Michael Osipoff

2 weeks ago | chicagotribune.com | Michael Osipoff

Wearing a Lowell softball jersey is special for junior third baseman Preslee Hill. She dons the same No. 14 that her mother, 1998 Lowell graduate Amanda Hill, wore when the softball team won the first of its four sectional titles in 1997. “I’ll wear my mom’s old crew neck to school, and people will ask me, ‘Who’s Umfleet?’” Preslee Hill said. “I’m like, ‘That’s my mom.’”The Red Devils’ most recent sectional title came in 2009, and Hill aims to change that.

2 weeks ago | chicagotribune.com | Michael Osipoff

The progression is real for Lowell junior catcher Camden Mikulich. A starter for three seasons, Mikulich has added components to his game in each one. He knows he isn’t a finished product, but he’s on the right path. “Going into this offseason, I realized what my problem was,” he said. “I got the defense. I got the swing. I need the power.

2 weeks ago | chicagotribune.com | Michael Osipoff

Lowell and Andrean move up as Highland, Kankakee Valley and Griffith debut in the rankings. TOP 10With records through Thursday and previous rankings in parentheses. 1. Lake Central 14-1 (1)Jada Lewis allows one run on six hits with 11 strikeouts and no walks in the Indians’ Duneland Athletic Conference win against Valparaiso on Wednesday. 2. Crown Point 11-2 (2)Paige Liezert allows no earned runs and three hits with 15 strikeouts and one walk in the Bulldogs’ DAC win against LaPorte on Wednesday. 3.

2 weeks ago | chicagotribune.com | Michael Osipoff

There’s no question Valparaiso’s Delilah Kincaid has an abundance of ability. But the sophomore third baseman by no means relies only on her natural gifts. “She puts the work in,” Valparaiso coach Tracy Corneil said. “She comes to the field every morning. She hits before the game. She hits on the weekend. She works on her craft. She’s always looking for ways to not only be better individually, but that spills over and helps us too. “She’s always asking for another ball, an extra at-bat.

2 weeks ago | chicagotribune.com | Michael Osipoff

As Andrean and Illiana Christian move up, Hobart moves in, and Morton’s Michael Stevens is the player of the week. TOP 10With records through Wednesday and previous rankings in parentheses. 1. Lake Central 10-0 (1)Ryder Fernandez goes 3-for-6 with three RBIs in the Indians’ Duneland Athletic Conference win against Michigan City on Wednesday. 2. Andrean 10-0 (5)Jet Dutton goes 2-for-3 with four RBIs in the 59ers’ Northwest Crossroads Conference win against Hobart on Tuesday. 3.