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Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Boomalot on January 16, 2025, 8:19 pm

Here is my list:
1) Spaid
2) Pupillo
3) Tholl

No pitchers made my list. No Chill or Bandit made my list.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Hmmm on January 27, 2025, 8:35 pm, in reply to "Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

You can't compare stats from a mid major to a P4 conference team. You should not even compare stats from the Big Ten to the SEC.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Stop ripping on January 27, 2025, 6:29 pm, in reply to "Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Looks like Golembiewski and Stewart are ahead of Pupillo

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Please Stop ripping good kids on January 24, 2025, 6:09 pm, in reply to "Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

First, the best player at UNI the last five years was a pitcher, Kailyn Packard. Packard pitched 472 Innings with 546 K's over 3 years from 21 to 23 with ERA's of 1.63, 1.70 2.27. Guess who Packard played for, Illinois Chill. You should know that since you know UNI so well. She doesn't count because she is from Wisconsin? That is nonsense. Almost all Chill girls come from Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana. Bandits get many girls from those location, but they also draw nationally. All those girls should be in the discussion. Pupillo's numbers are impressive her frist two years however UNI's RPI was 67 and 72. While I certainly respect UNI as a program, they simple don't play a good enough schedule to say she is one of the best. For example, Northwestern plays Missouri, Duke & Tennessee their first weekend this year while UNI plays North Dakota, Loyola and Wyoming. You can't compare a player from UNI to a player at Texas or even Northwestern. Regarding Spaid, she had a great career at Miami of Ohio but you can't mention her without mentioning Golembiewski,(Chill). FYI for those saying Kumar recruited both of them she did not she inherited them from Crowell. I will agree that Kumar developed them in a big way, and I will agree you can compare them to Katie Stewart since Miami's RPI is respectable and they have made the tournament. Flat out Miami played a tougher schedule especially in 2024. Even though Miami played a tougher schedule in 2024 you still must realize the pitching in the MAC or the Missouri Valley does not compare to Power 4/5 pitching for the most part. Katie Stewart is facing the best pitchers in the country on a daily basis as a #1 RPI team. I will add those additional players mentioned by others are better than Pupillo. Jori Heard, (Chill when it counted most) had 2.51 ERA in 131 IP in the SEC. Sage (Bandits) also at South Carolina last season had 2.85 ERA with 119 K's in 118 IP in the SEC as a Freshman. How about Angela Zedak,(Chill/Northwestern) .315 BA in 23 and .313 BA in 24. Northwestern's RPI was 28 in 2024 and 7 in 2023. What about Estelle Czech (New Jersey Intensity) 2.79 career ERA at Texas. Baily Dowling (Bandits)/Alabama had a great career hampered by injury. Kayla Konwent,(Chill/Wisconsin) from Wisconsin,.392 career batting average with 43 HR's. Again, why limit this to Illinois, you should at least include Indiana and Wisconsin. Keagan Rothrock, (Bandits, Mojo, Lady Dukes), is probably the most impressive, 2.59 ERA 262 IP 201 K's and a World Series appearance. If you are going to badmouth Bandit and Chill college players at least understand they are playing at the highest level, against the best competition, many are getting significant playing time, and they are getting a great education in the process. Examples of Chill girls recently having 4/5 great years are Delany Rumell, Peyton Bannon, Fiona Girardo, Maeve Nelson, Cassie Lindmark, Angela Zedak and Kayla Konwent. That is just off the top of my head. All of these girls mentioned just ended their college careers, played in the tournament at least once and have been multiple year starters. Let's let the 22's 23's and 24's finish their college careers and discuss how it ends. Katie Stewart & Keegan Rothrock have a great head start, however Sage at Tennesse will be a force eventually as well as others. Maybe at the end of the day Pupillo a Junior will be successful at Alambama and be considered one of the best, but until then quick bad mouthing good kids from successful organizations.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Boomalot on January 24, 2025, 9:21 pm, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

I see I touched a nerve!
You lost the debate as soon as you claimed Jori Heard as a Chill girl! She played one freaking weekend with the Chill!
It’s not my fault the Bandits and Chill missed out on Tholl-Spaid-Pupillo. It’s not my fault they are the best position players to come out of Illinois the past 5 years! It’s not my fault all these other Bandit/Chill girls appear overrated.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Parent on January 27, 2025, 8:44 am, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

That single weekend took her from Valpo to South Carolina, I would say that counts her as a Chill Player.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Please Stop ripping good kids on January 25, 2025, 11:55 am, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Career Stats:

Tholl - .264 32 HR
Zedak - .276 36 HR
Nelson .262 41 HR
Dowling - .274 28 HR
Girardot - .297 14HR
Spaid - .395 46 HR
Golembiewski - .348 46 HR. One year left
Stewart - .369 13 HR 3 years left. This is impressive in the Big 12 given their RPI last year
Pupillo - .382 35 HR Transfer to Alabama two years remaining. The jury is out. As it stands Golembiewski has the edge. Let's see Pupillo's SEC average and HR's at the end of two years.

