Vernon Hills Stingers 16U Elite team keeps on winning

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Nicole Bitter of the Stingers 16U Elite team delivers a pitch during the USSSA Qualifier at Vernon Hills. | Dan Luedert~Sun-Times Media

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Updated: September 19, 2011 12:27AM

This seven-game stretch of dominance is almost the stuff of fiction.

The Vernon Hills Stingers 16U Elite team cruised to a championship in its own tournament last weekend. The Stingers outscored the opposition 49-4 during the seven-game stint.

Leading the charge was the pitching staff of Jordyn Comitor (Vernon Hills High School), Nicole Bitter (Carmel Catholic) and Erika Schoenfeld (Carmel). Comitor completed the championship run by tossing a 2-hitter in a 3-0 victory over Streamwood Magic.

“All three girls throw strikes and they hit their spots,” said Stingers coach Keith Schoenfeld, whose team improved to 50-11. “And they don’t walk anybody.”

On the flip side, the Stinger batting lineup is scary good. Schoenfeld boasts four hitters who are hovering near the .500 mark: Kathleen Felicelli (Lake Zurich/Carmel), Morgan Manka (Stevenson), Maria Schroeder (Lake Zurich) and Mallory Parsons (Lake Zurich).

“They’re all just killing the ball,” Schoenfeld said. “They hit for a very high average with low strikeout totals.”

The Stingers did fight through a tough game in the semifinals. The score with tied 0-0 in the top of the seventh against Trevians 16U when the Stingers scored three runs. The heroes in the 3-0 win included Parsons (single), Felicelli (double), Manka (bases-loaded walk) and Lake Zurich’s Kasey Roe (2-run single).

“Kasey came through with the big hit that moved us into the championship game,” Schoenfeld said.

The Stingers are certainly on a hot streak heading into the upcoming USSSA World Series in Overland Park, Kan.

“We’ve been playing really well all year,” Schoenfeld said. “The last two tournaments we’ve been on a pretty good roll.”

Two weeks ago, the Stingers took first in the McHenry County Heatwave Girls Fastpitch Tournament (a North American Fastpitch Association Class “Open” National qualifier). The Stingers started slowly, dropping their first game of pool play. The club quickly found its stride, winning the next five games in convincing manner to claim the championship.

The other members of the Stingers Elite are Izzy Borgman (Vernon Hills), Jennifer Claussen (Vernon Hills), Danielle Pullano (Carmel), Carlee Parsons (Lake Zurich), Melanie Spears (Lake Zurich) and Madelyn Roberts (Vernon Hills).

Stingers 18U

A trio of quality pitchers helped carry the Vernon Hills Stingers 18U squad to a third-place tie in their own tournament.

Stingers coach Jan Feder can lean on the talents of Jennifer Claussen (Vernon Hills), Sam Feder (Stevenson) and Marcee Olvera.

“Jenn has the speed,” Feder said. “Sam hits the spots, and Marcee is the workhorse.”

The Stingers, who feature a roster full of 16-year-old players, finished 4-2 in the 18U tournament. On the offensive side of things, the leaders include Sam Feder (.333 average), Anya Mollenhauer (.333), Nicki Wagner (near .330) and Clausen (also near .330).

“They’re not home run hitters, but they’re contact hitters who get a lot of singles,” Coach Feder said. “They’ve been pretty consistent the entire year.”

Chemistry has been a key to a successful season.

“They’ve been playing together since they were 10 or 11,” Feder said. “They enjoy the game and they work hard. It’s been a pleasure to coach them.”

The other members of the 18U squad are Sami Freibrun, Maya Diamond, Carly Alm, Kelly Alm, Alex Wagner, Sarah Conwell, Becca Feld, Kelly Blahnik, Michelle Harris and Emily Skorin.