Note: The Vedette reached out to every spring sports coach in the area. These previews are based on their responses.
Baseball
Beecher
The Bobcats are looking to win 20 games and compete for a regional title after going 14-17 last spring. Top veterans include junior catcher/pitcher/infielder Chase Maher (4-2, 2.53, 54 strikeouts in 38 2/3 innings), junior pitcher Santino Imhof (5-4, 2.70, 78 strikeouts in 46 2/3 innings), senior pitcher Nico Fox (4-3, 3.14, 61 strikeouts in 42 1/3 innings) and junior infielder Chasten Clegg (.308). Some newcomers to watch are junior infielder/outfielder Noah Hanson and freshman infielder/pitchers Easton Lane and Gavin VanNess.
Crete-Monee
The Warriors move to their new all-turf field this spring looking to repeat as Southland champs and win a regional. They graduated IHSA single-season stolen-base leader Bren Milburn, who had 93 last year and finished his career with 188. Back from last year’s 21-13 club are senior center fielder AJ Monegan (.302, 27 RBIs, 35 steals), senior right fielder Keyshon James (.257, 26 steals), senior pitcher/shortstop/left fielder Chris Schubbe (.274; 2-1, 3.00 ERA) and senior pitcher Dylan Dee (4-6, 4.05). Keep an eye on sophomore infielder Carter Graham and junior catcher/pitcher Keegan Quaderer.
Manteno
Four senior returners from a 21-8 Class 2A regional champion lead the Panthers: pitcher/third baseman Braden Campbell, pitcher/outfielder Connor Harrod, first baseman Jake Stevens and shortstop Tyler Buehler. Stevens drove in a team-high 30 runs last year and hit .250; Harrod hit a team-best .358 with 17 RBIs; Buehler batted .337 with 29 RBIs and 24 steals; and Campbell hit .286. Harrod was 4-3 with a 2.94 ERA and Campbell finished 3-0, 3.78. Junior Brendan Jedlicka is another pitcher to watch. Goals include an Illinois Central Eight title.
Peotone
Pitcher/shortstop Tyler Leitelt, third baseman/pitcher Kayden Derkacy, outfielder/infielder/pitcher Lincoln Tierney and outfielder/pitcher Alex Chenoweth return to lead the Blue Devils, who aim to improve on last year’s 10-19 record and compete for a regional title. Declan McMaster, who plays infield and outfield and pitches, is a newcomer to watch.
Girls soccer
Manteno
The Panthers graduated most of their defense from a 5-13-3 team, but return all of the offense and aim to build on that. Some veterans to watch include senior Emily Horath (12 goals, three assists), junior Morgan Derrico and sophomore Peyton Boros (seven goals, four assists). Experience is a strength with eight seniors.
Peotone
Senior forward Allie Werner is back after earning All-State honors and leading the Blue Devils to a 12-7-1 record, a Class 1A regional title and a berth in the sectional final. Werner has 84 career goals, 14 short of the program record. Also returning are senior forward Peyton Bisping, junior center back Callie Weiss, sophomore central midfielder Katelyn Leitelt and junior central defensive midfielder Nayeli Horta. Freshman defender Selah Turner is a rising star. Another regional title and a third straight trip to the sectional final are goals.
Softball
Beecher
The Bobcats aim to run it back after going 37-2 and winning the Class 2A state title, the fifth for the program and for veteran coach Kevin Hayhurst. Four senior starters are back from that team, including Colgate-bound pitcher Taylor Norkus. She was 18-1 with a 0.98 ERA and 196 strikeouts in 121 innings, and also batted .286 with 22 RBIs. Other senior regulars back are center fielder Makenzie Johnson (.463, 48 runs, 30 RBIs), second baseman Elena Kvasnicka (.387, 22 RBIs) and right fielder Liliana Irwin (.321). Two sophomores who started as freshman also are back: catcher Makenna Albert (.321) and first baseman Alexandra Johnson (.342, 24 RBIs). Florida State recruit Ava Lorenzatti opted not to play high-school ball this season.
Manteno
The Panthers are looking to win the Illinois Central Eight again after going 13-1 in league play and finishing 20-7 overall. Some proven veterans are seniors Aubrie Goudreau (.427, 26 RBIs, 35 runs), Sophie Peterson (.430, 18 RBIs, 19 runs), Alyssa Singleton (.333, 22 runs, 12 steals) and Amiya Carlile (.367, 15 RBIs, 16 runs, 21 steals). Sophomore Savanna Watkins (.375, 17 RBIs, 25 runs, 13 steals) also returns. Two newcomers who will contribute are junior first baseman/third baseman/pitcher Maddie Jones and freshman pitcher Mady Dye, who led Manteno to an IESA state title.
Peotone
The Blue Devils will be in every game they play, thanks to senior Louisville recruit Sophie Klawitter, who was 11-13 with an 0.93 ERA and 329 strikeouts in 158 2/3 innings last season. Klawitter also hit .353. Other veterans back from last year’s 13-14 team include senior third baseman Ava Kosmos, junior shortstop Payton Schnelle (.312) and junior center fielder Jillian Roarke (.264).
Boys track and field
Manteno
Junior Briggs Cann finished ninth in the Class 2A 400 meters at state last spring and is chasing the program record and another trip downstate this year. Other returners to watch include Nick Honkisz (hurdles, long jump), Carter Stell (hurdles), Seth McHugh (1,600) and Caden Reiter (800). A newcomer expected to contribute is sprinter David Skonieczny.
Girls track and field
Manteno
A pair of sophomores who placed at state as freshmen are back to lead the Panthers. Distance ace Klarke Goranson finished second in the Class 2A 800 meters and third in the 1,600. Her best times last season were 2:11 in the 800 and 4:50 in the 1,600. Thrower Sophia Most was seventh in the 2A discus at state and broke the 45-year-old program record in the event with a 124-1 effort. Also back is Lyla Nevel (3,200). Freshman Olivia McElroy was a grade-school state runner-up in the high jump and already has cleared 5-2.25 indoors this spring. Long jumper Adalyn Cox is another freshman to watch.