2009 18U Angels announce College Signees !!

Congratulations to the following 18U Angels who have signed their National Letters of Intent (NLI) to play college softball.

Phoebe Conner - NLI  to play for Lewis University

Courtney Delach - NLI to play for Kankakee Community College

Amy Knourek  - NLI  to play for Adrian College

Kalie Langlois - NLI to play for Kankakee Community College

Lauren Pacetti - NLI  to play for Joliet Junior College

The Illinois Angels are pleased to announce that Lindsey Thielmann has made a verbal commitment to play softball while attending St Marys College (Notre Dame Indiana).  Thielmann, a senior at Lincoln Way East high school, begins her third year as an Illinois Angel.  Lindsey has a 339 career batting average with the Angels and has been a stalwart at the catcher position.

St Marys head coach Erin Sullivan said, "I am so happy that Lindsey chose Saint Mary's and I can't wait to have the privilege to coach her next year."  

Congratulations to Lindsey and her family!

The Angels are proud to announce that 18u Angel Rosie Wysocki signed a National Letter of Intent to study and play softball at St Joseph's College of Indiana.  St. Joe's is a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference, one of the most respected and competitive NCAA Division II conferences in the country. 

Rose is a senior at Lincoln Way East High School.  She begins her 7th season as an Angel.   During her tenure at Lincoln Way and with the Angels, Rosie's primary position has been shortstop - but she has played virtually every position on the field as the need arose.  Wysocki intends to study economics and education at St. Joseph's College.    Congratulations to Rose and her family!

 18u Angel Karissa Inglis signed a letter of intent to play for Purdue University North Central for fall 2008.  PUNC is an NAIA school, part of Purdue University, located in Michigan City, Indiana.  Karissa hopes to major in chemistry or chemical engineering - areas of study for which Purdue is world famous.  Congratulations, Karissa.  

The Illinois Angels hosted their 6th Annual Clinic for parents and coaches on Sunday November 18th.  Some 50 travel team, rec ball and high school coaches heard Coach Dick Smith, Head Coach at the University of St Francis, Coach Kim Kosinski, Assistant Coach at St Xavier University, Bryce Bly, Director of The Fastpitch Formula (a training and placement service for college prospects) and players from St. Francis and St. Xavier cover a range of topics from how to teach players to throw to how to get recruited by a college.

Thanks to all who participated.

The 18u Angels joined over 110 teams to finish their fall college exposure  at the prestigious St Louis College Showcase, the largest showcase event in the midwest.

The Angels acquited themselves well with a 3 - 1 - 1 record.  Most importantly numerous college scouts and coaches were able to watch the team perform in a competitive setting.

October 27 - 29 Chesterfield Mo.  After an 18 hour rain delay, the Angels took the field against the Illinois Shock in the 9th annual St Louis College Exposure Showcase tournament.  The big crowd saw one of the finest games of the showcase.  The first three innings it was all defense.  The Angels went 3 up 3 down in the top of the first.  Angels pitcher Jori Cicale (3 innings 1 walk 1 hit 1 strikeout 0 runners left on base) struck out the Shock lead off batter in the bottom of the inning before yielding a single to number 2 batter Stephanie Zeha.  Zeha was quickly wiped off the bases as Angels 3rd baseman Caiti Dolan snared a line drive and threw to first baseman Kim Skierkiewicz for the inning-ending double play.

With the score 0 - 0 in the top of the fourth, Angels lead off batter Rose Wysocki lined a shot into the left center field gap for a stand up double.  Rose advanced to 3rd on an infield ground out and scored on Kris Look's RBI single to left. 

The Angels added another run in the 5th on Syd Szafranski's lead off single, followed by a single to right by Lisa Consorti moving Syd to 3rd.  Syd then scored on a wild pitch to make the score 2 - 0.

Karissa Inglis came in to pitch for the Angels in the bottom of the 4th and breezed through the Shock lineup until the bottom of the 6th when two squibb infield hits put runners on 1st and 3rd for the Shock with no one out.  The Shock picked up a run when Katie Lynch tried to steal second and was thrown out Thielmann to Wysocki allowing speedy Grace Young to score from 3rd base.  The final Angels 2 Shock 1.

