and playing bigger, especially on defense. It's pretty hard, but obviously it helps being taller.' Coetzee's father DeWet, who is originally from South Africa, played rugby growing up. Coetzee's mother Hannah also is a former athlete. 'I'm a mama's boy,' Tiaan Coetzee said with a laugh. 'We're very similar people. I'm not a brute rugby guy. I'm definitely a mama's boy.' Coetzee's uncle Ed Konopasek, a Griffith graduate, had a stint in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers. 'We're Chicago Bears fans, but we manage,' Coetzee said. He also still has ties to Crown Point. Coetzee's older sister Aiden was a swimmer for the Bulldogs, graduating in 2024, and attends North Carolina, where she plays rugby. Coetzee's younger sister Isla is a freshman at Crown Point, where she plays volleyball and basketball. 'There's a little rivalry in the house, but it's cool,' Tiaan Coetzee said. Originally Published: February 7, 2025 at 10:44 AM CST