In who's mind is Tholl better? How can you compare Spaid, Golembiewski and Pupillo to the others given they play in the MAC and Missouri Valley. Certainly, all of the above would have killed it at UNI and Miami of Ohio. I'll give Miami of Ohio the edge since they play in the tournament every year and their RPI was 35 last year. UNI just beats everyone up in the regular season and then loses in the conference tournament every year. In addition, Miami of Ohio is a better school.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Mike S on January 26, 2025, 12:02 pm, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Bingo!!! The guy at Norther Iowa cannot win a BIG game!!!!!!!

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Boomalot on January 25, 2025, 6:13 pm, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Would it surprise you to learn Spaid actually had 104 home runs in her career?

You were so off on that stat alone checking your other stuff is not gonna happen.

I think Spaid has the 2nd most HRs in NCAA history.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Bad info on January 25, 2025, 4:22 pm, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Spaid had 103 home runs, not 46. Looks like you put down her career doubles instead of career home runs.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Please Stop ripping good kids on January 25, 2025, 10:32 am, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Tholl had a great career, but others compare. Tholl hit .264 with 32 HR's. Zedak(Chill) .276 with 36H HR's, Girardo (Chill) .297 with 14 HR. Maeve Nelson (Bandits/Chill) - .262 with 42 HR's Baily Dowling (Bandits) .274 with 28 HR's. Hitting .324 with 19 HRs at UNI is not that impressive if it was you might mention Emmy Wells/Chill she hit .311 with 19 HRs at UNI in 2022 before she was hurt. She didn't hit for average at Wisconsin last year but did hit 14 HR's. Oh, wait she is from Indiana so I can't mention her. If Pupillo kills it for Alabama, we will give her due, until then it is two good years at a Mid Major that hasn't made the tournament in 3 years and is opening their schedule with North Dakota, Omaha and Loyola. By your argument Pupillo should stay and UNI and not jump to Alabama. Did you ever consider Pupillo might already be at a top school is she played for the Bandits or the Chill? In addition, you also conveniently keep forgetting to mention Golembiewski/(Chill), .394 with 28 HR's, .944 SLG% is better than .324 with 19HR's,.775 SLG% especially given the RPI's of the teams. Golembiewski needs to be in the same conversation as Spaid and the numbers say she is better than Pupillo especially last season. As for Jori, the Chill helped Jori get recruited by South Carolina by pitching one tournament. This was a win for Jori and a win for the Chill. In addition, it makes Wasco look inept since they couldn't get such a talented player recruited. Jori is a great kid and very talented, but she was going to Valpo before that weekend. She would not be playing South Carolina if it wasn't for that weekend. Wasco did nothing for her recruiting. Let the readers determine who the winner is in that one. (FYI Jori didn't play for WM). Further what about the other Huntley girl Clara H, she subbed for Chill 16U that weekend for an injured player and played the next summer. She is now at Coastal Carolina and would not be playing there without making the move. She hit .300 in 100 at bats her freshman year. Definitely overrated, but in your mind, she is not a Chill girl she is a Wasco girl. Again, win for Chill, win for Clara and Wasco looks inept. (She didn't play for WM and would probably consider herself a Chill girl). Stop giving people bad advice. Katie Stewart may go down as the best player from Illinois but don't discount the fact she played for Lady Dukes as part of her preparation for Texas. Did you ever think that contributed to her success? Facing the best pitchers and hitters by playing for/against the top teams prepares you for college because in college it is not about being the best player from Illinois it is about being the best player you can be playing against the best in the country. No one cares if you are the best player from Illinois. If you have a chance to play for the Chill, Bandits Indiana Magic, the real Iowa Premier, Jersey Intensity, the real Mojo or Thunderbolts or Lady Dukes etc... take it, especially in your sophomore year leading up to your recruiting year. One more thing, I don't want to leave the impression S2/OGX did nothing for Katie. Everyone gives S2/OGX a bad rap but looking at Katie Stewart lets me know they know what they are doing. The first rule of any coach should be do no harm, don't screw this girl up. She is immensely talented and performed at a high level her freshman year. S2/OGX did not get in her way but instead brought the best out of her. If you have a chance train with them, train with them. I would guess they would put as much effort into a player training with them and playing somewhere else as they do for the players playing for Extreme Elite. Keep in mind there is no magic pill they have. They will not turn Josephine Schmoe into Katie Stewart.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Boomalot on January 25, 2025, 6:29 pm, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

