IHSA softball 2022: Predicting the Class 3A and 4A Illinois state finals for softball

Wes Huett, Journal Star
·4 min read
Lemont High School teammates celebrate their 1-0 victory over Metamora in the Class 3A state softball supersectional Monday, June 6, 2022 at EastSide Centre in East Peoria.
Lemont High School teammates celebrate their 1-0 victory over Metamora in the Class 3A state softball supersectional Monday, June 6, 2022 at EastSide Centre in East Peoria.

The Illinois High School Association Class 3A and 4A softball state finals are scheduled for Friday and Saturday, June 10-11 at Louisville Slugger Sports Complex in Peoria.

Here is information about each matchup, including top players and predictions on which teams will make it to the championship games and who will ultimately leave Peoria with a state title.

Tickets, weather and more: What to know about the Class 3A and 4A state finals

CLASS 3A

Antioch vs. Lemont

First pitch: 10 a.m. Friday

Rankings, records: No. 1 Antioch (29-3), No. 2 Lemont (32-6)

State finals appearances: Antioch 2010 (3rd, 3A); Lemont 2021 (2nd, 3A), 1989 (3rd, A), 1988 (2nd, A), 1985 (A).

Top Antioch players: So. RHP-OF Jacey Schuler (19-2 W-L, 0.69 ERA, 253 Ks, 131 IPs; .486, 29 RBIs, 8 2Bs, 4 3Bs), RHP-3B Syerra Gilmore (8-1 W-L, 1.31 ERA, 84 Ks, 64 IPs; .290, 4 HRs), Sr. SS Gabby Debevec (.394, 26 RBIs, 6 2Bs, 5 HRs), Jr. CF-2B Eden Echevarria (.388, 8 2Bs, 9 HRs, 43 runs), Jr. 2B-3B Emily Brecht (.298, 23 RBIs).

Top Lemont players: RHP Sage Mardjetko (19-1 W-L, 0.27, 304 Ks, 128 IPs), So. INF Raegan Duncan (.440, 45 RBIs, 10 2Bs, 6 HRs), Jr. C-INF Frankie Rita (.421, 33 RBIs, 10 2Bs, 41 runs), Fr. INF-OF Natalie Pacyga (.427, 28 RBIs, 12 2Bs).

Semifinal prediction: Lemont 1, Antioch 0

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Mahomet-Seymour vs. Chicago St. Ignatius College Prep

First pitch: 12:30 p.m. Friday

Rankings, records: No. 10 Mahomet (27-5), No. 15 St. Ignatius (27-8-1)

State finals appearances: Mahomet none; St. Ignatius 2014 (4th, 3A).

Top Mahomet players: Sr. RHP Karley Yergler (23-2 W-L, 0.54 ERA, 354 Ks, 169 IPs; .495, 50 RBIs, 45 runs, 9 2Bs, 17 HRs), So. INF Maddie Cortez (.372, 26 RBIs, 10 2Bs, 3 HRs), Sr. INF Abby Akers (.373, 21 RBIs, 11 2Bs).

Top St. Ignatius players: Sr RHP Ellie Giles (21-4 W-L, 441 Ks, 178 IPs; 25 RBIs, 8 2Bs, 5 HRs), So. 2B-SS Abby Lee (.375, 24 RBIs, 15 2Bs, 41 runs), So. CF Caroline Leavy (.327, 28 RBIs, 26 runs).

Semifinal prediction: Mahomet 3, St. Ignatius 2

Championship prediction: Lemont 2, Mahomet 1

Lemont pitcher Sage Mardjetko throws against Metamora during their Class 3A state softball supersectional Monday, June 6, 2022 at EastSide Centre in East Peoria. Mardjetko throw a perfect game for Lemont, eliminating the Redbirds 1-0 for a berth in the state finals.
Lemont pitcher Sage Mardjetko throws against Metamora during their Class 3A state softball supersectional Monday, June 6, 2022 at EastSide Centre in East Peoria. Mardjetko throw a perfect game for Lemont, eliminating the Redbirds 1-0 for a berth in the state finals.

CLASS 4A

Barrington vs. Chicago Marist

First pitch: 3 p.m. Friday

Rankings, records: No. 5 Barrington (33-5), No. 1 Marist (30-5-1)

State finals appearances: Barrington 2017 (3rd, 4A), 2015 (4th, 4A), 2013 (3rd, 4A), 2008 (2nd, 4A), 2007 (2nd, AA), 2006 (AA), 2005 (3rd, AA), 2004 (3rd, AA), 1993 (4th, AA), 1976; Marist 2021 (1st, 4A), 2019 (4th, 4A0, 2017 (4th, 4A), 2015 (1st, 4A), 2012 (1st, 4A).

Top Barrington players: Jr. RHP Allie Goodwin (29-5 W-L, 206 Ks, 185 IPs; .528, 61 RBIs, 16 2Bs, 18 HRs), So. C Emma Kavanaugh (.534, 55 RBIs, 14 2Bs, 15 HRs), Jr. 1B Ainsley Muno (.487, 59 RBIs, 15 HRs), Sr. 3B Brynn Nevers (.508, 41 RBIs, 12 2Bs, 12 HRs), Sr. LF Ellie Wintringer (.464, 47 RBIs, 13 2Bs).

Top Marist players: Sr. RHP Brooke McNichols (22-4, W-L, 241 Ks, 177 IPs), Sr. C Emily Bojan (.418, 40 RBIs, 9 HRs), Jr. OF Isabel Cunnea (.361, 36 RBIs, 10 HRs), Jr. 1B Eileen Donahue (.422, 32 RBIs, 10 HRs).

Semifinal prediction: Marist 3, Barrington 1

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St. Charles North vs. Edwardsville

First pitch: 5:30 p.m. Friday

Rankings, records: No. 7 St. Charles North (25-4), No. 11 Edwardsville (32-3).

State finals appearances: St. Charles North 2011 (2nd, 4A); Edwardsville 2009 (2nd, 4A), 2007 (3rd, AA).

Top St. Charles North players: Jr. RHP Ava Goettel (15-2 W-L, 2.24 ERA, 99 Ks, 100 IPs), Fr. 1B Paige Murray (10-2 W-L, 2.92 ERA, 93 Ks, 84 IPs), Jr. C-3B-OF Sophia Olman (.430, 40 RBIs, 9 2Bs), Jr. 3B-SS-OF Julia Larson (.394, 38 RBIs, 9 2Bs), Sr. OF-2B-SS Ashlee Chantos (.453, 32 RBIs), Jr. OF Leigh VandeHei (.520, 54 runs).

Top Edwardsville players: Sr. LHP Ryleigh Owens (20-1 W-L, 0.58 ERA, 133 IPs), So. OF Jillian Lane (.442, 33 RBIs, 42 runs), Sr. 1B-OF Sydney Lawrence (.462, 35 RBIs), Sr. 3B Brooke Tolle (.333, 34 RBIs), Sr. C-3B Lexie Griffin (.405, 32 RBIs, 10 2Bs, 4 HRs), Jr. SS Avery Hamilton (.421, 29 RBIs, 14 2Bs, 4 HRs).

Semifinal prediction: Edwardsville 4, St. Charles North 2

Championship prediction: Marist 3, Edwardsville 2

Wes Huett is Journal Star sports editor. Email him at whuett@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @WesHuett.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: IHSA softball 2022: Predicting the 3A and 4A state softball champions