Downers Grove South’s Marissa Mersch had the type of season every high school softball player dreams about.

Every time she went to the plate, it seemed like the ball was coming at her in slow motion and as a result she regularly punished pitchers.

The junior center fielder batted leadoff for the Mustangs and finished the season with a .532 batting average and had 74 hits, both of which were school records. Mersch scored 52 runs, had 20 doubles, three home runs, 24 RBI and an on base percentage of .581, making her a deserving choice to be the 2010 Bugle/Enterprise Softball Player of the Year.

“She’s just an outstanding leadoff hitter and certainly ignited our whole offense by getting on base as much as she did,” South coach Ron Havelka said. “She had a great year for us and she doesn’t have a lot of infield hits.

“She hits a lot of gappers and she also has a lot of stolen bases. She had 25 steals so it’s like a double every time she gets a hit. She also played well in center field.”

Mersch started as a freshman but it was certainly noticed how much better she’s gotten. A lot of the improvement comes from hard work in the offseason.

“We had strength and conditioning programs in the offseason and I would go to every one of them and work really hard,” Mersch said. “I got a lot stronger as time progressed and that really helped me out. Then I’d go into my back yard and hit off the tee and my dad would soft toss to me.”

The lefty was the table setter offensively, but her leadership was also a big part of the reason the Mustangs won a sectional title.

“They look up to her,” Havelka said. “In the offseason she puts in a lot of time in weights and conditioning. Her work ethic is really outstanding and she’s very humble. She’s very competitive and wants to do well for the team. They see how hard she works in the offseason.”

Mersch will have a very good chance to get her name in the record book next season. She currently has 181 career hits and the IHSA record is 248 so the magic number for next year is 68 hits.

“It’s a good goal to keep in mind but I won’t jump to conclusions,” Mersch said. “I’ll just go out and play my game and whatever happens happens.”

During the summer, Mersch plays softball for the under-18 Lemont Rockers. Alexa Alfaro University of Tennessee at Martin recruit was the lone senior for a record-setting Bolingbrook team.

She had a .387 batting average for the Raiders with seven home runs and a .689 slugging percentage.

The shortstop led the team with a .563 on base percentage and 43 runs scored. “What a great kid. She's like a daughter to me,” Bolingbrook coach Jean Ryan-Moak said. “She has given blood, sweat and tears to this program and she has prevailed.”

Olivia Bell The Plainfield South senior batted .495 with 54 hits, five doubles, eight triples, seven homers and 38 RBI. She also had a .890 slugging percentage.

“Her contributions were immeasurable this year,” South coach Kristi Boe said. “Olivia always got a hit when it was needed, was a leader, and carried our team this season. She has a great future ahead of her, her leadership and ability have left a permanent impression on Plainfield South High School.”

Andrea Carlson The Minooka All-Conference senior batted .430 with 20 doubles and nine homers on the season. She had a .797 slugging percentage and drove home 50 runs, while scoring 30 times.

“Andrea is our catcher, clean-up hitter, and leader for the team and has been a rock for us all season long,” Minooka coach Amy Saelens said. “She has huge numbers for average and RBI, and she leads the team in doubles, HR’s, and slugging percentage. Behind the plate she calls a great game and throws out or picks off anyone at any base who gets too far off with her quick, strong gun.” Robyn Chearo Perhaps one of the most improved offensive players in the state, Plainfield Central's senior catcher raised her average over 200 points from last year.

She ended the season with a .454 batting average with 27 RBI, 11 doubles, three triples and two homers. Her defense was strong as well with a .990 fielding percentage and throwing out 13 of 22 runners attempting to steal en route to an All-Southwest Prairie Conference selection.

“Robyn has been on the varsity for three years and she saved her best for last,” Plainfield Central coach Anne Campbell said.

“Offensively, she led the team in hitting and was solid behind the plate. Robyn worked hard to improve her game every day. She was a leader and captain for our team.” Julia Cohen

The junior came into the season as the backup first baseman for Maine South but quickly took over the starting job.

Cohen had a solid year in the field with a .987 fielding average on 152 chances. She also finished with a .324 batting average and had one home run.

“In her first chance at first she proved that she should be our No. 1 first baseman,” Hawks coach Emmy Pasier said. “She was strong in the field, had great range and was almost perfect when finishing a play. All of this was on the field but she was also a team player and supportive of her teammates in any situation. I look forward to another year with her.”

Cara DeLange The senior pitcher for Plainfield Central finished the season 19-4 with a 1.59 ERA in 158 innings. She struck out 182 batters, which was an average of eight strikeouts per game. At the plate she batted .333 with nine doubles, two homers and 21 RBI.

