The softball girls are moving into their new homes this week how exciting I can't wait until they are all on campus! We now have 3 softball houses and this new shared sports house the girls are renting! Go Lancers!
We want to recognize late additions to our 2024-2025 roster. So exc ited to have them. First up - Shyanne St.. Louis SS/CF from Vernon Hills High School.
They're Back! We started 2-a-days this week. Its getting better the 1% each and every day that is going to make the difference when the season opens up. Keep working hard ladies! Love the effort and focus!
The heat tried to shutdown our practices this week but Dave our trainer did an awesome job with hydration and monitoring the temps and we were still able to safely get work in!
This group did us all proud. We raised the level of our program with +29 wins (34), conference champs 25-7 Region. The future is bright because of these young ladies! Now we get to celebrate some of their individual accomplishments. They are family forever, so proud of them!
As a coach you know your program has turned the corner when you have an off day and your players all come in throws bullpens, hit and go to the field and are working! Proud of these young ladies!
Awesome Media Day 2024 Sunday! I really enjoyed the day. I can't help it need to give a sneak peek. Ladies are working on our video and all the photos we took. Here is a sample v1.0 they did great!
Goals as a team this year in transforming our program. Core character goals, conference champs and 35+ wins. Conference champs has a nice ring to it. At 31-15 we are 4 games away with 6 to play. Thank you for giving me your best and congrats to Rachel our team captain!
So excited for Rachel! Doctors told her she would never play the game she loves again after shoulder surgery.
She has worked so hard and is one of the top hitters in our region.
We came to Alabama to play elite teams. Coastal Alabama with one of the top pitchers in the country. She pitched and beat us game
#1
We came back game 2 loaded bases scored a run in 1st they brought her back again she threw 7 more innings. We lost 2-1 in a playoff like game.
Through 37 games our offense is truly amazing. We now have 13th best run scoring offense in the Nation. We are 16th in hits, 22nd in doubles, 1st in triples, 13th in RBI, 39th in walks, 7th in stolen bases 16th in batting average, 19th on base percentage and 17th in slugging.
Lost 2 to Madison. 14 games 9 days finally caught up with us we looked slow. Madison pitching is solid & situational hitting, 2 strike approach was exceptional. Down 4-1 in 6th of game 1 we faded. Madison well coached and one of the top teams in the Region!
Beat Moraine in exciting game one when Taetum ripped a single to walk it off. We put a crooked number up in the second game winning 31-0. Guaranteed a share conference champions! Girls showing where the banner will go! Me, I got the cooler of ice dumped on me lol
When a coach gets an award it is humbling but it is definitely a reflection of great players and all they have accomplished. So blessed to have this first group play for me this year! Love them all and this award is really about them!
Doctors told Rachel she would never play again. Local Grayslake Central player, we were blessed when she decided to come home. Team captain & unanimous choice as the Illinois Skyway Player of the Year! 474 Average, 72 hits, 18 doubles, 7 triples 12 HR, 70 RBI and 20 Stolen.
This photo of our 2024 signing class speaks for itself. I can't wait for our team's media day and photo shoot! Our very own Tara Cahill did a great job with this graphic.
This is where it all happens. Getting to work early in the weight room! First week done ladies 21 more weeks to go! Strength, power explosive. Our power and speed numbers last year speak for themselves.
You got this. Heavy and baselines next week!
I love coming out of individuals in winter, starting practices & getting into drill work. We play so many games from Travel to High School to College. Love time to do team skill development. This morning outfield drill sets. End of the week ladies keep grinding! Great Week!
Softball awards Courage Maya & Vanessa coaching Park District Kids. Comeback Athlete Breckyn great year with pins & plate in hand. Best Play Maya catch in the dark at Danville Outrageous play Kaylinn falling down the stairs. Outstanding Performance Taetum 3 HR's
#2
Kanakakee
We got down to Gulf Shores. Unfortunately some heavy rain that cancelled our games with Shelton and Bishop. But the sun has come out everyday in the afternoon and the girls have gotten to the beach, swimming in the ocean! The house the girls are in is amazing !
When we are on the road I always check the Dive, Diner's and Drive-ins page for food suggestions. Found the River House in Moline. Kat split ribs with me they were awesome! Great setting downtown Moline.
We are excited to announce Pam Wright as our new assistant softball coach! Pam is one of the premier pitching and head travel coaches in southern Wisconsin and Lake County. Warren graduate with 22 years of coaching experience. She is going to do great things in our program!
The awards have begun with Illinois Skyway first. Amber was named pitcher of the year. So proud of her. We used her in may roles was sad she could not go the last day of the regional but she was outstanding for us and well deserved! 10-4 with 2 saves 2.88 ERA.
Girls responded today with 2 clean games no errors. Taylor pitched her best game of the fall a 2-1 loss at Michigan State. Indy up next. Got to tour facilities, amazing!
Game
#2
We won both games today beating Olney in the nightcap 5-2. Taylor Kruser threw well and Grace Kitterman closed it out. Lindsey roped a double and Kaylinn singled in a run.
Rachel and Taetum hit 2 homeruns each, as we got off to a 2-0 start beating Shawnee 9-7 and 10-6. Lots of data from those two games to digest but good to get those first two wins on the board. Dinner at Moe's and off to bed get ready for tomorrow.
Played at UIC today! The girls are improving every day. Learning from both physical and mental mistakes, improving everyday. Competitive games today, thank you Coach Curylo for having us! Looking forward to Parkside tomorrow!
Freshman did a great job putting together the posters and the coaches got the special canvas photos. I think the girls had a great time and a very special day. They are a great group!