GAME 2  The Angels played the Crete Quest at 10 PM on Saturday night.  The windy, cold conditions kept the crowds at a minimum and seemed to set the stage for a rather strange contest that saw the Angels leave 7 runners on base in just 4 innings.  The Quest came out on top by a score of 3 - 0 (4 innings).

GAME 3  Sunday morning dawned sunny and mild as the Angels took the field for a 9:30 AM contest versus the New Lenox Lightning.  Michelle Markelz put the Lightning ahead in the top of the first with a solo home run.  The Angels quickly tied the game in the bottom of the first as lead off hitter Rose Wysocki drew a walk, stole 2nd, advanced to 3rd on Lisa Consorti's infield grounder and scored on a wild pitch. 

The Angels took the lead for good in the bottom of the second as Syd Szafranski led off with a double, advanced to 3rd on Caitlin Griffin's sacrifice and scored as Caiti Dolan handled a tough high pitch to successfuly execute the suicide squeeze.  Several walks followed forcing home another run.  Skierkiewicz drove in a run with an infield hit and Wysocki followed with an RBI single scoring two more runs to give the Angels a 6 - 1 lead at the end of two innings of play.  The final Angels 6 Lightning 3 in 4 innings.

After the game, Coach Wysocki noted, "The Lightning has some fine hitters.  Kristen Look, Morgan-Leigh Trump, Kalie Langlois, Karissa Inglis and Caitlin Griffin provided great support in the outfield.  Five of the twelve outs registered in the game came on long fly balls which these players tracked down.  This game was a great opportunity for our outfielders to show their stuff and they really looked great.". 

GAME 4  The final game of the round robin showcase pitted the Angels against the St Louis Fusion.  A nice crowd watched the Angels hustle and hit their way to a 10 - 0 victory over the Fusion.  Jori Cicale and Karissa Inglis combined to pitch the shutout with support from the flawless Angels defense.  Lindsey Thielmann and Lisa Consorti handled the catching duties for the Angels.

Coach Wysocki noted,  "This was a showcase - not about winning or losing - but about the girls showing their skills and hustle.  Like most of the teams in this tournament, we batted our entire roster.  Due to the rain out on Friday and delayed start on Saturday, games were shortened to less than an hour . . . but each girl made the most of her 7 or 8 at bats during the showcase and the Angels' hustle and spirit were outstanding.  Our defense was nearly flawless - pitching and catching strong.  Every one of them should be pleased with their showing this weekend."

Congratulations Angels on winning the first ever women’s fastpitch softball competition at the 22^nd annual Illinois “Prairie State Games.” 

The Prairie State Games began in 1984 to provide Illinois amateur athletes a chance to come together for competition in an Olympic style venue.  Thousands of athletes from around the state gather annually to compete in a variety of events, track and field, ice skating, hockey, shooting, soccer, weight lifting, swimming and many more.  Baseball has been included in these “Illinois Olympics” before – but 2005 was the first year for women’s fastpitch softball. 

PSG President, Mrs. Maureen Moore, congratulated the Illinois Angels and Chi-Town Express at the medal ceremony, "you provided a great example of how competitive athletics should be played." 

The 10 inning 2 - 0  gold medal game was indeed memorable.  It was truly worthy to be called a “championship” game.  But the road to the championship was likewise memorable. 

Friday June 24  began with a 13 – 1 win over the Bartlett Silver Hawks.  The Angels scored 5 runs in the top of the first.  They pounded out 14 hits in this 4 inning game.  Jen Burns pitched a 3 hitter.

Friday afternoon, the onslaught continued with another 14 hit attack, this time against the Oak Park Windmills.  Jori Cicale pitched the full 7 innings giving up just 5 hits.

Saturday (June 25) morning the Angels stumbled a little against the Chi-Town Express.  In the first inning, the Express scored 4 runs – and the Angels managed only 3 hits for the game – result: a 4 – 0 loss.  Burns started, Cicale relieved Burns in the first inning and Burns came back in the later innings.