DeLange was an All-SPC member and was the Plainfield Central Female Athlete of the Year.

“Cara has been an asset to our program for the past two years, her record speaks for itself,” Campbell said. “She has been a leader on and off the field and we will miss her. One of Cara's biggest strength's is her calm demeanor on the field and her competitiveness. She will do well at Ferris St. next year.”

Lyndsey Doyle The University of Michigan recruit batted a remarkable .579 on the season, with four doubles and five triples.

She was walked 11 times, had 73 hits, stole 29 bases and scored 61 runs from her lead-off spot. She also added 24 RBI.

“Doyle is our lead-off batter and our dominant offensive leader,” Saelens said. “She has so many weapons at the plate, and when she gets on, we score.

Defensively, she covers a ton of ground as our centerfielder with amazing speed and ability and a great arm. She was named All-Conference, voted MVP of our Conference, and voted MVP for our team.”

Mallie Hall Played second base for a Bolingbrook team that earned its highest-ever playoff seed.

The junior batted .387 on the season. She also posted a .465 slugging percentage and reached base on a .509 clip.

“She had an injury that slowed her, but when she gets ahold of a ball, she can hit a ball,” Ryan-Moak said. “She is a heck of an infielder, she moves well latterly. Her heart and soul is on the field.”

Elaine Heflin The Downers Grove North freshman phenom missed a couple of weeks due to injury but she still put up ridiculous numbers and was one of the most feared pitchers in the area.

Heflin struck out 212 batters in 114 innings of work and went 11-2 with three saves and a .92 ERA.

She wanted the ball and she’s not afraid to lose,” North coach Mark Magro said. “She’d bear down and throw the ball hard. She’s pretty intimidating out there.” Heflin definitely has a bright future as a Trojan.

“I know she’ll be stronger and smarter,” Magro said. “She was injured and was never 100 percent and she was still tremendous. The sky is the limit for her.”

Katie Hunzinger Another one of Downers Grove North’s young stars, the junior shortstop was a big catalyst for the Trojans best season ever.

Hunzinger hit .360 with five homers, 24 runs scored and 27 RBI and was almost spotless in the field.

“The first month and a half she didn’t hit one soft ball,” Magro said. “Even if it was an out she hit ropes.

“She hurt her shoulder and that slowed down but she had a lot of big hits. She hit a three-run homer against Lyons and she was always a threat when she was at the plate. She only had three strikeouts (in the regular season).”

Tori Johnson The junior shortstop led a very young Joliet Catholic Academy team. Johnson batted .389 with five home runs, three triples, seven doubles and 35 RBI on the season.

“She is a quiet leader,” Angels coach Dave Douglas said. “She is not a real rah rah kid, she will lead by example.

“She stays out there and takes more ground balls. She is always trying to work on her game and get better in all aspects. She is always out there working her hardest.”

Kelly Kleppin A four-year member of the varsity team for Niles West. The shortstop served as captain of Niles West as a junior and co-captain this year and finished the year with a .380 batting average.

“Kelly personified a kid that would give you beyond what she had,” Niles West coach Steve Ramseyer said. “She did not practice less than she played. She went after every ball. She was a hustler, she never complained. Kelly was a coach’s dream. She was our energizer bunny on the field, a model of consistency.”

Kleppin received a scholarship to play at Division I South Dakota State University.

Jenny Krawiec The senior shortstop was the most feared hitter on Maine East and she finished the season with a .465 batting average and a .560 on base percentage.

Krawiec finished with 16 doubles, three homers, 21 RBI, 35 runs scored and had 12 stolen bases.

“Jenny Krawviec is by far one of the most talented softball players that Maine East has ever seen,” Blue Demons coach Mike Bender said. “She is a leader on and off the field and her stats speak volumes.”

Krawiec was a three-year starter and two-time team MVP and will play softball next year at North Park University.

Katie LaCivita The sophomore moved from left fielder to catcher this season and was remarkable behind the plate for Downers Grove South. She threw out 15 of the 22 runners that tried to steal on her.

“She is pretty tough,” Havelka said. “She’s only a sophomore, but she’s got a gun of an arm. She has a lot of poise back there and she can hit.”

At the plate, LaCivita hit .398 for the season with eight home runs, 13 doubles, 33 RBI and 36 runs scored. She also hit .452 with runners in scoring position. “I think she’ll be a phenomenal player for the next two years,” Havelka said.

