Publications & Sites 
Softball: Central, South enjoy Friday Night Lights
HInsdale's Lauren Daleen throws a batter out at first base, during a game against St. Joseph. | Jon Langham~for Sun-Times Media
Updated: May 21, 2012 8:26AM
Perhaps it’s a fluke in the schedule, but members of Hinsdale South’s softball team aren’t going to complain.
The Hornets play back-to-back games at a couple of magnificent facilities, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the annual rivalry against District 86 sister school Hinsdale Central at Benedictine University in Lisle. Hinsdale South’s next game is at Leyden’s temporary home this season at the Ballpark at Rosemont, the home field for the professional Chicago Bandits team this summer.
Hinsdale South plays Leyden at 4:30 p.m. Monday.
The Benedictine Night event usually draws dozens of players from area youth softball teams to watch the action.
The girls soccer teams from both schools play at 7 p.m.
Hinsdale Central (7-6) has lost six of its last seven games after suffering a defeat to Glenbard West 5-0 Monday in its West Suburban Conference Silver Division opener. The Red Devils won the second game of a doubleheader, 3-0, at Glenbard East after losing the first game, 7-0.
Red Devils left fielder Jen Loiselle will make her fourth appearance in the Benedictine Night.
Loiselle and first baseman Mary Somerfield are the only members of the softball team who played basketball in the winter. Loiselle was a regular off the bench as a guard for coach Tom McKenna.
“It’s definitely a transition getting back into season and getting your arm ready for the season,” Loiselle said. “We have a great season. We all get along really well.”
Central jumped out to a 5-1 start on the season after beating Morton 10-5 April 3. The Red Devils have been shut out in two of their last three games and host Proviso West at 4:30 p.m. Thursday before playing Hinsdale South.
“(Pitcher) Kelly MacKenzie has been great. In the last year, I think she has improved so much. She worked so hard during the offseason. She does a great job for the team.”
Through 13 games last season, the Red Devils were 3-10 and won only five games last season. The Hornets beat the Red Devils 12-1 at last year’s Benedictine Night.
“It’s a great experience being at Benedictine,” Loiselle said. “It’s great having all the different sports playing Hinsdale South. It’s the only time during the season. It’s a fun rivalry between the two schools.”
Loiselle believes the team has received a boost from three freshmen, two who start. Annemarie Tracy and Faith Koffron have made an impact. Tracy is a shortstop and backup pitcher, while Koffron starts at catcher and hit a game-winning home run in the sixth inning of a 3-2 victory over Niles West March 29.
The team’s other freshman is Emma Day.
Since trying to rebuild the program nearly five years ago, coach Lee Maciejewski and assistant coach Al Coppersmith, have tried to develop young players at the junior high level. Maciejewski and Coppersmith built Glenbard West’s program before coming to Hinsdale Central.