How am I “ripping on players”? I think they are all very talented and hard working.
Back to Jori Heard. OMG, she is terrific and always has been. Regarding her Wasco days she played for SG and they had a terrific team for a few years. She did not magically turn into a SCarolina pitcher because she pitched that weekend for the Chill. She was good enough for SCarolina the previous weekend, but the SCarolina Coach did not know it because of bias. Neither the Chill or Wasco made her a great pitcher. She made herself a great pitcher. Let’s see if that can translate to more wins for SCarolina. I think she was their #4 last season.
The current 18U Chill team has 3 or 4 girls going to B10 and at least 1 going to ACC. I think 2 of the B10 girls will struggle as well as the ACC player. I think these girls got to the B10 and ACC only because the name on the jersey said Chill! I think there are better players in this state.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Stop rippimg on January 27, 2025, 6:17 pm, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

The ACC girl is going to kill it. The Penn Staye girl is going to kill it. ACC is from Indiana by the way, Penn State Illinois. ACC girl Probably the best performing hitter I have seen against great competition at 16U. Penn State hitter played 18u and killed it last summer and fall facing the best pitchers in the country who will be playing in college next year You obviously have never watched them perform. You don’t just get recruited because of the jersey. The schedule is hard, it is actually brutal, you need to preform, some don’t make it. Coaches may be biased in the teams they watch but for the most part you need to perform. I not saying there are not other great players their are but your premise is no bandits, no Chill. That is just biased.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Please stop on January 25, 2025, 4:25 pm, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Calling UNI a mid-major. It is not. It is a low major

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by @UNI on January 26, 2025, 12:12 pm, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

What the heck is a low major?

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by @UNI on January 26, 2025, 2:56 pm, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Google is your friend

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Mike S. on January 26, 2025, 11:54 am, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

The guy at Northern Iowa recruits good people, good students and good athletes.... he cannot coach his way out of a paper bag in BIG games. Got outcoached the last three years in the conference tournament . And the one pulling the trigger on pitching decisions does not help him either.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Mike S. on January 26, 2025, 2:08 pm, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

And by the way Emmy Wells and Mia Dodge, MVC Players of the Year , did not just leave the Cedar Valley for "greener softball pastures" .... there were deeper issues in that program!!!

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Bill Conroy on January 23, 2025, 6:18 am, in reply to "Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Your list is specific to Illinois, which eliminates 65% of the Bandit players. The Bandits have had many All Americans over the past 5 years, Megan Beaubien, Taylor Monroe, Miranda Elish, Taran Alvelo, Jenna Lilley, Montana Fouts, Odicci Alexander, Megan Goode, Kate Gordan, Rachel Lewis to name a few, as well as many others with outstanding careers such as Alexis Mack, Alexis Holloway, Lauren Burke, Kally Meredith, Sarah Jubas to name a few.

We have had Illinois players with success like Nikki Cochran, Regan Krause and Sage Mardjetko but they have been overshadowed by the performance of Bandits out of state.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Boomalot on January 23, 2025, 10:03 am, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Mr Conroy-
Respectfully you have made my point to a large degree. The college players from Illinois who came out of Bandits and Chill program have been average in college. Certainly they played on GREAT travel teams but that can largely be explained by better pitching and having 12 solid players as opposed to 5 or 6 solid players opponents carried.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by @@Boomalot on January 25, 2025, 9:48 pm, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Boomalot, looking at the Bandits rosters, it appears that less than a third of the Bandits roster is from Illinois. My question to Mr, Conroy is since you live in Illinois and your teams and players have had such great success, why not more Illinois players. I also think it’s strange to have 13 All Americans in the past 5 years and none from Illinois.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by @Boomalot on January 25, 2025, 9:33 pm, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Conroy forgot to mention a few All Americans beside the 12 he did mention. Kiki Malloy, who play for Tyrell and Conroy is the first to come to mind. I do find it strange that the Bandits have had that many All Americans with none coming from Illinois.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Bill Conroy on January 26, 2025, 9:25 am, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Boomalot and @Boomalot/@@Boomalot,

I feel the Bandits have done well at the next level as most have played in the Power Conferences, received their degrees and with 28 All Americans and 27 players that reach the the WCWS.