Beka Prokaski Prokaski was one of the many freshmen on the Romeoville varsity team. “She played in every game and carried us offensively and defensively with an outstanding batting average of .436,” Romeoville coach Christina Douglas said.

Kacey Rogers A senior outfielder for Lockport, Rogers was able to make a big difference for the Porters in the field and at the plate.

“She covers a ton of ground,” Lockport coach Marissa Chovanec said. “She’s a converted shortstop so she can cover a ton of area whether it’s in the air or on the dirt.”

Rogers is headed to University of Evansville to play softball.

Jessica Rourke The senior third baseman was one of Lockport’s most consistent hitters at the plate all season long.

“She’s our four hitter and is just a great contact hitter,” Chovanec said. “It’s very rare that she strikes out. She’s always putting the ball in play.

Rourke, who will play softball at Lewis University, is also very special in the field. “She’s a solid third baseman,” Chovanec said. “I can’t remember an error by her off the top of my head.”

Kendall Ryndak The junior hurler helped Downers Grove North to a breakout season by dominating on the mound and shining at the plate.

Ryndak went 14-7 on the year with three saves and had a 1.76 ERA. She struck out 176 batters in 134 innings and finished the season with seven shutouts. At the plate she hit .407 with 17 doubles, 21 runs scored and 29 RBI for a young Trojans team.

“She was our captain and always kept the team up,” Magro said. “She stuck around at practice did extra work and kept the others working hard. This was a breakout year for her.”

Ryndak is already receiving interest from several colleges.

Julie Schwenk A first time CSL All-Conference selection, she went 19-9 this season, becoming only the second player in Niles West history to win more than 15 games on the mound.

“Julie was a kid that came in as a freshman and led us to sectional,” Ramseyer said. “She didn’t have the same success her sophomore and junior seasons, but came back on her senior year.

“She worked hard all four years and really came of age her senior year. Julie was not a strikeout pitcher, she had confidence in the defense and she walked very few batters. There were games she would give up nine or 10 hits, but they were scattered and all singles. She had good control. I wasn’t really concerned when she was on the mound.”

Schwenk will play at Trinity International University in Deerfield. Olivia Scott A leadoff hitter with surprising power, the junior shortstop from Plainfield Central belted nine homers on the year. She batted .318 with four doubles and 28 RBI, while walking 21 times and stealing 11 bases.

“Olivia also had a breakout year offensively,” Campbell said. “She has been our leadoff hitter for two years and is a spark plug for the team. She was a leader and continued to grow as a player all season. We look for her to be the team leader next year.”

Jami Shawmeker

The designated player had a batting average of .411 for Romeoville. Shawmeker is a junior and has started all three seasons for the Spartans.

“She was an offensive threat to our opponents every game,” Douglas said.

Amanda Stanton The senior leadoff hitter left her mark at Lockport and she will not be forgotten anytime soon.

“She’s been a four-year starting leadoff hitter for us,” Chovanec said. “She’s led our team in hitting for probably three-fourths of the season. She can hit for power or bunt for a hit.”

Stanton will play her college softball at Eastern Michigan.

Katie Talbot The senior pitcher racked up win after win leading Downers Grove South to a sectional title. Talbot finished with a 24-3 record, and had eight shutouts and 161 strikeouts in 188 1/3 innings. She finished with a 1.71 ERA with opponents hitting a meager .188 against her.

“She had a stress fracture of her ulna and missed a year and a half so she’s a great comeback story,” Havelka said. “She worked hard to get to that point.” Talbot shined in the playoffs recording regional shutout wins against Lyons Township and Neuqua Valley.

“She has won a lot of big games for us,” Havelka said. “She’s been really good all year.”

Danielle Trezzo Just a sophomore, the shortstop brought a lot of power to the field finishing with 12 home runs and 44 RBI from the No. 2 spot.

Trezzo ended the season with a .353 batting average, scored 40 runs and slugged .699. She also hit a solid .408 with runners in scoring position.

“Early in the year she was really carrying our team for a while,” Havelka said. “Then against Lockport in the sectional finals and against Moline in the supersectionals, she came up huge for us. She did a really nice job for us.” Scott Taylor and Mark Gregory contributed to this story. Editor’s Note: The schools in the Bugle/Enterprise coverage area include Bolingbrook, Downers Grove North, Downers Grove South, Joliet Catholic Academy, Joliet Township, Lockport, Maine East, Maine South, Minooka, Niles West, Plainfield Central, Plainfield East, Plainfield North, Plainfield South and Romeoville.

Coming next week: The 2010 Bugle/Enterprise Baseball All-Area Team.