By Dennis Bowling

Peotone Girls Varsity Softball Coach Steve Strough and his daughter, pitcher Mackenzie Strough, work very well together, and those strong family ties should help the Blue Devils have a great season starting March 15.

Coach Strough remarked, “Mackenzie is very even tempered and very consistent. She can change speeds very well and is improving her ability to hit the spots around the plate.”

“It’s a lot of fun to be with Mackenzie,” he continued, “every practice, every game, every bus ride. She is very excited about the upcoming season and has finished her volleyball career. We also have three pretty good varsity pitchers who will help us compete.”

With Strough running the Blue Devils volleyball offense, Peotone was able to win a regional crown and were a sectional semifinalist. She also was manager for the very successful girls’ basketball program, who made it to the sectional finals.

Mackenzie, a four-year varsity starter for the girls softball team, is a prestigious member of the National Honor Society and an Illinois State Scholar.

“It’s always fun to be with my dad, plus he can fix my pitching and hitting mechanics,” Mackenzie remarked. “My changeup is my best pitch. My dad’s always helping me with the mental side of pitching. We just work to make it happen.”

Coach Strough has three quality hurlers, including senior Strough, junior Ashley Veltman, and freshman Sophie Klawitter.

“Ashley is strong,” he said. “She is a very good hitter and also will pitch a lot of innings. Sophie has a live arm and can spin the ball. I’m looking for her to compete against varsity hitters.”

Strough feels sophomore Layla Johnson will do very well at the catching position and he said, “She will be steady behind the plate, plus has experience at that position. Her arm strength also has improved.”

Mackenzie, who works very well with her catcher Johnson, said, “She’s an ok catcher and knows my pitches. All our pitchers are positive and ready to go.”

“Ashley is just so much fun to be around and always gives it her all,” she continued. “Sophie is an energy player and a pretty good pitcher, who can help us.”

Veltman, a talented hurler, has a good feeling about the upcoming season and noted, “We should have a pretty good season. We like to have fun, too. Mackenzie is positive and a good leader. Sophie is talented and will help us, while Mady Kibelkis is a lot of fun. She can cover a lot of ground in the outfield, plus she’s a good hitter.”

Senior Mady Kibelkis, a three-sport standout, will play centerfield, while Mackenzie Strough will play left field when she’s not pitching.

“Mady has a lot of range in the outfield,” the Coach said. “She is a good left-handed hitter, too, who can hit the ball for power, can also bunt, and use her speed.”

Around the Blue Devils infield will be sophomore third baseman Autumn Clay. Veltman and Klawitter each will split time at the shortstop position, while sophomore Caelan Farmer will play first base.

“Autumn is a quality defender,” said Strough. “She is a left-handed hitter and always makes good contact at the plate, while Caelan will be a tall target at first base.”

Look for the Blue Devils to vastly improve on last year’s record of 10-16. They should be a competitive team in the Illinois Central Eight Conference.