4/5 incoming freshman won their regionals in Illinois 1A/2A. Shelby and Warrensburg-Lathum lost in final finished 20-12. Congrats Shelby on a great season hitting over 500, 11 HR broke the school career record for HR's and she finished with 1681 OPS! Good luck ladies next week!
Rain won't stop us. After shopping we ran practice at the house and on the beach. What could be better. And look weather stopped and the sun came out and gave us a beautiful double rainbow!
What a special day! Yesterday we had the honor of having 12 outstanding ladies with the highest character, excellence in the classroom, leaders in their community and outstanding softball players in for their signing day! What a proud day to be a Lancer!
Getting it done in the classroom, on the field and this is where the magic happens. 22 weeks of lifting and speed. We have partnered with Davis Speed Center this year and Pat has always been awesome with my teams and my own daughter! So proud of you ladies!
Week
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is rolling and our first games of the fall approaching! Saturday at Quincy and Sunday at Western Illinois. Excited to get on the field and play.
16 days until first ground ball. Katalina Ybarra you are amazing. There are so many awesome names in sports and to be a shortstop with the name "Kat"! How cool is that!
The skies cleared for 5 hours today as we finally got back onto the field. We won both games vs. Oakton before the rain came again moving our record to 21-13
The girls started region play today with two wins vs. Harper College 17-5 and 10-2. The girls pounded 25 hits 4 HR 13 SB today. Good start. Here is Amber's HR.
Well seems like a broken record. Beautiful morning turned cloudy and stormy again today. But not before we beat Sauk Valley 6-2 winning our 29th game of the season now 29-14 overall and 21-4 in region play.
Beat South Suburban today 4-2. Temps limited us to one game. Amber was outstanding going 7 innings in a complete game 4-2 win. Kat had 4 RBI's today. We are about to cross over the 30 win mark for the season with 11 games left to play for the first time in quite some time!
Ladies continue to roll with victories tonight 16-2 and 12-2 over Joliet. Kat hit an inside the park HR and played stellar defense tonight! Moved to 11-1 in Region.
We got to Akron! Thank you to Coach Nicholson, Coach Wood and Coach Kelly for being awesome hosts. Had a great practice at the facilities, went to City BBQ which was awesome and the downtown Courtyard hotel is great. Live music next door, big rooms having great time.
Amber's big day seals wins vs. Moraine to clinch conference. Game one, 3-4 with triple that tied game in 7th. She also threw 5 1/3 in relief with 9 K's for W. Game 2 a double short of the cycle with 6 RBI's. Lancer's improve 23-13 on the season. Up next Sandburg & Blackhawk
Played Judson University 2 games wind blowing in hard nullifying our offense, had to play fundamentally and create runs. Execution was outstanding in patience, base running, moving runners, 2 strike 2 out hits winning both games 5-4 and 5-3. Pitching and defense!
Today was a strange day. First the eclipse was unbelievable it sure was surreal today. Then the girls went out and took care of business beating McHenry 14-2 and 12-2. Amber hit HR and Rachel hit for the cycle. We remain undefeated in conference and moved to 9-1 in Region.
We arrived at Prairie State College and these two were almost as sweet as today's wins. Down 10-6 in the 7th we scored 4 runs to tie it up and win the game in the 9th 14-10. Won game
#2
16-13. Now 14-3 in region, 8-0 in conference. We are closing in on history!
Thank you to our community partner Grayslake North High School for letting us use the turf this week to practice. Just amazing, first week of February and we are practicing outside this week!
Alabama another good opponent Meridian. Top 4 hitters over 450. Who ever batted last you felt had an advantage. Rachel 3-3 including 2-run HR to give us 10-9 lead in 7th. But their 4 hitter hit HR bottom of 7th for a tough 11-10 loss. We played 3-40 win teams and 1-30 win!
From the CLC Softball Program to all our families and the CLC communities. Good luck on Finals, enjoy time with family! Merry Christmas be safe and welcome in an awesome New Year!
It was cold as we traveled to Carl Sandburg today. Game
#1
Taetum hit two HR's and added a 3rd HR on an inside the park HR won 12-3. Game
#2
depsite their record, Sanburg had an ace show up throwing great stuff. Amber hit a HR and threw a complete game shutout to best her 2-0.
Played
#2
Kankakee today.
#1
offense vs.
#2
. Game 1 tight contest we lost 4-3. Game
#2
hit 6 HR's and beat Kankakee 15-12. Taetum had 3 today and Kat 2. Tried to not throw Amber but she had to close it out. Girls loved Chic Filet after game expecially Maya!
Ladies had their academic and athletic trainer compliance meetings today. Individual meetings continue rest of week and this weekend: Friday movie night, Saturday player outing and Sunday leadership summit.
The Ladies did not want me to sneak this photo. But after the long weekend we started Yoga recovery this morning. Keep up the work ladies. Lifting program starts tomorrow!
While Dropping off My daughter Jen at Clemson where she starts her PHD in Animal Science, had to stop by the softball and baseball stadiums. Impressive campus!
Everyone gets into the act including Maya dangling from the ladder to get that sunshine on the hair! Tara and her crew: Ally, Vanessa, Katalina and Maya you did an awesome job running our media day with our 2024 signing class!
Ladies solid start to our fall season. So many solid plays today and really competed every inning. Losing 5-4 in 10 innings vs. Western Illinois. Pitching was outstanding all weekend!
We are excited to welcome back Abbey Tichy to our softball family as a volunteer assistant coach. She is a former CLC softball player also! Abbey will be working with outfield and slappers.