Senior second baseman Ella Jurgens is among several Riverside Brookfield High School softball players off to a blistering start offensively. Just don’t give her any statistics.
“I don’t want to know. I’m superstitious now so I’m not checking my batting average,” Jurgens said, “totally and I want to keep it like that.”
The Bulldogs (6-5, 3-2 in Upstate Eight Conference East Division) are batting .376 as a team with a 1.004 OPS. They’ve scored between 20 and six runs, five in double digits, in all but two games.
And yes, Jurgens (.571 batting average, 15 runs batted in, 1.338 OPS) is among the offensive leaders along with senior and Northern Kentucky recruit Ellie Megall (.483, 8 RBIs), junior Trinity Stevenson (.425, 16 RBIs), sophomore Alexis Busse (.438) and freshmen Mia Melendez (.371, 5 home runs, 19 RBIs, 1.39 OPS), Brailyn Naylor (.438) and Amelia Pytel (.370, 8 RBIs).
“It’s awesome, especially to see the freshmen come out and hit so well. This year we have a lot of consistent hitting,” said Jurgens, who hit .253 in 2024 with 14 RBIs.
Riverside-Brookfield’s Brailyn Naylor (12) tries to beat the throw to first base against West Chicago during an Upstate Eight Conference game Tuesday, April 8, 2025 in Brookfield. (Steve Johnston) 
Riverside-Brookfield’s third baseman Olivia Ballon (17) fields the sacrifice bunt and makes the throw to first base against West Chicago during an Upstate Eight Conference game Tuesday, April 8, 2025 in Brookfield. (Steve Johnston) 
Riverside-Brookfield’s pitcher Trinity Stevenson (7) delivers a pitch against West Chicago during an Upstate Eight Conference game Tuesday, April 8, 2025 in Brookfield. (Steve Johnston) 
Riverside-Brookfield’s Eleanor Megall (10) connects for a hit to right field against West Chicago during an Upstate Eight Conference game Tuesday, April 8, 2025 in Brookfield. (Steve Johnston)
“I feel like I had a little bit of a rough season last year but this year I feel a lot more like myself. I have a much better mental approach to my at bats. Last year in my head the whole time was thinking don’t strike out, don’t strike out. This year it’s more like, get a hit, swing at a good pitch, a more positive approach than don’t do this.”
In UEC play, RBHS has beaten Fenton 14-1, West Aurora 13-4 and East Aurora 20-0 and lost to West Chicago 15-3 and Glenbard East 13-6.
“We have a solid lineup No. 1 through 9 and hitters on the bench that can hit,” first-year RBHS head coach Emma Jarrell said. “We keep telling ourselves we can win any game because we can hit, so we can always come back and score a bunch of runs. We’ve just got to stay sound on defense and we’ll win a lot of games.”
The Bulldogs hope to complement their hitting with improving defense and pitching (27 errors, 33 unearned runs).
Pytel, Stevenson, Abby Weinert and Reese Milchhoefer have been pitching, as well as Melendez, who made her debut against Fenton, April 9.
Melendez allowed four hits in five innings with five strikeouts. She has five of the seven RBHS homers. The others are by Pytel and Kennedy Holakovsky as a pinch-hitter against Fenton.
Stevenson, a pitcher/first baseman in past seasons, is playing shortstop, a new position including traveling season. Megall began the season at shortstop but has returned to third base, her position the past three seasons.
“I love switching positions and being a complete utility player. I didn’t expect it at all coming into the season, but now that I’m playing [shortstop], it’s so much fun,” said Stevenson, a 2024 all-conference player.
“[And offensively] I feel like my confidence is a lot higher. Now I just go up to bat thinking just wait for your pitch, your pitch will come and then you can just smash it.”
Lyons Township softball
A couple of new faces, one a familiar one, are helping the Lions to a high-scoring start. Sophomore pitcher/first baseman Caylee Wagner, a transfer from St. Laurence, and freshman catcher Alice Bruckner are among key newcomers for the Lions (3-4).
“It’s definitely a change from (the size of) St. Laurence. Probably the kids here [have been the best aspect]. They were really welcome and supporting,” Wagner said. “[We enjoy] just hanging out as a whole and how everyone’s been playing and the team bonding.”
LTHS enjoyed a big 8-5 victory over Richards in the March 18 opener and also has beaten Neuqua Valley 4-3 and Hinsdale South 5-4. The team’s .304 average includes seniors Maddie McLane (.368), junior Ava Jacklin (.364, 3 RBIs) sophomore Mary Sandman (.364, HR, 7 RBIs), all returnees, but also Bruckner (.348, 6 RBIs), Wagner (.312) and juniors Mia Jovicic (.357) and Lyla Replin (.286).
“Our offense has been probably the best it’s been since I started at LT,” third-year LTHS coach Megan Quinn said. “We’ve got a ridiculously fast team so offense and runs is how we’re going to stay in ball games.”
Quinn said Bruckner “shocked us” when they first observed her during summer camp. Her ability to also play catcher has been an added bonus. Bruckner said she already knew some of her older varsity teammates through her Blast traveling team.
“I wasn’t really sure [about varsity] until the tryouts. It’s been pretty easy. The girls have been really nice and I really like the team,” Bruckner said. “I’d say staying calm and collected (has helped offensively) because I’m stressed out when I’m at the plate. But at this start I’ve been pretty calm.”
The move of Wagner’s family to Countryside has reunited her with Quinn, who personally coached her when they both were part of the Blazers traveling softball program.
Wagner’s addition has been even more important because senior all-conference pitcher/first baseman Isabella Evans has been sidelined from elbow surgery in February. Evans received medical clearance to return last week.
“When I had found out that I was getting Kaylee, that was truly awesome,” Quinn said. “She’s got an already high softball IQ. She’s willing to put in extra work.”
Wagner and Bruckner also are already connecting as a battery.
“I can trust her around the plate. Alice has helped me with pitches more comfortable to throw,” Wagner said. “I was able to cover more of the location of my pitches and [make them] better.”