The O'Fallon softball team is still looking for its first trip to the state tournament, but the 2011 season further established the Panthers as a Metro East power.
O'Fallon was 27-5 overall, winning the Southwestern Conference with a 13-1 mark. The Panthers defeated SWC rival Belleville East 9-0 in the regional final and beat another league opponent, Collinsville, 7-2 in a Class 4A sectional semifinal before losing 7-2 at Moline in the sectional final on June 4.
Last year, O'Fallon was 28-9 overall and 12-2 in the conference, placing second behind Edwardsville. The Panthers defeated East in the regional final and Edwardsville in the sectional semifinals before losing to Moline in the sectional championship game.
"Our goal every year is to do a little better than the previous year," Coach Kate Walsh said. "We lost to the same team this year in the sectional, but we won the conference championship, so that's an improvement.
"Going into the season, I knew Collinsville was very good and Edwardsville is always strong, plus East had (pitcher) Brittni Chapman. Those teams were all very competitive to the very end. To beat those teams, I'm very proud of my kids and very impressed with them."
The offensive star for O'Fallon was catcher Lauren Smith, who followed a big junior year with an even better senior year. Smith, who is bound for the University of Tennessee-Martin, set a state single-season record with 22 home runs while batting .653 with 69 RBIs.
"Lauren is an amazing kid - she's so determined and competitive and dedicated to softball. I know she's going to do great in college.
"She works very hard during the offseason. She's constantly taking lessons and working out to get stronger. I can't say I knew she was going to put up the numbers she did, but I was hoping she would."
The other seniors were pitcher Kelsie Stoszkus (17-3, 0.76 ERA), first baseman Michelle Craddick (.409, six homers, 30 RBIs) and pitcher Erica Wilson, (4-0, 0.68 ERA). Wilson will play for Rend Lake College while Stoszkus will play for Lakeland College. Craddick won't play college softball but will enroll in the pre-medical program at St. Louis University.
"Kelsie Stoszkus and Lauren Smith started since their freshman year and played a big role in building this program to where it is," Walsh said. "When we lost to Moline, it was very hard letting them go. Michelle Craddick is a leader on the field and Erica Wilson is a great kid, so we'll miss them, too."
The list of returning players will include junior shortstop Macy Oswald, who batted .545 with 12 homers, 46 RBIs and 29 stolen bases, and junior third baseman Lauren Marlinghaus, who batted .398 with 21 RBIs. Junior Marla Schulte and freshman Becca Proper are the top candidates to replace Smith behind the plate.
"(Sophomore) Lexi Cavins played a solid second base for us and hit well at the end of the season," Walsh said. "Our outfield is young. (Freshman) Taylor Underwood had a big game against Edwardsville and never left the varsity the rest of the season. She'll probably move to the infield next year."
Sophomore Brittany Durant is the center fielder while sophomore left fielder Sam Ralphs will return as the leadoff hitter. Sophomore Camille Ulery could be an outfield starter next season.
Sophomore Taylor Bowlby, who batted .490 with five homers and 36 RBIs as the designated player, could be the No. 1 pitcher next year. This year she was 6-2 with a 1.42 ERA.
Junior Taylor Barnouski got limited varsity playing time this season, but should see action as a pitcher in 2012, Freshman Maggie Moore is a pitcher-outfielder and should move up to the varsity next year.