Not a fan of comparing players especially when playing different levels of competition.

As far as why such a lower number of Illinois players versus Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin? Boomalot, you answered your own question, the answer is I have had 28 All Americans and none from Illinois.
The coaches in other states are excited to see their best players go onto a stage where they will be seen more and have better chance of being successful. Unfortunately, in Illinois, that isn't the mindset.

My job is to get the young ladies taken care of for college, prepare them for college and try to be successful on the field. My goal never was to have players become All Americans or to make the WCWS but it is nice that it has happen as often as it has. As far as where the Bandits live that have had the on field success, well that isn't even on my radar.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Boomalot on January 26, 2025, 11:56 am, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Coach Conroy-
It seems that you agree with me to a degree! My premise is the best position players out of Illinois the past 5 seasons have been non-Chill/Bandit players DESPITE those teams having an outsized proportion of girls playing D1.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by @Bill Conroy on January 26, 2025, 9:33 am, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

To be honest, Illinois teams outside of the Bandits have an incremental recruiting advantage because of the Bandits. Proximity means you will play Bandit, or Chill, teams on a fairly regular basis locally and benefit from their college following.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by @@Boomalot on January 26, 2025, 9:23 am, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Maybe Bill is better with kids that are referred than those that he personally evaluates. Also, just in general, it seems like Ohio produces consistently better players than Illinois.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Bill Conroy on January 27, 2025, 7:51 am, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

As I admitted, the players from Ohio, Michigan, Indiana have outperformed the Bandit players from Illinois in terms of All American status but players such as Nikki Cuchran, 2X First Team BIG 10, Madison Ebeling First team A-10, the only two Illinois players on my 2016 and 2017 PGF National Championship teams both have had terrific careers but not All American level.

Not sure the purpose of this thread.

If you are trying to say Bandits have more players outside of Illinois than from the state of Illinois - correct

If you are trying to say the players from the Bandits outside of Illinois have received more All American recognition - correct

If you are trying to some players from Illinois outside the Bandits have had better stats than some players on the Bandits from Illinois - correct

If you are saying that the average player from outside the Bandits in Illinois have had better careers than the average Bandit player from Illinois, you are definitely incorrect.

As I stated earlier, you're entitled to your opinion but so am I. In my opinion, you don't know what you're talking about or you're trying to stir things up! Either way, this thread has been overplayed

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by trounced on January 23, 2025, 9:35 am, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Marissa Gagliano went on to become the starting shortstop at Duke after playing at Radford.

Sabrina Rabin was a stud at Northwestern.

Madison Ebeling was all-MVC at Loyola.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Chill from small high school on January 24, 2025, 6:18 am, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Still think this is pretty impressive from the Chicago land area and a Chill player, but what do I know

Delaney Rummell

I guess your right now Chill or Bandits from Illinois do much?

2024 (SENIOR): Started all 58 games at third base for the Rebels … Helped lead Ole Miss to its eighth straight NCAA Tournament appearance … Recorded a .251 batting average with 43 hits … Drove in 24 runs and scored 18 more … Struck out a team-low 15 times … Finished with multiple hits in 10 games … Doubled in her Rebel debut against BYU (2/8) … Had a pair of hits and RBI vs. Pitt (2/16) … Tallied a season-high three hits and three RBI at Kennesaw State (2/17) … Homered against Miami (OH) and drove in three runs (2/24) … Hit an RBI single and scored a run to take the series finale over No. 17 Mississippi State (3/10) … Doubled and scored a run to help Ole Miss take its highest ranked series victory in program history over No. 2 LSU (3/18) … Went 5-for-8 against Western Kentucky (4/12-14) … Was key in the Rebels’ series victory over Auburn, homering in the finale (4/28) … Drove in a run in the rubber match with No. 8 Arkansas (5/4) to help Ole Miss take its second series victory over a top 10 team.

