Seniors Emily Organ and Zoe Levine aren’t wasting time making an impact in their fourth varsity seasons for the Riverside Brookfield High School softball team. They already smacked their second homers, Saturday, as the Bulldogs defeated Lyons Township 3-1 in Western Springs.
“Just knowing that I’m starting off really strong this season [is great], and part of it is just having fun with it. The confidence is there,” Organ said.
“We’ve come out with great energy, something we haven’t seen as strong in the past. I think that’s going to carry us through the season.”
The Bulldogs (3-1) bring power and experience fueled by three Division I players, Organ (Bradley), Levine (DePaul), and junior Ellie Megall (Oakland), also a varsity starter since freshman year.
Last season, the Bulldogs (19-9) were second in the Metro Suburban Conference (7-3). They won seven of their last nine but just missed a second straight regional title, losing to LTHS 15-3 in five innings in the Class 4A RB Regional final.
RBHS beat Addison Trail 11-6 in this season’s March 12 opener and Argo 10-0, March 13, and lost 11-1 on Thursday to Oak Park and River Forest, who were third in Class 4A last season.
Riverside-Brookfield’s Julia Madera (4) chases down a fly ball hit by Lyons during a nonconference game Saturday, March 16, 2024 in Western Springs. | Steve Johnston 
Riverside-Brookfield’s catcher Zoe Levine (11) receives a pitch against Lyons during a nonconference game Saturday, March 16, 2024 in Western Springs. | Steve Johnston 
Riverside-Brookfield’s second baseman Ella Jurgens (1) makes the throw to first against Lyons during a nonconference game Saturday, March 16, 2024 in Western Springs. | Steve Johnston
“Definitely energy is something we’ve been working on and we have a really strong connection as a team, which really helps,” Levine said. “Everybody’s there for us so it’s a lot easier to play loose.”
In 2023, catcher Levine (.495, 19 doubles, 6 home runs, 40 RBIs), shortstop/third baseman/catcher Organ (.448, 8 HR, 30 RBIs) and third baseman/shortstop Megall (.415, 31 RBIs) led an offense that scored fewer than four runs in only four games.
Junior second baseman/shortstop Ella Jurgens (.359, 4 HR, 15 RBIs) joined them as four of the five 2023 All-MSC selections.
Senior outfielders Kelley Tyler (.278, 12 RBIs) and Julia Madera and sophomore pitchers Stevenson (.250, 17 RBIs) and Abby Weinert also are returning starters.
As pitchers, Stevenson was 9-6 in 15 starts with 63 strikeouts in 106.2 innings, including a five-inning no-hitter in the regional semifinals. Weinert was 4-0 in five starts with 30 strikeouts in 45 innings. Both also play first base.
Other team members are freshman Reese Milchhoefer, another pitcher; sophomore Olivia Ballon; senior Natalia Ibarra; and juniors Tali Herrera and Abbey Tyler.
“[We’re] anticipating another successful season,” RBHS coach Doug Schultz responded. “We feel we will be able to produce high-scoring games to be very competitive.”
Schultz said he was excited how the Bulldogs rallied against Addison Trail from a 3-0 deficit after three innings with help from Organ and Levine homers. Stevenson had two doubles.
The trio also had two hits each against LTHS. In the Argo victory, Jurgens homered and doubled in going 3 for 3 with five RBIs.
“This year, we’re taking it inning by inning, trying to win each little part of the aspects of the game,” Organ said. “I think that’s going to help us in the future and the playoffs.”
The pitching progress of Stevenson and Weinert should further complement the offense. Milchhoefer already has worked 8.1 innings.
“They’re hitting their spots a lot better and they’re a lot more confident,” Levine said of the sophomores. “They’ve already been through a year [on varsity] and they know they can cut these hitters down. They’re doing a great job.”
