The Fenwick High School softball team is under new leadership this spring as Riverside resident Valerie Jisa, an assistant the previous two seasons, debuts as head coach.
Jisa, who replaces Bryan Hoffman, said she likes what she’s seen so far.
“We have been very impressed with our team dynamics,” she said.
Fenwick, which went 16-15 with an IHSA Class 3A regional title last year, has nine returnees. The Friars’ top players are senior third baseman Madelyn Entler, who earned All-Girls Catholic Athletic Conference Red honors with a batting average of .398 and 28 RBI; senior pitcher Sophie Stone, an Oberlin College commit; junior catcher Caity Barganski; and junior centerfielder Kailey Janda.
Other returning Friars are senior second baseman Mary Barganski; senior pitcher/utility player Ellie Kolb; junior pitcher/outfielder Leah Lowery; junior first baseman Molly Mullen; and junior shortstop Teresa Nevarez. Moreover, Fenwick regains the services of junior shortstop/outfielder Gabrielle Simon, who ran track and played club softball last spring.
Fenwick has four varsity newcomers: sophomore Sophia Leonardi and Gianna Pescatore, and freshmen Isabella Bigham and Jordan Rossi.
“We expect to bring a strong offensive lineup with more speed and movement, and have solid confidence in our defensive play,” Jisa said. ‘Our pitching forecast looks robust.”
Jisa added that she is looking forward to games with Oak Park-River Forest, Riverside-Brookfield, and Trinity this spring because of the local rivalries.
“These healthy competitions create character-building opportunities among familiar faces,” she said. “It’s a win-win for all these student-athletes and their families who have committed so much time and energy for a love of the game.”
Fenwick’s goal this season is to simply be better than last year. That includes daily and weekly self-improvement, with the hopes that stressing fundamentals will help the Friars go deeper into the postseason.
“We want to make more impactful decisions in the batter’s box, have more command in the circle, and work together to execute our short game strategies,” Jisa said.