ILLINOIS: Named to the All-Big Ten Defensive Team after boasting a .986 fielding percentage with only two errors in 148 chances at third base in 2023 ... Batted .271 with a career-best 48 hits while crossing the plate 22 times and driving in 31 more runs as a senior ... Recorded career-high numbers in home runs (10) and RBI (34) all while hitting .269 as a junior ... Tallied 11 multi-hit games and drove in multiple runs in eight contests in 2022 ... Earned Second Team All-Big Ten honors after hitting .314 with 43 hits, including 17 for extra bases, and 33 RBI as a sophomore ... Received national recognition after going 9-for-12 with 10 RBI, a home run, 3 doubles, and 2 runs scored in four games against Purdue, collecting Louisville Slugger/NFCA Player of the Week and B1G Co-Player of the Week honors (4/20/21) ... Started all 22 games at third base in 2020 before the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading the team with five home runs and totaling five multi-RBI games.

HIGH SCHOOL: Ranked in the 2019 Extra Elite 100 by Extra Innings Softball ... Was a two-time Illinois High School Association (IHSA) First Team All-State member in 2017 and 2018 for Hampshire High School ... Played club for the Illinois Chill organization, helping lead her team to top-10 finishes at the IDT Softball Tournament in 2016 and 2018 and at PGF Nationals in 2016.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Just asking on January 22, 2025, 8:16 am, in reply to "Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Not arguing with your list but I see that Conroy and his Bandits have won IDT and Nationals ten times each. How do they do it if they don’t have great players? I’m not being sarcastic but is it their training? Coaching? Culture? Or does Conroy pay off the umpires?

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by @Just Asking on January 22, 2025, 12:23 pm, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

The top-level talent from Bandits tends to go to P4 schools where it's far more challenging to stand out statistically. Other players may go mid-majors and develop, and the numbers are far more impressive. Players in the MAC are way more likely to have gaudy numbers than an SEC, Big Ten, etc. player.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by @@Just Asking on January 23, 2025, 3:08 pm, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

I completely agree, There is a considerable gap between the overall talent you face in P4 games as opposed to mid-major. That doesn't mean the great mid-major players couldn't play at the highest level. It would just be a different statistical outcome.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Bill Conroy on January 22, 2025, 10:27 am, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

I assume you must be a former Bandit to know how many times we won IDT and Nationals. The Bandits actually won 11 Nationals but one was PGF Platinum with our 13U team years ago, so I don't count that and we also won a 12th at Connect Sports but it was during COVID so I don't count that either.
7 PGF, 2 ASA/USA Gold, 1 Triple Crown, 1 NFA and one Connect Sports. I usually don't add the PGF Platinum and Connect Sports into the count.

As far as how we do it without any great players from Illinois? It's your list but Regan Krause, although overshadowed by Nijaree Canady, had a very good career at Stanford, appearing in two WCWS and was key to us winning PGF Nationals in 2019 and Connect Sports Nationals in 2020. With that being said, we do it by paying off the umpires! I obviously didn't pay enough for a safe call by the home plate umpire that was overturned by instant replay.

Also, a little early but I would add Sage Mardjetko onto the list but we will see what she does at Tennessee.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by @Bill on January 22, 2025, 11:05 am, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Bill Bill Bill. That's because you wasted your challenge on a play that wasn't even close!

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by oof! on January 22, 2025, 3:10 pm, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

That soul-patch dont lie!

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Bill Conroy on January 23, 2025, 4:23 am, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Yes, painful memories. We did waste a challenge on a play that was close but clearly out in the 5th inning. It would of been good to have the challenge available in the 6th inning when the replay showed their was a tag at 2nd base. The call I was referring to was the out call at home in the same inning that got reversed by our opponents challenge.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by @Bill on January 24, 2025, 11:19 pm, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Had you not wasted that call and used it appropriately, you would have had the 2nd out (and nobody on) in the 6th. And the other out at home would have ended that inning (assuming). Most likely you would have won that game 3 to 2.

I agree with the umpires on the safe at home call. The real unfortunate part was the missed call at second, which was preceded by the objectional protest in the previous inning! As soon as you protested I had a sinking feeling it might come back to bite you.

