Sports
York Softball Team Seeking Great Finish
Talented Dukes hope to build upon last year's regional title in the final season for head coach Tom Babyar.
YORK SOFTBALL PREVIEW
Coach: Tom Babyar (584-428-3 in 32 seasons)
2010 Results: 20-18 overall, 5-7 in West Suburban Conference Silver Division (5th place); lost to West Chicago 6-1 in Class 4A St. Charles North Sectional semifinals
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Returning Starters: Seniors Sophia Kelly, Rachel Rodriguez and Mary Carol Sullivan; juniors Tessa Kroll and Danielle Morency; and sophomores Ellen Barry and Gracie Sullivan
Varsity Newcomers: Seniors Danielle Heinz and Nikki Mordini, juniors Alyssa Johnson, Kayla Madigan and Nicolette Salerno; and sophomore Elena Schwarz
Outlook: The Dukes enter this season riding an emotional wave.
They are fueled by the momentum of last season’s postseason in which, as the No. 15 seed in the sectional, they surprised No. 2 St. Charles North 8-7 and No. 7 Wheaton North 4-0 to capture the program’s first regional title since the 2003 Class AA state quarterfinal team.
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Babyar also has been informed that this will be his last season as head coach. Entering his 33rd season at York with 584 career victories, he is just 16 shy of 600.
“Right now it is (my last season). They told me I’m gone. I just going to try and get through it and take the high road,” Babyar said. “I’m just going with it. I haven’t really said anything (to the players).”
York has seven returning starters, led by 2010 all-conference selections Kroll and Kelly. Kroll will pitch and play first base and Kelly will start in right field.
Already a two-time all-conference player, Kroll batted .394 last season with two home runs and 21 runs batted in and put together a streak of 11 consecutive hits.
Kelly hit .383 in 2010 with team highs in home runs (4), RBIs (23), runs (31), doubles (12) and extra-base hits (17).
Also back are catcher Mary Carol Sullivan (.267, 9 RBIs in 2010), third baseman Morency (.278, 16 RBIs), shortstop Barry (16 RBIs, 13 runs), center fielder Gracie Sullivan (.257, 3 RBIs) and Rodriguez (4 RBIs), who will contribute as a first baseman, left fielder and catcher. Gracie Sullivan was promoted to varsity the final third of last season.
“I think we’re going to score some runs and pitching is a strength--and that helps your defense. I think we’re going to hit. I’m very confident we’re going to put some runs on the board,” Babyar said. “And a little more foot speed. We might take an extra base here and there.”
Kroll will see a bulk of the pitching action after an elbow bruise limited her to just 20 1/3 innings last season for a 3-1 record with 24 strikeouts. However, Babyar always has used numerous pitchers and such will be the case this season.
Other pitchers will be Mordini, who had no record in four innings over two games in 2010, Schwarz, Salerno and Mary Carol Sullivan.
“Probably a big load is going to Kroll, but I’m not going to pitch her every game and we’ll see how other girls perform,” Babyar said.
Salerno, Heinz, Johnson and Madigan, recovering from a bad arm, will play outfield. Salerno, Madigan and Johnson are among the candidates to fill the hole at second base.
“I think the first eight to 10 games, we’re going to be juggling the lineup quite a bit until we find something,” Babyar said. “Hopefully they’ll cherish role whatever it is. We need everybody, but everybody has to come in with the right frame of mind.”
It’s the kind of focus that helped the Dukes reach the 2003 state quarterfinals. Babyar recalled in the super-sectional game to get downstate how senior courtesy runner Savannah Adkins scored in the seventh to force extra innings by making a perfect hook slide after coming home from second during a bobbled ground out. York went on to beat Queen of Peace 5-1 in 12 innings.
In last year’s regional, the Dukes surprised St. Charles North and Wheaton North after losing to those teams 11-1 and 12-0, respectively, during the regular season.
“They look around at each other’s faces and (think), ‘You were here last year and we did it,’ so just a matter of going out and performing and doing what we do,” Babyar said.
“I’m confident the girls will perform but I’m not (too) overconfident. I know we’ll be competitive. Last year, we got blown out a few games and I don’t foresee that. We’ve got the offense to keep in games, and with our pitching, we will not be blown out. They keep working and trying to get better, and they’re high-character kids and get along well. They’re likeable, coachable kids.”
Jenna Bode is the new varsity assistant coach. Longtime varsity assistant and pitching coach Dave Williams, in his 32nd season with Babyar, is the junior varsity coach after his first season with the Elmhurst College women’s bowling team this past winter season.
York athletic director John Rutter said the decision on a new varsity coach will be made after the season, with candidates including some who work at York. Babyar is a retired teacher who worked at District 205’s Churchville Middle School.
“Obviously, he’s a Hall of Famer. He’s put in a lot of time—a lot of time and effort not only for the program but the field (at Bryan Middle School) and he’ll be sorely missed,” Rutter said of Babyar. “He’s had quite a lot of success. It’s one last hurrah here, so to speak. I think he’s anticipating good things this season and so are we, particularly coming off last year’s finish.”
Saturday’s scheduled season-opening doubleheader with Hinsdale South was canceled. York’s next date is at 11 a.m. Tuesday against Benet Academy at Bryan.
* QUOTABLE: “I think they have confidence—the way we finished up the season last year pretty good—because we have a strong nucleus," Babyar said. "Our schedule is pretty good. St. Charles North, Elk Grove, Glenbard South (are area ranked). We play them all fairly early so we’ll find out. We’ve got Benet, Glenbard North, and our conference is good. Oak Park and Downers North won conference. We play a good schedule outside of conference and we’ll see how we compete.”
