Profiles

Allie Benthusen

Pitcher
Senior
Elgin, Ill. (Larkin), 5-5, Bats Right, Throws Right

2008:  Went 8-6 with a 3.44 earned run average and 5.68 strikeouts per seven innings…opponents batted .261 against her.

2007:  Named second-team All-CCIW with a 10-7 record, a 2.50 earned run average and 89 strikeouts in 115.0 innings pitched…opponents batted .253 against her…struck out a career-high 13 batters against North Park on April 2…named CCIW “Pitcher of the Week” on May 1 after throwing a no-hitter to defeat Millikin, 2-0, on April 28…credited with a save in the March 12 Manhattanville game.

2006:  Made a team-leading 17 pitching appearances, including 16 starts…went 8-8 with a 3.87 earned run average… threw a five-inning no-hitter in a 4-2 win over Carroll (Wis.) on March 27…struck out a season-high nine batters in five innings versus North Park on April 6.

High School:  Named All-Upstate Eight Conference and Daily Herald honorable mention all-area her junior year on a regional-championship team…all-conference her senior year and Larkin High School “Female Athlete of the Year”...coached by Larry Hight…National Honor Society member, National Spanish Honor Society member, Upstate Eight Conference all-academic and high honors student.

Personal:  Criminal justice major…named to the fall 2006 Carthage dean’s list and a two-semester member of the Carthage athletic director’s honor roll…born July 24, 1987.

Eileen Burke

Third Base
Junior
Northbrook, Ill. (Glenbrook North), 5-3, Bats Right, Throws Right

2008:  Played in 19-of-30 games and made 15 starts, nine at third base and six as a designated hitter.

2007:  Played in 10 games and made six starts, five as the designated hitter and one at third base.

High School:  Both her junior and senior-year teams won Central Suburban League and sectional championships…coached by Jen Schultz…played basketball her freshman year…honor student.

Personal:  Exercise and sport science major…twin sister of teammate Jacqueline Burke…born July 30, 1988.

Jenny Burke

Third Base-Catcher
Senior
Lemont, Ill. (Lemont/College of DuPage), 5-7, Bats Right, Throws Right

2008:  Named second-team All-CCIW with a .269 batting average…played in 28-of-30 games and made 28 starts, 17 at catcher, six at third base and five as a designated hitter.

2007:  Named second-team All-CCIW with a .308 batting average, eight doubles, a team-leading six home runs and a team-high 29 RBI…started all 39 games, 38 at third base and one at catcher…homered four times and drove in nine runs in the April 22 Ripon doubleheader, including two homes runs and six RBI in the nightcap.

2006:  Attended the College of DuPage her freshman year but did not play softball.

High School:  Named All-Suburban Prairie Conference her junior and senior years on teams that both won regional championships…coached by Monica Johnson.

Personal:  Exercise and sport science major…named to the fall 2006 Carthage dean’s list…born July 1, 1987. 

Tarah Ellington

Shortstop
Graduated Senior
Aurora, Ill. (Rosary), 5-7, Bats Right, Throws Right

2008:  Played in 25-of-30 games and made 22 starts, 20 at shortstop and two as a designated hitter…batted .286.

2007:  Played in 32-of-39 games and made 32 starts at shortstop…batted .229 in 83 at bats with five doubles and one home run.

2006:  Played in 29-of-36 games and made 29 starts, 25 at third base and four at shortstop…batted .246 in 69 at bats.

2005:  Played in 23-of-40 games and made eight starts, seven at third base and one at shortstop…batted .276 in 23 at bats.

High School:  Played on two Suburban Catholic Conference championship teams...coached by Tara Tattersall...three-year member of the cross country team and two years in basketball...National Honor Society member, Suburban Catholic Conference all-academic and honor student.

Personal:  Athletic training major...named to the Carthage dean’s list three times and a two-semester member of the Carthage athletic director’s honor roll…born Nov. 5, 1985.

Kelsey Epping

Pitcher
Junior
Bloomington, Ill. (Downs-Tri Valley), 5-9, Bats Right, Throws Right

2008:  Named National Fastpitch Coaches Association third-team All-Great Lake Regional and second-team All-CCIW with an 11-5 record, a 1.45 earned run average, three shutouts, one save and 10.01 strikeouts per seven innings…opponents batted just .194 against her…struck out seven or more batters in 13 of her 16 starts, including 15 against Framingham State on March 19 and a career-high 16 versus Judson (Ill.) on May 5…named CCIW “pitcher of the week” on March 25 after going 4-1 on the spring trip with a 1.36 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 33.3 innings pitched…named CCIW “pitcher of the week” again on April 22 after going 4-0 with a 1.30 ERA.

2007:  Went 8-10 with a 3.10 earned run average and 109 strikeouts in 113.0 innings pitched…struck out a season-high 11 batters against Wheaton (Ill.) on April 14…opponents batted .269 against her.

High School:  Named All-Sangamon Valley Conference four-straight years, and all four of her teams won Sangamon Valley Conference West Division titles…named all-area as a senior and set a school season strikeout record…coached by Jim Adams…four-year member of the basketball team and two years in cross country…National Honor Society member, Illinois State Scholar, Sangamon Valley Conference all-academic and honor student.