Either way, it was a great game. (At least from a fan perspective)

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by @@Bill - Bill Conroy on January 25, 2025, 8:05 am, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

I agree with everything you said but I didn't see enough on replay to overturn the out call at home plate but I might be a bit biased.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by @Boomalot on January 19, 2025, 2:29 am, in reply to "Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

My attempt of a list of the top Illinois-based players from 2020 - 2024 who excelled in college. Criteria is D1 player (P5 or Mid-Major) and based on performance and success on the field. Player may have achieved multiple All Conference honors, helped team win or compete high for their conference and / or in Regionals, has solid performance stats over 3 - 5 years of their D1 college career

Alex Storako
Estelle Czech
Rachel Becker
Katie Stewart
Karli Spaid
Jenna Golembiewski
Alexis Pupillo
Keke Tholl
Katie Keller
Maggie O'Brien
Delainey Bryant
Angela Zedak
Mack Leonard
Lauren Derkowski
Abby Dunning
Delaney Rummell
Hallie Hall
Emily Schultz
Jenna Veber

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by The Point on January 18, 2025, 9:49 am, in reply to "Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Jori was committed mid-major prior to joining the Chill. And Derkowski played for the Bandits as well.

Is your point that the Chill and Bandits girls are not that good? I’d argue the actual point being shown is that college softball at the highest level is really hard. And being an elite pitcher is even harder.

Also, let’s see if the former Miami of Ohio coach can replicate her hitting technique at Ohio State. Because Spaid and Golembiewski were both solid hitters coming into college, but not elite power hitters. I doubt anyone (outside of their college coaching staff apparently) could have predicted the amount of power both hit for in college. So give some credit to the program for successfully revamping their swings.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by @The Point on January 21, 2025, 7:12 am, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Kumar is a very good coach. I loved to watch their players hit, I think their swings translate to better teams and pitching than they typically saw in the Mac.

Kumar kind of carved out a niche getting good players to come to her mid-major. I hope she can do the same at Ohio State.

I can’t believe Storako only got one mention in this thread. A truly special player and an even better team mate.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Boomalot on January 21, 2025, 7:48 pm, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Storako definitely deserved mention.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Oregon ducks on January 18, 2025, 7:50 am, in reply to "Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

LYNDSEY GREIN
Oregon ducks
Nationals Fastpitch

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Boomalot on January 18, 2025, 9:33 am, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Certainly solid college career but definitely not a Bandit or Chill. In fact, I’d say she has performed better in college than most Bandit or Chill collegiate pitchers.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Texas on January 17, 2025, 6:16 pm, in reply to "Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Katie Stewart

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Scout on January 18, 2025, 7:47 am, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Katie Stewart best player to come out of Illinois

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by early on January 22, 2025, 7:55 pm, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Might be a little early to crown Katie Stewart. She definitely has a shot at being the best and I hope she continues to have great seasons year after year. Elite strength and power!

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Also too early on January 24, 2025, 12:48 pm, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Then to crown Pupillo as well. Success at a low D1. Let’s see how P4 goes.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by EagleEye on January 18, 2025, 1:09 pm, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Your memory is short. What about Samantha Findlay? Former Shark. Illinois State Champion, NCAA National Champion and WCWS MVP. She was the tournament MVP her freshman year at Michigan.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by @EagleEye on January 19, 2025, 11:36 am, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Defiantly more than 5 years ago. That was the original posters timeline.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by EagleEye on January 20, 2025, 6:40 pm, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Yup... Reading comprehension was lacking.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Boomalot on January 17, 2025, 8:16 pm, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Great Catch!!

Lady Dukes I think.
Another non-Bandit or Chill

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by At the very end on January 19, 2025, 4:52 am, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

she was on the Lady Dukes her senior year. Orland Park A’s/Extreme Elite National before that.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Adding on January 17, 2025, 12:29 pm, in reply to "Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

I’d also argue Rachel Becker from Purdue/OSU should be included.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Boomalot on January 17, 2025, 8:26 pm, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

She goes back a bit but again was not a Bandit or Chill

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Miami of Ohio on January 17, 2025, 12:20 pm, in reply to "Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

So you’re just going to ignore Golembiewski because she was a Chill girl?

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by CHILL on January 17, 2025, 9:00 pm, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Delaney Rummell 4 years Illinois 1 Year Ole Miss Great player

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Boomalot on January 18, 2025, 9:42 am, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Certainly solid college career but not up there with Spaid-Pupillo-Stewart-Tholl.
She was a member of Chill. Again, Chill or Bandit and college greatness, eh!