At noon (“take visitors”), the Angels came back strong against the Crown Point Bulldogs with an 11 – 1 victory behind Cicale's 4 hit pitching.  The victory catapulted the Angles into the gold medal game Saturday evening.

Gold Medal Game Saturday night’s medal game was a gem.  Burns pitched what was likely her best game as an Angel.  Cicale pitched nearly a whole game in the “bullpen” staying ready to relieve if Burns ran out of gas – that never happened. 

The Angels went 3 up 3 down in the first against Express pitcher Lauren Callicoat (an ex-Angel).  The Express mounted a threat in the bottom of the first when Zieman singled to center with one out and moved to 2^nd on a sacrifice bunt.  A hit batsman put runners on first and second.  But the inning ended with no score as Sloan grounded to shortstop (Wysocki to Skierkiewicz).

The game continued scoreless into the top of the sixth.  Look, Shizas, Griffin and Consorti had hits for the Angels but were left on base while Studebaker made it as far as second base for the Express.

In the top of the sixth, the Angels mounted a serious threat when Sarah Shizas hit a lead off single and promptly stole 2^nd.  Shizas advanced to 3^rd with one out on Wysocki’s sacrifice.  The Angels narrowly missed scoring when Cicale's suicide squeeze bunt trickled foul.  But Cicale followed up with a fly ball to medium center field and Shizas tagged and avoided the tag at the plate to break the scoreless tie.  Angels 1 Express 0 . . . but the Express appealed that Shizas had failed to tag-up after the catch.  After some moments of thought, the plate umpire declared Shizas out for “failing to tag up.”

The score remained 0 – 0 into extra innings.  In the 8^th inning, the Express put the Angels “in the pickle pot.”  Studebaker’s lead-off single turned into runners on 2^nd and 3^rd with no one out.  

Klutcharch then bunted the ball back to Burns on what looked like an attempted suicide squeeze.  But Studebaker froze about half way to the plate as Burns came up to throw.  Realizing she would be out at the plate Studebaker retreated toward 3^rd where SS Rosie Wysocki awaited – Burns fired a strike to Wysocki who put the tag on Studebaker for out number one.  Burns then stuck out Lyons and retired Imrie on a grounder back to the pitcher. 

In the 9^th, Shizas again made it to 2^nd base with one out but Shizas was left stranded on the bases.  The Express went down in the bottom of the inning as Callicoat grounded out Burns to Consorti, Julie Cracco grounded out Burns to Skierkiewicz and Zeiman popped out to Dolan at 3^rd base.

The 10^th belonged to the Angels.  Caiti Dolan led off with a single to center.  Griffin followed with a single.  Both runners advanced a base on Kris Look’s sacrifice.  Brittany Hutter walked to load the bases with one out.  The Express called in Klutcharch to pitch to Consorti – the move worked for the moment as Klutcharch struck out Lisa.  Jen Burns was next with two out.  Jen hit the ball hard on the ground to 3^rd and handcuffed the Express 3^rd baseman.  Burns was hustling down the line and beat Lyons’ throw allowing Dolan to score the first “official” run of the game.  Kim Skierkiewicz collected an RBI when she took a pitch off the elbow, advancing to first and forcing Caitlin Griffin home making the score Angels 2 Express 0.  Klutcharch struck out Shizas to end the inning but little did it matter.  In the bottom of the 10^th, Twohill grounded out 2^nd to 1^st (Consorti to Skierkiewicz).  Boerema did reach first.  But Sloan flied out to right fielder Brittany Hutter and Burns struck out Studebaker to end the contest. 

Angels 2 runs on 9 hits 3 errors  Express 0 runs on 4 hits 1 error.  Time of the game 2 hours 10 minutes.  Winning pitcher Jen Burns (Shizas - catcher)   Losing pitcher Lauren Callicoat (Boerema/Carraco - catchers).  And the first gold medal in softball for the Prairie State Games to the Illinois Angels.