Personal:  Graphic design major…named spring 2008 CCIW/Jack Swartz all-academic…named to the Carthage dean’s list three times and named to the spring 2007 Carthage athletic director’s honor roll…born Feb. 29, 1988.

Amanda Hoban

Pitcher
Sophomore
Antioch, Ill., 5-7, Bats Right, Throws Right

2008:  Did not appear in a varsity game.

High School:  Her junior-year team won both North Suburban League Prairie and regional titles…coached by Fred Colon…member of both the volleyball and basketball teams her freshman and sophomore years.

Personal:  Elementary education major…born Feb. 16, 1989.

Stephanie Hueramo

Third Base
Junior
Villa Park, Ill. (Willowbrook), 5-1, Bats Right, Throws Right

2008:  Played in 21-of-30 games and made 16 starts, 15 at third base and one as a designated hitter…batted .216 with two home runs and 13 RBI.

2007:  Played in 13 games and made one start as the designated hitter.

High School:  Coached by Jim White…three-year member of the volleyball team and two years in basketball…honor student.

Personal:  Double major in criminal justice and sociology…named to the spring 2007 Carthage dean’s list and to the spring 2007 Carthage athletic director’s honor roll…born March 22, 1988.

Heather Johnson

Outfielder
Junior
New London, Wis. (Clintonville), 5-4, Bats Both, Throws Right

2008:  Played in 21-of-30 games and made 15 starts in leftfield…stole seven bases in 10 attempts.

2007:  Played in 14 games and made one start in leftfield.

High School:  Named third-team all-state and first-team All-Valley 8 Conference her senior year…honorable mention all-conference as a freshman…coached by Michelle Krueger…four-year member of the basketball team.

Personal:  Exercise and sport science major…named to the fall 2006 Carthage dean’s list…born Sept. 28, 1987.

Katie Kiscellus

Outfield
Sophomore
Chicago, Ill. (Resurrection), 5-6, Bats Right, Throws Right

2008:  Played in 21-of-30 games and made 15 starts in leftfield…stole seven bases in 10 attempts.

High School:  Her senior-year team reached the Illinois High School Association Class AA state quarterfinals…both her junior and senior-year teams won a Girls Catholic Athletic Conference Red titles…coached by Mike Marrese…three-year member of the volleyball team…National Honor Society member, Girls Catholic Athletic Conference all-academic and honor student.

Personal:  Undecided on major…named to the fall 2007 Carthage dean’s list…born Nov. 22, 1988.

Emily Koester

Second Base-Shortstop
Junior
Marengo, Ill., 5-11, Bats Right, Throws Right

2008:  Appeared in two games and made one start at second base.

2007:  Played in three games.

High School:  Her junior-year team won a regional championship…coached by Ron Traven…also a member of the volleyball and basketball teams.

Personal:  Elementary education major…her sister, Katie Koester, played softball at North Central College and was named second-team All-CCIW in 2005…born April 18, 1988.

Katie Los

Catcher-Outfielder
Graduated Senior
Elmhurst, Ill. (York), 5-8, Bats Right, Throws Right

2008:  Played in 28-of-30 games and made 28 starts, 13 at catcher and 15 in leftfield…batted .315 with 10 doubles, 13 RBI and five stolen bases.

2007:  Played in all 39 games and made 38 starts at catcher…batted .261 with 10 doubles, two triples, one home run and 19 RBI.

2006:  Named first-team All-CCIW…played in all 36 games and made 35 starts, 27 at catcher and eight in the outfield…batted .298 in 94 at bats with two triples and three home runs…tied a Carthage game record with two home runs against Lakeland on April 9.

2005:  Played in 33-of-40 games and made 32 starts at catcher…batted .250 in 44 at bats.

High School:  Her senior-year team won both West Suburban Conference and sectional championships…coached by Tom Babyar…four-year member of both the cross country and gymnastics teams.

Personal:  Exercise and sport science major…named to the Carthage dean’s list four times and a three-semester member of the Carthage athletic director’s honor roll…born Dec. 21, 1985.

Stephanie Noel

Centerfielder
Junior
Homer Glen, Ill. (Lockport Township), 5-6, Bats Right, Throws Right

2008:  Named second-team All-CCIW with a .348 batting average, seven doubles, four triples and 19 RBI…started all 30 games in centerfield…had a team-leading 10 multiple-hit game, including four hits against Trinity International (Ill.) on April 14.

2007:  Played in 38-of-39 games and made 38 starts in centerfield…batted .354 with eight doubles, a league-leading four triples, two home runs and 21 RBI…compiled a 10-game hitting streak between March 15 and April 2…had 11 multiple-hit games, including two three-hit games.

High School:  Named All-Southwest-Inter-Conference Association West and third-team all-area her senior year…her junior-year team advanced to the Illinois High School Association Class 8AA “elite eight”…coached by Marissa Chovanec…two-year member of the basketball team.

Personal:  Elementary education major…named to the fall 2006 Carthage dean’s list and to the spring 2007 Carthage athletic director’s honor roll…born May 2, 1988.