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Dad on January 25, 2025, 1:52 pm, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

I am not an expert on Spaid or Stewart but if you are telling me Pupillo and Tholl have had better "careers" or are better than Delaney Rummell I disagree. Also, Rummel was a great teammate!!! There are people in Cedar Falls that helped somebody pack the bags!!!!!!

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Curious on May 8, 2025, 5:00 pm, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

How did Pupillo end up hitting against SEC pitching?

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Correct on January 25, 2025, 4:22 pm, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

💯 agree with all you said.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Boomalot on January 17, 2025, 8:35 pm, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Perfect!
You got me. She has been fantastic and is a Chill alum.

For all the hoopla Chill-Bandit girls earn you’d think they would dominate this list of top college performers from Illinois.
Heck if the Chill-Bandit girls were as good as advertised, U of Illinois would actually be competitive.

Just sayin…

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by @boomalot on January 18, 2025, 3:34 pm, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

What does that say about your daughter's team when the Bandits and Chill kick their butts in a game?

Sorry that your daughter was not good enough to play for a completive organization.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by What Does It Say @@boom on January 19, 2025, 11:13 am, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

That national teams are better than local teams.

Wow, shocking.

Great point.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by @@@boom on January 19, 2025, 1:32 pm, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Good, so we agree that your daughters team is terrible.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Why? on January 19, 2025, 8:03 pm, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Why does his daughter's team have to be terrible?

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by King on January 20, 2025, 10:22 pm, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Why does his daughter’s team need to be terrible you ask?
Her team is probably real good, but who knows. What is known is the dude who threw that into the debate is a disgrace.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Coach on January 17, 2025, 7:59 am, in reply to "Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Jori Heard does not make your list? Seriously?

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Boomalot on January 17, 2025, 8:30 pm, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Jori was fantastic for Wasco. Again another non-Bamdit or Chill. Her college career has not been GREAT but there is still time.
Dunning at BC has done more in college (so far) than Heard or Marjetko or Bowers. I would not say any of them have been fantastic in college. Again, still time to be great.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Please Stop ripping good kids on January 24, 2025, 6:18 pm, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Jori is at South Carolina because of one week spent playing on the Chill combined with her performance.
She is the poster child for what the Chill or Bandits can do for you if you have talent and perform well. She is/was a Chill girl at least when it counted most.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Boomalot on January 24, 2025, 9:51 pm, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

I have already stated that Jori was a star/stud for Huntley and Wasco. For you to claim her one weekend (as you admit, it was one weekend) with the Chill made her good enough for SCarolina is ridiculous. On the other hand if you are saying she never makes it to SCarolina but for that one weekend then you are making my point. These college coaches are more interested with the name on the front of your shirt than the name on the back of your shirt.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Please Stop ripping good kids on January 25, 2025, 11:23 am, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

I am saying Wasco did nothing for her and being on the Chill did something for her. You truly don't understand what the Bandits or Chill do for players. They put them on the best stage against the best competition, which in turn helps them developed and prepare for the college level. Go watch the Eastern Rawling Summer Showcase and see Jordy Bahl, Ruby Meylan, Sage Mardjetko to name a few from the last 4 years. The coaches go watch at the Easton Rawlings because the best players in the country are playing against each other in one place. The same is true for IDT, PGF and Alliance Tier 1. Go ask Jori about the most important week of her recruiting life. My guess is she is grateful for the opportunity to play for the Chill that week. Wasco and most other organizations do not help in your recruiting, they are too busy saying look at me, we have one or two successful players. Should Pupillo stay at UNI and play a 77 RPI schedule? No, she should go to Alabama and her if she has what it takes to be a big girl. It is the same concept in travel ball. If you want to be the best, you need to beat the best. UNI/Wasco is not the best. FYI Zedak, Girardo, Golembiewski, Dowling and Nelson all had better/comparable careers to Tholl. In addition, they all did fairly well in getting degrees from Northwestern, Wisconsin, Michigan and eventually Miami of Ohio which is not a bad school.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Miami of Ohio on January 17, 2025, 7:10 am, in reply to "Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Maddie Reeves

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Boomalot on January 17, 2025, 2:41 pm, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

My list was based upon college performance.

Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years

Posted by Boomalot on January 17, 2025, 8:52 pm, in reply to "Re: Top Collegiate Players from Illinois last 5 years"

Derkowski deserves mention on this list. She played for Mojo.

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