Fillies Softball Eager for Spring Fling

The Fillies softball team is returning from a terrific season last year (32-6), that unfortunately ended at sectionals with a 1-0 loss to Lake Zurich. With eight returning starters from last years squad, Coach Perry Peterson is looking to have nothing stop his team this year, not even the weather. 

“It's a beautiful day for softball,” Peterson said of the bright but frigid day the team spent practicing for the upcoming year that begins March 14. The offical season opener for the team will be the Spring Fling Softball Tournament held at Barrington's Field of Dreams. 

“The weather doesn't matter; we've been practicing outside all week and last week too,” slugging first baseman, and fourth year varsity player, Kiersten Tinkoff said agreeing with her coach despite being near remaining piles of snow.  “It's really cold but everyone just wants to get back to playing.”

The least of the Fillies real concerns is the weather, according to Peterson who analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of last year's success. Peterson knows where the team needs to build upon in order for a run at the state title.

“We only lost six games last year but in four of those we were unable to score a run,” Peterson said.  “When you play at 43 feet (for the pitchers mound) you have to score.”

Peterson said that the 2009 IHSA changes that moved the pitchers mound back three feet made the game more about offense and didn't allow for too many dominate pitching performances.  The Fillies manager hoped the combination of raw power, speed, and softball intelligence would be the deciding factor for his team this year. 

“We have a lot of kids back that are ready to do something special this year,” Peterson said.  “This is a hungry bunch that's loaded with talent.”

Peterson will be relying heavily on a nice mixture of skilled depth from a bevy of returning players. The team has eight starters back to the field having only lost center-fielder, Nora Logue to graduation.  The Fillies can also rely on veteran leadership from third and fourth year players, starting behind the plate with senior Kristin Kuhn's consistency on offense and defense and the power hitting first baseman senior Tinkoff.

Tinkoff is easily recognizable from the Fillies basketball team, not only for her distinct protective eye-wear but the tenacious and physical way she played on the court. And considering the disappointing way the Fillies finished the season (an overtime loss to Zion-Benton in the Mundelein Sectionals) Tinkoff maybe looking to take some frustration out on the softball and opposing pitchers.

“Softball is really my main sport.” Tinkoff said. ”I'm just trying to get back into the swing of things and make this one of my best seasons.”

“Everyone has a real positive attitude.” Tinkoff went on to say where she sees the team heading.  “We can get far as a team.”

Barrington will need everyone stepping up, especially some of the third year starters, if the Fillies expect to make a run at state.  Barrington will need year-long great pitching from senior Kiley Dolezal holding scores low while the solid spray hitting of senior Colleen Shandley continues terrorizing pitchers so that power hitting senior Elizabeth Owens can knock her in and other Fillies in.

Just a few years removed from their playing in the state finals, the Fillies and Peterson are eager to get back.  Peterson is aware that he needs that balance of power and speed to help erase the memory of those six painful losses last year and sees some sophomores helping to spark the offense in both categories.

“[Loren] Krzysko is a stud with the bat and [Tess] Bolger is really solid with a lot of speed,” Peterson said of Bolger helping with Barrington's overall speed that will help manufacture runs, and in key situations late.

Peterson knows that with such a good team comes the issue of finding quality at bats to keep players fresh and valuable playing time for all, but believes the team is focused on the real goal.

“It's about winning as a group,” Peterson said.  “We will do the best we can to field the best possible team.”