Health & Fitness
Moraine Valley Softball Ready to Improve on 2011
Moraine Valley softball ready to improve on 2011
For the Moraine Valley Community College softball team, the 2011 season was a rebuilding year. Coach Mike Veen was in his first year at the helm and nine new players were on the roster. But the Cyclones didn’t disappoint, finishing second in the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference, advancing to the NJCAA Region IV semi-finals and posting a 21-win record. They’re aiming higher in 2012.
Starting pitcher and Skyway Conference Player of the Year, Sandy Saunders (Reavis), along with All-Conference players Maureen Galazkiewicz (Evergreen Park), Jayne Joyce (Mount Assisi), Maggi Crockett (Marist), and Katie Ferguson (Richards) finished their two years at Moraine Valley; however, the roster is still loaded. All-Conference first team player Molly Hankes (Richards) returns this season along with sophomores Caitlin Renik (Eisenhower), Elizabeth Reynolds (Queen of Peace), Stephanie Ruvalcaba (Argo), Theresa Urchell (Evergreen Park), and Erika Veen (Oak Lawn).
"Last year’s team did a great job. They were second in conference and deserved it because they worked hard. They also made it to regionals, and just to get there is a big deal. I was pretty proud. Our sophomores have a year under their belt playing at the college level and should be rarin’ to go this year," Veen said.
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In the off-season, Veen picked up a strong core of hitters with good arms and speed on the bags from Katelyn Andersen (Shepard), Emily Kurek (Mount Assisi), Jessica Prouty (Stagg), Kristin Renken (Richards), Lauren Schultz (Sandburg), Samantha Staisiunas (Andrew), Danielle Stark (Stagg), and Courtney Wheaton (Illiana Christian).
"Teamwork is going to play a major part in the success of our season. We have a roster full of talented women, and if they can come together and play as one, there’s nothing that can stop them," Veen said.
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Hankes, Kurek and Staisiunas are ready to pitch for the Cyclones. “Like every year, if your pitching holds up, your team usually does well. It should be a good year for us,” Veen said.
With a talented team in place, Veen is aiming to take the Cyclones deeper into the region playoffs—a yearly goal—and make habit of a 20-plus win season.
Joining Veen again in the dugout is assistant coach and former Cyclone Natalie Wigginton.