Tricia O'Keefe

Pitcher-First Base
Sophomore
Franksville, Wis. (Union Grove), 5-3, Bats Right, Throws Right

2008:  Appeared in two games.

High School:  Named Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association third-team all-state first baseman her senior year on a 23-3 team that won a Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Division 2 state championship…her senior-year team won a Lakeshore Conference co-championship, and  her junior-year squad won both sectional and conference championships, and her sophomore-year squad won a sectional title…coached by Scott Ketterhagen…National Honor Society member.

Personal:  Elementary education major…born May 22, 1989.

Kari Peterson

Shortstop
Sophomore
Blooming Prairie, Minn., 5-8, Bats Right, Throws Right

2008:  Named second-team All-CCIW with a .352 batting average and five doubles…played in 22-of-30 games and made 22 starts, 10 at shortstop and 12 as a designated hitter.

High School:  Named Minnesota Fastpitch Coaches Association Class A second-team all-state her junior year and all-sectional as a sophomore…four-year All-Gopher Valley Conference honoree…coached by Alsion Mach…four-year member of the cross country team and three years in basketball…National Honor Society member, Gopher Valley Conference all-academic and honor student.

Personal:  Athletic training major…named to the fall 2007 Carthage dean’s list…born Oct. 4, 1988.

Meghan Roman

Second Base
Junior
Crestwood, Ill. (Chicago-Marist), 5-5, Bats Right, Throws Right

2008:  Named second-team All-CCIW with a .275 batting average, nine doubles, 21 RBI and 11 stolen bases in 11 attempts…played in 29-of-30 games and made 29 starts at second base…batted set a Carthage game record with four stolen bases against Elmhurst on April 26.

2007:  Played in 38-of-39 games and made 38 starts at second base…batted .264 with seven doubles, two triples, two home runs, 14 RBI and 12 stolen bases in 12 attempts.

High School:  Named All-East Suburban Catholic Conference her senior year, as well as Daily Southtown honorable mention all-area and Chicago Tribune “super 60”…named Star Newspapers honorable mention all-area as a junior…her senior-year team won conference, regional and sectional championships, while both her sophomore and junior-year teams won regional titles…coached by Denise Fasano…member of the volleyball team her freshman year…National Honor Society member and honor student.

Personal:  Undecided on major…named to the Carthage dean’s list three times and named to the spring 2007 Carthage athletic director’s honor roll…born Nov. 12, 1987.

Nikki Soreng

Outfielder
Junior
Chicago, Ill. (Elmwood Park), 5-7, Bats Right, Throws Right

2008:  Started all 30 games in rightfield…batted .253 with two triples, two home runs and 11 RBI.

2007:  Played in 17 games and made 16 starts, 11 as the designated hitter and five in rightfield…batted .213 in 47 at bats with one home run.

2006:  Played in 16-of-36 games and made 16 starts, 11 in rightfield, three in leftfield and two as the designated hitter…batted .348 in 46 at bats with a home run and six RBI.

High School:  Named All-Suburban Prairie Conference her senior year...both her junior and senior-year teams won regional championships…coached by Erica Hanrahan Till…four-year member of the volleyball team…National Honor Society member, Suburban Prairie Conference all-academic and honor student.

Personal:  Criminal justice major…named to the spring 2006 Carthage athletic director’s honor roll…born Nov. 28, 1986.

Jacquelyn Tassone

First Base
Junior
Downers Grove, Ill. (South), 5-7, Bats Left, Throws Left

2008:  Named National Fastpitch Coaches Association first-team All-Great Lakes Regional and first-team All-CCIW with  .432 batting average, seven doubles, 10 home runs, 29 RBI, a Carthage-record .914 slugging percentage, a Carthage-record six hit-by-pitch, a.562 on-base percentage and five stolen bases…her 10 home runs was one shy of tying Gina Buchmiller’s 2006 season record of 11 round-trippers…started all 30 games at first base.

2007:  Starting first baseman in all 39 games…batted .206 in 97 at bats with four home runs.

High School:  Her senior-year team won a West Suburban League Gold title and finished second at Illinois High School Association Class 8AA state championship…her junior-year team won a regional championship…coached by Ron Havelka…three-year member of the volleyball team…National Honor Society member, West Suburban League all-academic, honor student and named “outstanding senior in physical education.”

Personal:  Double major in elementary education and special education…named to the spring 2007 Carthage athletic director’s honor roll…born Oct. 31, 1987.

Julie Wilson

Pitcher
Senior
Highland, Ind., 5-6, Bats Left, Throws Left

2008:  Made six relief appearances and compiled a 2.33 earned run average in 15.0 innings pitched.

2007:  Made 13 pitching appearances, including two starts…went 2-1 with a 2.02 earned run average in 27.6 innings pitched.

2006:  Made eight pitching appearances, including four starts…went 2-2 with a 5.06 earned run average and two shutouts.

High School:  Lettered twice and coached by Jennifer Banas…lettered twice on the swimming team.

Personal:  Criminal justice major…born April 30, 1987.