Recently in Softball Category

Following Neuqua Valley's 5-3 loss to Downers Grove South on Thursday, Neuqua coach Michelle Schmidt made a good point about how, once the season starts, there's hardly any down time to work out a team's kinks.

"There's no time to work on what you want to work on," she said. "We've had two practices since April 1."

It's frustrating for all teams, but exacerbating the grueling schedule has been this season's weather. As Lake Park coach Cray Allen pointed out last Monday, many teams have been unable to get into a rhythm. Squads play two games and then get rained out. So, there is down time, just not the kind that coaches can really use to their benefit.

Allen thinks the weather craziness has created execution problems for many teams. Coaches and players can't get on the same page when it comes to pulling off the little things that win games. Allen went as far to say that the teams that have been on a roll the last couple weeks may be the ones that hang around the longest during the postseason. I agree. I also think this is great news for Neuqua.

The playoffs are always about momentum, but it seems that this season it's even more important than ever. Neuqua Valley has been playing as good as anyone over the last few weeks. The Wildcats have beaten all the teams they were supposed to beat and hung tough with big name squads like Bartlett, Lake Park and Downers Grove South, losing those games by a combined four runs. After a slow start, the Wildcats have jelled at just the right time, which makes them a scary "cinderella team." And I use that term lightly, because Neuqua is much better than the 11 seed it drew.

"We are 100 percent capable of winning this regional, but we've got to play our game," Schmidt said.

With the exception of the sacrifice bunt and a few gaffes on defense, the Wildcats have been playing their game extremely well as of late. I think an upset of the Mustangs in a regional title rematch is entirely possible. What do you think? Are any other "cinderella teams" on a roll, ready to make some noise?

Not long ago, I overheard a parent suggest that a tournament between teams from the Upstate Eight Conference and the DuPage Valley Conference should be staged at the start of the season. The parent in question was just making a casual remark, but I think it's a really good idea.

A single elimination, bracket-style tournament could take place over the weekend at Neuqua Valley, where the numerous park district fields could be utilized to host simultaneous games. Having some of the best talent in the state gathered in the same place for a day of softball games would definitely attract a crowd. Two conference schools could act as hosts and split the revenue from concession sales and admission. Not to mention, intriguing matchups like Naperville Central vs. Lake Park and Neuqua Valley vs. West Aurora could play out.

What do you think?

The IHSA announced the Class 4A softball pairings on Friday and it looks like Naperville Central has the easiest road to a regional title. I should note that by easy, I mean at least compared to other area teams in the Bolingbrook Sectional.

Still, the Redhawks won't be in cruise control as they'll likely stare down DuPage Valley Conference rival West Aurora in the West Aurora regional title game. Central has yet to play the Blackhawks in conference, but will meet up with them for the first time this Tuesday. The Redhawks will also play West Aurora a second time on May 14. I'm more inclined to use that game as a a better indicator of how a potential regional title matchup might play out, simply because it's closer to playoffs, which open May 19.

A complete analysis of the Bolingbrook Sectional regional pairings after the jump.

The IHSA held its softball seed meeting for Class 3A/4A on Wednesday night. Naperville Central led local teams with a No. 4 seed, while Benet and Naperville North rounded out the top ten at No. 9 and 10, respectively. Here's the complete list according to our sources:

1. Plainfield Central
2. Lockport*
3. Downers Grove South
4. Naperville Central
5. West Aurora*
6. Plainfield South
7. Wheaton South
8. Hinsdale South
9. Benet
10. Naperville North
11. Neuqua Valley *
12. Downers Grove North
13. Plainfield North
14. Hinsdale Central*
15. Bolingbrook
16. Oswego East
17. Romeoville
18. Waubonsie Valley
19. East Aurora

Regional pairings will be announced this Friday at the IHSA website. What do you think about the seeds? Are any of the teams seeded too high? Too low?

Trying to find conference standings in just about any sport, save football, can be incredibly frustrating. The DuPage Valley and Upstate Eight Conferences should take a cue from the East Suburban Catholic and maintain a working web page that is frequently updated with scores and all-conference lists. But I guess that's just wishful thinking on my part ...

Anyways, I wanted to get a better idea of where our teams stood in their respective conference races and after some digging around, here's what I came up with. Keep in mind this may not be a hundred percent accurate (games get cancelled, scores aren't reported, etc.) but it should give some idea where our team's stand. And right now, Central and Benet are in the best positions to make some noise.

The Neuqua Valley softball team had its chances against No. 2 Lake Park in a 9-4 loss Wednesday, but the Wildcats couldn't get enough clutch hits to beat the undefeated Lancers.

The Wildcats finished with eight hits, but stranded at least one runner per inning, 12 overall and seven runners in the final three innings.

"We left too many runners in scoring position (seven) and we need to work on that," Neuqua Valley coach Michelle Schmidt said. "Our record doesn't indicate the talent we have. We haven't put it together yet, but there's still lots of games to play."

The latest softball rankings by The Chicago Sun-Times came out Monday and Central is no where to be found and I can't figure out why.

Maybe it's because through last week the Redhawks had only been able to play three games due to bad weather; but they still moved to 3-0 after Friday's convincing 4-0 victory over No. 7 Glenbard South and that should've been enough to at least put them on the "Others to watch" list.

The Redhawks improved to 4-0 with a 5-1 win over Naperville North on Monday.

Central is the real deal with picthing ace Natalie Wunderlich (4-0), who can win games on the mound and at the plate. In the game against South, the junior doubled in a run and gave up just three hits in a shutout. Sophomore Megan Silke, the younger sister of former pitching star Sara Silke, hit a solo home run in the game and can hit the ball well as can junior Erin Graham. The Redhawks also have excellent fielders in senior shortstop Lizzy Ploen and sophomore second baseman Jori Gonzalez. They are well- coached by 25-year veteran Andy Nussbaum (408 wins) and they have pitching talent besides Wunderlich. Natalie's younger sister Alyssa had some buzz surrounding her even before the season began, while junior Lauren Huber finished two years on the junior varsity with a 38-14 record.

Where's the love? Do you think the Redhawks deserve to be ranked? Or with just four games under their belt do they still have more to prove?

A trio of shortstops heads up the area's five-player contingent named to the Sun-Times' Top 100 softball list released on Saturday.